Page 108 of Gloves Off

Beneath the anger, though, I feel stupid. Disappointed. Whatever’s been happening these past few weeks, how we’ve been talking without wanting to kill each other, I thought things were changing. He seemed different.

I stare at the stubborn set to his jaw. He’s not different. He’s exactly as controlling and high-handed as I’d thought he was.

My crush on my husband bursts like a balloon. I was right all along.

“Did you grab the bracelets from the rearview mirror?”

“What bracelets?” His expression turns confused, then irritated. “Do you realize what I did to get that car here, Georgia? It’s back-ordered for six months.”

I barely hear him. The girls at soccer made me those bracelets. They’re silly and cheap but they sayPAGING DR. BADASSon one andFEMININE RAGEon the other and I love them. When I see them, I smile.

And this asshole got rid of them without a second thought.

“That car was a death trap, Georgia. It was for your own good. I did this for you.”

Something inside me snaps. I’ve heard those words before—for your own good. “Fuck you, Alexei.”

Is that hurt behind the angry outrage in his eyes? I don’t care.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” He gives me awhat the fucklook. “I bought you a car. Aniceone. The safest one on the market with every fucking bell and whistle available. I had to pull every string I had to get it here for this morning. Do you know how many women would kill to be in your position?”

“Oh, I’ll kill,” I laugh without humor, pulling out my phone. I need to get to work and I need to get away from him.

“Your car was a piece of shit, andyourproblem was becomingmyproblem, so I handled it. Why don’t you show a bit of gratitude instead of acting like a spoiled brat?”

I choke on the air, blinking. Wow. Just wow. Five minutes ago, I kissed this guy on the cheek. What the hell was I thinking? This is what I get for letting my guard down.

“What are you doing?” he demands.

I won’t look at him. “Booking a ride.”

He curses under his breath, shaking his head. “Take the car, Georgia. It’s why I bought it.”

“I’m not driving that thing.”

“Yes, you are. As my wife?—”

I whirl on him, my blood boiling. “I amnotyour wife. You—you—” God, I can barely get the words out. I’m choking on them. “This is exactly why I never wanted to get married. This is exactly the kind of thing Liam would do. What I want doesn’t even matter to you, does it? You steamrolled right over me like you do everyone else. You didn’t ask, you justtook,because what’s mine is yours, right? Because what I want doesn’t even register on your radar.”

My chest aches. I feel like crying and burning the house down at the same time.

“I thought I was wrong about you. I was actually starting to like you.”

Something shifts in his expression. My eyes sting and I turn, blinking furiously, clearing them. I hate that crying is my body’s anger response, especially in front of him. It’s the best way to weaken my argument and make me seem like a hysterical, hormonal, emotional woman.

I walk out the door and close it behind me without looking back.

CHAPTER 52

ALEXEI

I thoughtI was wrong about you.

A puck bounces off my chest, padded by my equipment. Walker stands twenty feet away with a curious grin, waiting.

You steamrolled right over me like you do everyone else.

“Sorry.” I give myself a shake.

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