Page 16 of My Hired Valentine

I hold up a hand, cutting her off. “I understandperfectly,Violet. Let’s go.”

I step toward her and take her arm gently but firmly, helping her off the barstool. She doesn’t resist, but I can feel the tension humming through her.

“She’s not leaving with you, Faletti,” Harris sneers, his voice dripping with superiority. He looks at Violet like he expects her to follow his command. “Isn’t that right, Violet?”

I pause, looking down at her. I know what he’s doing—trying to manipulate her, trying to back her into a corner. She doesn’t answer immediately, and I can see the war waging behind her eyes. But I’m not waiting for her to choose. I know what she wants.

Before she can say a word, I pick her up and toss her over my shoulder in one smooth motion.

“Dex!” she squeals, her fists hitting my back. “Put me down! I need to talk to you! It’s not what you think!”

“We’ll talk soon enough,” I reply as I turn toward the exit.

“Faletti, you’re making a huge mistake!” Harris shouts behind me, his voice rising with frustration. “You have no idea what you’re doing!”

I stop just long enough to turn my head and glare at him over my shoulder. “I know exactly what I’m doing, Harris. I’m collecting what’s mine. Violet is off-limits. She’s with me. Now and forever.”

Violet’s still wiggling in my arms, her hands smacking at my back in protest, but I don’t let her go. Not yet. Not until I get her far away from that predator.

I stride past a group of women near the door, their mouths hanging open in shock. One of them whispers something to her friend, and I hear the word “romantic” float through the air.

Yeah. That’s right.

“You’re going to regret this!” Harris calls after me, his voice echoing through the restaurant.

I don’t look back. I step into the cool night air and keep walking, Violet still draped over my shoulder like she weighs nothing. My Jeep is parked just a few feet away, and I head straight for it, determined to put as much distance between her and Harris as possible.

“Dex!” Violet huffs, finally going still. Her voice is softer now, less angry. “Please. Just put me down. Let me explain.”

I slow to a stop beside the Jeep but don’t set her down yet. I feel her shift, her hands resting gently against my back, and her voice comes again—this time quieter and more broken.

“It’s not what you think,” she whispers.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady the storm raging inside me. I finally lower her to the ground, keeping my hands on her shoulders to steady her. She looks up at me, her eyes shining with tears, and it damn near breaks me.

“Then tell me,” I say, my voice rough. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re letting that bastard control you.”

She flinches, her chin trembling as she looks away. “I… I can’t.”

“Can’t or won’t?” I press, my hands tightening gently on her arms. “Violet, talk to me. Tell me what’s going on. Whatever it is, we’ll fix it. Together.”

Her gaze snaps back to mine, and I see the fear there, the uncertainty. She opens her mouth like she wants to say something, but nothing comes out.

I cup her face with both hands, forcing her to look at me. “I’m not going anywhere, Violet. Whatever’s happening, whatever he said or did—we’ll handle it. But you have to trust me.”

A tear slips down her cheek, and she closes her eyes, shaking her head. “You don’t understand. He… he can ruin you, Dex.”

“Ruin me?” I repeat softly. “The only thing that can ruin me is losing you.”

Her breath catches, and for a moment, I think she’s going to let me in. But then she pulls back, slipping out of my hold.

“Please, Dex,” she whispers. “Just let this go.”

She turns and starts walking away, but I don’t move. I stand there in the dark, watching her retreat, my chest aching like hell.

I take a step forward, my voice firm but soft enough to stop her in her tracks. "Violet. Wait."

She turns back, tears still clinging to her lashes. "Dex, please. I just… I can’t do this."

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