Page 54 of Menace in Vegas

He stills, rigid with fear.

The scent of his panic clogs the air, sour and sharp.

He shakes his head frantically.

I release him with a shove.

He stumbles away, gasping for air like a drowning man.

“Get the fuck out of here,” I mutter.

He bolts, practically tripping over his own feet, as he flees.

But I’m still shaking.

The rage isn’t gone.

Not even close.

I turn to find Allie standing there, staring at me like she’s just seen a monster.

And maybe she has.

The truth is, I would’ve torn that bastard apart without hesitation.

“You okay?” I ask, my voice hoarse and jagged.

She nods too fast, her whole body trembling before she whispers something unexpected. “Why?”

I tilt my head. “Why what?”

“Why did you do that?”

I step closer, listening to the hitch in her breath.

I need her to feel this. To understand.

“Because you’re mine.”

Her eyes widen.

Her lips part.

I stare at her, a slow smile curling my lips. “I’d rather burn the world down than see you scared like that again.”

She blinks like she can’t quite process it.

But the way she relaxes, practically melting into the sidewalk, tells me everything I need to know.

I grin, the possessiveness still raging through me.

“Come on. I’ll walk you back to the motel.”

She nods, moving closer but doesn’t touch me.

Probably a good thing.

Because if she did, I wouldn’t be able to let her go.

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