Page 21 of Garnish with a Candy Cane
With my gun pointed at his forehead, I stride to them since she can’t hear me snarl her name over the thudding music to let her know he’s going to get a hell of a lot more than a jostle to his belly. The asshole instantly releases her although I’m not sure if from her hit, my weapon, or the army of my men heading in our direction from the commotion.
“No Duke! It’s okay! Don’t hurt him!”
She’s out of her god damn gorgeous mind if she thinks that’s ever going to fucking happen. Ignoring her protests, I slam him against the wall with my forearm lodged in his throat and my weapon jammed to his temple. With his windpipe crushed and his eyes bulging from the twenty other firearms aimed at him, he kicks and claws to free himself. Which isn’t happening until he realizes who he fucked with. “You will regret touching what’s mine.”
Shock dumbfounds Noelle and she stills, quiet and shaking uncertain what to do. Although I know exactly what to do. I shove off of him and swing around to my nervous Duchess, ensuring she understands completely. “You’re done here too.”
Before she can argue, I pick her up, easily tossing her small body over my shoulder. Somehow dangling down my back reinstates her voice, and I ignore her accusations of caveman and demands to be put down and questions of why I’m violating our agreement to let her work. My captain knows what to do with the dead men walking who had the fucking audacity to assault my woman. So I stride out of the club and into the cool night air with her vocal frustrations bouncing from the concrete and her angry fists beating my ass for a pain that feels too good to make her stop until I climb into my vehicle with her.
He’s gentle when he flips me over, cradling my head as he slides me into the backseat of his enormous SUV with his driver and bodyguards watching me and our argument with disinterest. Then I guess I’m on my own protesting him dragging me out of my workplace in front of everyone like I’m some kind of weak-willed woman who allows a crazy beast to manhandle her.
Despite him being so careful and cautious, I can’t grant him any leniency after he just humiliated me. “Dang it Duke! You promised! You swore you would give me two weeks and now–”
“The fuck Duchess. You’re worried about your job when those guys fucking attacked you?”
“I didn’t need your help. I was handling it.”
Kind of. I was more scared than I let on. That guy was so strong and the bouncers are so slow to intervene when money’s at stake. No one wants to piss off paying customers even when they get grabby hands.
Except Duke. He doesn’t give a damn who he pisses off. Including me.
“What the fuck did you just say to me?”
Dark brown eyes burn molten as they stare me down and his fingers thread through my ponytail, yanking my head back while he looms over me. Oh. No. “I…I just…He was…”
“When it comes to you,I’mthe one who handles fucking everything.”
Wrong, wrong, wrong for me to be turned on by him dominating me. Even more so when he lovingly caresses my head before releasing me and slowly rising. As if needing to put space between us and get himself under control. His fingertips clench the car frame while he watches me and murmurs with rage. I can barely understand his grousing except how those bastards are really going to be handled once he finishes with them.
Seething from his fury, he can barely speak as he climbs in next to me. He actually shakes with anger when he buckles my seatbelt. I should slap his hands away and take care of myself like I’m fully capable of and always do. Yet somehow, his protective behavior soothes some of my frustration. The realization overwhelms me once again of why he’s so upset.
He’s worried about me.
“You walking around all fucking irresistible and they want a fucking taste of what theycannothave. Won’t ever fucking have. I mean god damn. You’re just too damn attractive to be…”
Unsure if he’s arguing with them or me or himself, I want to calm him too and wrap my fingers around his, squeezing with what I hope is a reassuring touch. “You’re right. It would’ve been much worse if you weren’t there. Thank you for helping me.”
My absolution has little effect on him with his body still humming in his vehemence. So I lean my head on his shoulder and snuggle into him as close as I can with the strap across my torso holding me tight against the cushion. “I swear I’m not trying to aggravate you or endanger myself. I just wanted to keep my commitment.”
His long, slow release of breath blows against the top of my head rustling the loose strands from me hanging upside down. “I know.”
I try to lift from his chest when he digs in his suit pocket, and he literally growls at me. Suppressing a giggle from his animalistic response to me moving away, I cuddle back into my spot. My reaction earns me an approving peck on my forehead before he furiously taps on his phone to a contact listed as Andrea.
Jealousy I’ve never experienced before smolders in my chest from seeing another woman’s name in his messages. I have no right to be suspicious since we’ve just met and he’s not even really mine. Although he must have nothing to hide and doesn’t attempt to shield me from his text to her asking if any waitresses want a shift tonight.
She responds almost instantaneously.
Andrea:Definitely. With the holiday season coming up, some of the single moms could use the extra cash.
“What’s your manager’s name?”
His voice still vibrates with anger, and an overpowering shiver jolts through me. “Carly.”
Duke:Contact Carly at The Liquid Lounge and tell her you have a replacement for Noelle tonight and the next two weekends. Send over whoever is interested.
Andrea:Awesome. They’ll appreciate the extra hours. Thx Boss.
Curiosity keeps me mute when he taps another name in his list, Fields.
