Page 118 of Betrayed in the Dark
“Nothing,” she breathes.
“That’s right. Not one fucking penny. Because after I agreed to this assignment and transitioned from being Scarlett’s bodyguard to yours, I had the direct deposit to my account cancelled. And do you know why?”
She shakes her head, a tremble taking over her body. Her beautiful blue eyes blink back tears that she’s too afraid to let fall.
“Because I’m not here as your paid employee. I’m here as a man who loves you and will stop at nothing to protect you. I’m here because you’re mine and always have been. I’m here because there’s no fucking way in hell I will ever let you walk down the aisle to marry any other man but me.”
The smooth skin on her palm connects with my cheek, taking me by surprise. Her eyes widen as she covers her mouth with her hand. She slips out of my grip and quickly turns away. I rub the spot on my cheek where a fresh sting warms my skin, watching her scurry off toward the stairs. Shaking my head in disbelief,I take a deep breath, trying with all my strength to control my anger—something I’ve always been able to do.
But not this goddamn time.
A volcano can only take so much pressure before it erupts.
And this beautiful fucking crazy woman just unleashed my wrath.
Striding across the marble flooring, I reach the stairs just as her bedroom door slams shut. I take two steps at a time, arriving in front of her door in seconds. With a forceful shove, I open it, the door slamming against the wall, nearly dislodging from its hinges.
She spins in shock at my arrival.
Probably assuming I wouldn’t have followed her.
But she’s wrong.
She’s so goddamn wrong it makes my fingers curl into fists at my sides.
Because I’d follow her to the fucking ends of the earth and back.
Her hand pulls back, and before I have a chance to comprehend what’s happening, she hurls a small object at my chest. The box containing the engagement ring bounces off me and lands at my feet, its lid snapping open to reveal the diamond ring inside.
“How dare you stand there and tell me you love me when you bought that ring for someone else!” Pain and agony lace her voice, emotions so intense that they seem out of place.
Emotions that wouldn’t be there if she knew who this ring was always meant for.
I bend down and pick up the ring, closing the lid. I stare at the box as I say, “You think this ring is for someone else?” My gaze shifts up to meet hers.
She gestures with her hands wide open. “Obviously. You bought it for—”
“You,” I interject.
She slowly drops her arms to her sides and blinks a few times in surprise. “W-what?”
“I bought this ring for you.” I tuck the box into my pocket. “I planned on giving it to you when I got back from my last deployment, but…” My eyes drift to the ring on her left hand.
She instinctively covers her hand.
I take one step into the room, and she takes one back.
“You think I don’t know what’s going on here?” My voice comes out rough, filled with pent-up frustration. “You signed your soul over to the devil. And now, it’s time for you to tell me why.”
Panic flashes across her face, but she remains silent. With each step I take toward her, she takes another step back until I have her cornered against the wall, our chests brushing against each other.
I can feel her warm breath cascading across my neck as she looks up at me, her chest heaving a little faster.
But she doesn’t cower.
No. My princess is too rebellious to cower, and right now, as she juts her chin out, arching a brow at my proximity, I watch her attempt to build the thick stone wall between us. The one she’s maintained for the past year to protect her secrets and guard her heart.
But I’m about to tear it all down to the motherfucking ground.
