Page 48 of Knights Game

It’s all I know.

She goes to stand, but I grip her tighter. “I haven’t excused you yet.”

“I’m not your puppet that you can tell what to do,” she snaps.

“I’m aware.” She’s full-on scowling, her eyes watery. “But you’re mine, and no one touches you, not even my family.” I grate out my next words, my jaw hurting from gritting my teeth,“What did he say?”

“I need to go.” She scans the surroundings like a caged animal, and it pisses me off that my cousin has got this reaction out of her. The only person who should be making her feel this extreme emotion is me.

Not motherfucking Levi.

“Okay.” I loosen my grip and stand, leaving her sitting on the chair, she tilts her head a puzzled look on her face.

“Okay?” she asks, confused. “I can leave?”

“We,” I correct her. “We can leave.”

I put one hand on the table and the other on the chair’s arm caging her in, she blanches and pulls back.

“You have caught the interest of Levi, sunshine. Let me tell you something about my cousin, he makes me look like a cuddly teddy bear. You’re not going home until you’ve told me what he said. And if that involves me tying you to a bed until I get it out of you, so be it. But let me make this clear.” My face is so close to hers, it’s taking every single bit of willpower not to crash my mouth to hers and dominate her. “You will tell me. Now come.”

I grab her clutch from the table and take her hand and immediately feel grounded.

A feeling that I choose to ignore right now.

I pull her up, and she does what she’s told, thankfully, as I wasn’t against throwing her over my shoulder. Making a quick exit, I navigate us through the throngs of people and exit into the cool night air. I don’t want anyone getting in the way.

Anyone being Roman.

The entrance queue to get into my club is all but clear now, and I glance down at my phone: 2:30, chuck-out time is in thirty minutes. Then the next round of chaos will commence, as alcohol-fuelled people leave the bar.

I lead her to the small alley that runs along the side of the club. The smell of damp and rubbish bins taint the air, but I want her out of sight while we wait for my driver. She pulls her hand away from mine and I let her. Folding her arms across her chest, she watches me.

I ignore her and pull my phone out, sending a quick text to my driver and then to Rome to let him know I’ve left. Her clutch is tucked under my arm, but she doesn’t ask for it back.

She rests against the brick wall and leans her head against it, closing her eyes, taking a deep breath. She looks like she has the weight of the world on her shoulders.

And I hate it.

My sunshine.

“He’s not happy with your split attention.” She exhales, defeated. “He wants me to spy on you.”

The fuck …

She brings her head forward. The dull beat of the club fills the void as I wait for her to continue, my eyes piercing hers as my pulse thrums. That’s all she gives me though. When I don’t say anything, she closes her eyes, and her head goes back to resting on the wall.

I turn my back to her and pace.

“He threatened everyone I care about, Luca. My grandfather, Katy.”

I pause and glance over, where she’s watching me. “It won’t come to that.” The words spill out of my mouth before I can stop them. This isn’t how my evening was supposed to go. Now here I am making promises to protect Layla and her family.

“How? How can you possibly say that?” she asks, kicking away from the wall and walking to me.

“Because, sunshine, you’ve just become a pawn in a dangerous game of chess. And I’d rather be in control of the moves.”

“Stop talking in fucking riddles,” she snaps, anger flushing those beautiful cheeks. “Just use normal fucking English and explain to me how you can possibly get me out of this.”

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