Page 55 of The Billionaire's Bride
He springs to his feet and so do I, "Baron, who the fuck was that?"
He shoves back his chair, runs toward the door, and I follow him, "It’s Ava, isn’t it?" I pant, "Is she—"
"They got to her."
I race after him toward the doors leading to the restrooms.
19
Ava
"Bitch, give me that." The man lunges for me and I scream. The phone slips from my fingers. I turn toward the door that leads to the restaurant but he’s already there.
The breath catches in my throat and my heart begins to race. I pivot, heading up the alleyway, with the man in hot pursuit.
I’d finished at the restroom, come out into the corridor, but hadn’t wanted to return. It would have been more of the same. The two of them going at each other like dogs fighting over a bone. Damn them, they have reduced me to this—a dog bone.
How could they? Are they both so blind that they can’t see what it is doing to me to be stuck in the middle like this? I don’t want to come between them, really. At the same time, I can’t choose between them. My mind is too confused. And my heart? It’s simply not going to be able to take another snarled comment from either of them.
They don’t mean to hurt me, though. I am sure of that. They are just so busy trying to get one up on the other, even as they try to figure out a way to give me some space to figure out what I want. Ha, as if… I am giving them too much credit. They are thinking with their dicks, getting all possessive, when the other so much as looks at me. Yeah, this arrangement of the three of us spending time together is all going tits up.
I’d turned away from the dining room and walked toward the back door, instead. I’d pushed it open, stepped out into the cool night air. The sounds of the restaurant had faded away as the door had shut behind me. I’d stood there, simply enjoying the silence, when a man had pushed away from the wall where he’d been leaning. He’d asked me if I had a light, and I had said no. He’d come toward me and I’d stiffened as I’d recognized him. I’d reached into the bag, gotten my phone, and called Baron before he’d realized what was happening. That’s when he’d reached for me. I’d evaded him, managed to speak to Baron, and he’d lunged for me.
Now, I pump my legs…trying to go faster… Well, as fast as my heels will allow. Damnit, today of all days, I had forgone my flats in favor of these kitten heels. That’s what happens when you have two men in your life. You lose perspective. And when your brain is addled with trying to figure out who you want more, you screw up all other parts of your life. I can’t believe I wasn’t more careful. After being attacked twice now, you’d have thought I’d have a better sense of self preservation, but apparently, not.
His footsteps sound closer. I turn to glance over my shoulder and cry out. He’s right behind me. Ohmigod, oh, my god! I straighten, put on a burst of speed, then scream when he grabs my arm. He yanks me back and I stumble against him. The stench of sweat and cigarette smoke engulfs me. My guts churn; the blood thuds at my temples. I try to pull away, but his grasp tightens.
"I am going to teach you a lesson, bitch. Thanks to you, my friends are in trouble. You deserve to pay for what you did to them."
"Idid tothem?" I growl, "Asshole, the three of you attacked me. They deserve what happened to them.
"Oh, yeah?"
He releases me, only to raise his hand. I duck…too late. He catches me at the side of my face and my vision blurs. Pain slices through my head; sparks of white flare behind my eyes. I lurch back, my knees give way, and I collapse. He straddles me, shackles his fingers around my neck. He presses down and my lungs burn. I try to take in a breath, cough. Spots of black flicker at the corners of my eyes. Terror bubbles up and my stomach churns. I paw at his wrists, his hands, but he doesn’t release me. My vision wavers, darkness closing in. The next second, his weight is pulled off of me. I drag in a lungful of air, then scream when someone bends over me.
"Ava, it’s me, Edward."
"Ed?" My chin wobbles and hot tears spill over as Edward touches my cheek. I wince and his beautiful features harden. I hear the sounds of a struggle, the unmistakable echoes of someone getting beaten. The ground seems to shake. I wince and Edward’s scowl deepens. He rises, scoops me up in his arms.
"Your wound," I protest.
"Fuck that," he growls, and I begin to laugh.
"What?" He frowns. "What’s wrong?
"I’ll always remember how you said 'Fuck my vows’ when you came to see me, right before you—"
"Left," he says in a sorrowful voice.
"Oh, Ed." I press my aching forehead against his chest. Behind me, I hear the pounding of footsteps as my attacker races away. Then Baron walks over to us.
"Bastard got away," he swears as he shakes out his fist. His shirt is torn, his jacket blood-stained, his hair is mussed up and he looks…glorious.
Fuck, what’s wrong with me? These men saved my life again, and all I can do is think about how I want them to touch me.
"You okay, Eve?" He places his hand against my unhurt cheek and I burst into tears.
"What the—?" He glances at me, then at Ed, "What did I say?"
