Page 20 of Ignite

Conan stiffens. His hand drops from me.

And just like that, he shifts. The air cracks.

The fury in his eyes? It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. His beast is unleashed.

Chapter 7

CONAN

I’ve got my hand around his throat, and he’s slamming into the wall before my brain even catches up.

“You just don’t know when to shut the fuck up, do you?”

The asshole grins.

“What are you gonna do about it, you Irish prick?”

I laugh. Low. Dark.

“You’re only across the pond from me. You know what my kind are capable of. I’d pick your next words wisely. Or you’ll end up in the same state the last Brit that fought me did.”

I lean in, close enough to taste the fear bleeding out of him.

“I caved his face in, and he left in a body bag, just in case you’re wondering,” I whisper so only he can hear.

His face goes the same pale shade as the drywall. My fingers clamp tighter around his windpipe.

“Is that how you speak to women? Huh? Have some fucking respect.”

Then I feel her. Hallie. Behind me. Her presence doesn’t just calm me, it reins me in.

I don’t cave his jaw like I want to. Instead, I yank him by the shirt and drag his sorry ass to the front door, flinging him out onto the pavement like trash.

“Come near her again, I’ll fucking kill you.”

He scuttles back on his ass, the coward in him finally showing.

“She’s going to regret this. Mark my words. She needs me to protect her.”

Slowly, I blink at him.

“Protect her from what, exactly?”

If there’s anyone around here who needs protecting from, it’s me and my brothers.

But then he grins. That same grin men like him always hide behind. Something in his eyes flickers, too alive.

“You’ll see.”

Hallie’s hand brushes my back.

We watch Ben disappear into the dark. I don’t like the way it swallows him whole.

“Who exactly is Ben?” I ask, turning to lock the door.

“Umm. No one, really. Works for his cousin’s business. Finance crap, I think. He’s from London.”

I nod, the threat still circling in my brain like a shark scenting blood.

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