Page 67 of Alpha-Ex Wedding Ruse
My heart was hammering so hard it rang in my ears.
The feeling of Luca’s arm around me wouldn’t leave my skin. It lingered like my body was still caught in that moment. I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think.
I bent forward, bracing my hands on my knees as I gasped for air, trying to calm the wild pounding in my chest.
Then I felt it.
A rough hand snaked around my waist from behind.
My reflexes took over. I shoved hard and spun, ready to claw, but froze when I saw who it was.
Blaze. Of all the damn people.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I spat, still breathless, still shaking.
His shameless gaze dropped to my chest, lingering far too long as he took in the rise and fall of my frantic breathing.
“It’s already been a week, Leila,” Blaze drawled, the corners of his mouth curling in that sleazy way that made my skin crawl. “But I’m feeling generous today. You come with me to my truck—I’ve got it parked out back—and maybe I’ll buy you a few extra days.”
The implication hung in the air like rot, thick and suffocating.
I recoiled, disgust swirling in my stomach. “Can I just get a few more days, Blaze? I had to sort out my son’s school trip. Please.”
He chuckled, low and mocking. “The boss doesn’t do extensions. You know that.”
Then his eyes dropped to my chest again. “But I can talk to him for you…if you just follow me to my truck. I promise—you’ll love it.”
He stepped closer.
God, he reeked. Like cigarettes, sweat, and cheap liquor, all blended into something vile. I turned my face away as he reached out to touch it, and I smacked his arm. Hard. But then his hand clamped down on my waist, and no matter how hard I shoved, he wouldn’t let go.
“I said I’ll pay you soon! I just need a few more days! Let me go, Blaze!”
Before he could say another word, Luca launched out of nowhere and landed a punch straight to Blaze’s jaw. The crack echoed like a gunshot. Blood spurted from Blaze’s nose as he staggered backward, clutching his face in shock. Then his eyes turned red with rage when he saw blood.
He lunged at Luca, but Luca met him with another brutal blow that knocked him flat to the ground.
“Luca, stop!”
He didn’t hear me. Or maybe he did and didn’t care.
He climbed on top of Blaze and unleashed a storm of fists, relentless, merciless, one after the other, until Blaze was groaning, barely able to lift a hand in defense.
“Luca, please! Stop!” I cried, my voice cracking with panic.
He didn’t stop until he was satisfied.
Finally, he stood, glaring down at the wreck beneath him. “The next time I see you near her again…it’ll be the last time you use those eyes.”
Blaze didn’t respond. He couldn’t. He was a bloody mess on the ground, twitching weakly.
I stared at him, my heart sinking at what all of this meant. Blaze would twist the story. Make me pay for this. Come after Ollie.
“You shouldn’t have done that, Luca!” I whirled around, fury pulsing through my veins.
He didn’t flinch. “Was I supposed to stand there and watch that piece of shit put his filthy hands on you?”
“I had it under control!” I snapped. “I didn’t ask you to jump in like some hero! You just made things worse!”
