Page 11 of Loving Vincent

"Caught her leaving out the back door. I’d guess she was heading for the garage," the guy grunted quietly.

Vincent gave his man’s hand a pointed look, which he immediately removed from Jenna’s arm and then he stepped away from her. Zach stared at her for a moment and then back at Vincent, frustration etching his features. She knew what he was thinking. She had finally been within his grasp, asleep under his roof once more and in need of his help. Now she was being torn from him and he would have to let her go without complaint.

With a heavy sigh, he approached Jenna and reached for Lola. "I’ll take her."

Panic filled Jenna. She hadn’t even spent time with her daughter. Her arms tightened involuntarily around her baby and her eyes squeezed tightly shut as the unfairness of the situation crashed over her. She felt Zach’s hands tug at her and she took a quick step away from him shaking her head.

"Please," she whispered faintly.

Her anguished eyes flew open and met the hard ones of Vincent Corey. She gasped at what she saw there. The blazing fury and possession crashed through her, weakening her knees until Jenna found her legs sinking underneath her, unable to hold her weight. Tears of humiliation welled up in her blue eyes and spilled over as she collapsed, the cold marble floor pressing against her bare legs.

"The child comes to."

All eyes went to Vincent, who stood staring down at Jenna, his expression indecipherable. He wrapped his fingers around her arm and pulled her to her feet, careful not to jostle her baby. His eyes flickered over the sleeping child before returning to her face. Jenna’s shocked gaze didn’t leave his face. The blood drained from her cheeks and she shook her head frantically, her eyes wild.

"You… you can’t have her!" she cried hoarsely, clutching Lola tightly and trying unsuccessfully to step away from him. His fingers tightened on her arm and he pulled her back into his space.

"What the fuck is your problem?" he grunted, shaking her by the arm. "I’m taking you with me and if you don't want to go without her, then she goes with us."

"I remember what you said to me," she hissed up at him, anger seething from her every pore. "You said you’ll make me a slave, use me up and throw me away. I’m not going to let you have Lola, you fucker!"

Lola murmured and shifted in Jenna’s tight hold. Jenna loosened her arms and kissed the girl’s downy head. Once her daughter settled he leaned down, oblivious to the audience witnessing their tension and snarled in her face, "I don’t want the kid, Jenna Campbell, I want you. Leave the kid, or bring her along, I don’t fucking care, but decide now."

She stared up at him with utter hate and spat, "She comes."

Vincent jerked him head in a nod and turned to his guy. "Go get the kid’s stuff."

"You can't take my daughter," Zach protested. "I have custody!"

Vincent turned glacial eyes toward Jenna’s ex-husband. "We both know your daughter was a weak excuse to see Jenna once a week. That’s not going to happen again. My lawyers will be in touch before the week is out. Trust me, you don’t want to fight this."

Vincent turned away from Zach without waiting to hear a reply. Jenna didn’t get a chance to see how Zach took Vince’s ultimatum because Jared closed in behind her, protecting their backs. She clutched Lola tightly against her chest and followed Vincent.

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