Page 130 of Your Coffin or Mine
Doyle straightens his tie. “Are you going to tell her about your veterinary visit?”
“Piss off.”
As soon asthe happy couple say their I do’s and walk away, my throat suddenly clogs with uncertainty.What if she rejects me?What if I am too late?
The rest of the humans follow suit after the bride and groom, heading toward the reception area. A light buzzing starts in my ears, drowning out the happy cries of those around me. I only want to find Aubrey.
Where is she? I roam my eyes over the crowd, searching for her, only to catch a glimpse of her yellow gown retreating through the crowd.She’s running away?
I resist the urge to shove the guests aside and go after her, annoyance racing through me as I force myself to walk slowly and sedately through the hallway. The throng disperses as the wedding party leaves and my gaze hardens.
“Aubrey,” a male voice calls out.
My vision goes red with the sight of Chad touching her, his hand encircling her arm. How dare he touch her in my presence?! I will fucking end him.
“Vlad, don’t,” Doyle says behind me, but I growl low, letting him know he will regret it if he thinks to stop me.
Before I can rush to her side, a short redheaded woman shoves Chad away from her, a finger pointed in his face threateningly. Panic overtakes Aubrey’s expression when she notices me striding down the hall. Her gaze darts between the cad and me, her blue eyes full of worry. She knows what I want to do to him.
I flatten my mouth into a thin, hard line as I finally reach her side.
“Don’t hurt him,” she whispers, tugging at my arm lightly, begging for the sorry excuse of a male’s life. My eyes slide shut at the feel of her against me, her wildflower scent instantly calming the rage burning in my chest.
Chudleyand the redheaded woman continue arguing, the diminutive female spitting fire from her eyes as she delivers the imbecile a dressing down. Aubrey looks up at me nervously, her hand clutching at me, then her gaze darts back to the woman I assume is her friend.
“What is the meaning of this?” I say to no one in particular, but at least the arguing stops as they both turn to me.
“You.” The imbecile’s lip curls in contempt, and I wish she hadn’t bid me not to kill him.
“Me,” I say, rubbing softly at her hand on my arm.
“Oh, shit,” the redhead breathes.
“Vlad, have you met Bernadette?” Aubrey asks, obviously attempting to pull my attention away.
The idiot snickers, oblivious to the danger he is in. “Aubrey, please come with me. I want to show you something,” he says, ignoring my presence entirely.
I begin internally going over the many ways I could turn his body into a piñata.
“No thanks, Chad.” Aubrey squeezes my arm tightly and her brow furrows.
The idiot steps closer.
“Touch her again, and I will tear your arms off and beat you with them.”
Bernadette’s jaw drops, and Aubrey wheezes a breath from my side.
“It will only take a minute.” His eyes turn hard and turbulent as he curls his lip at me.
Footsteps sound behind me and I register Doyle coming to try to neutralize the situation, no doubt. “Evening, everyone,” Doyle says in way of greeting, his hands in his pants pockets.
“I made you a new—” the idiot begins to say.
Aubrey sighs, her tone weary. “Chad, I am not going anywhere with you. I thought my mom and I made that obvious earlier.”
Enough of this.
“Look at me,” I command. It is the only choice because one more second in this dimwit’s presence while he attempts to woo my mate will end in bloodshed no matter the witnesses or how much she complains. I am fighting every instinct I possess to not rip him to shreds where he stands.
