Page 24 of The Scandal You Started
Victor made his answer clear when he pulled her half behind him. “River, George, or Zack. Or we return you to your time today.”
Rayna stepped out from behind him, refusing to be shielded. In fact, she wanted to glare Dominic down. It was vexing how he was living up to his entitled, arrogant image when only minutes ago she’d thought his curiosity was cute.Asshole.
“I choose neither of the three, nor will I return.” His stubborn stare never left her, but his words were undoubtedly directed towards Victor.
“River, prepare for the marquess’ return thisevening.”
Dominic’s eyes shot to Victor. “River will do no such thing.”
Victor jerked a step forward. “Myword goes here, and River will do whatIsay.”
Dominic stood from the edge of the bed, his objective clear from his blown-up shoulders and tight fists. But Rayna was donewith his shit-arse attitude and quickly pushed her way in front of Victor, bringing Dominic to a stop in front of her.
“That’s enough,” she snapped, icy irritation biting at her skin. “You don’t get a bloody say in what goes on around here, and you sure as fuck don’t get to threaten anyone just to have your way.” His eyes darkened, but she raised her chin undeterred. “Instead of being a rude prick, if there’s something you want, ask for it. Clearly.”
The corner of his mouth lifted the slightest bit as he bent towards her, so damn smug that she was giving him an opening. “Youwill be my Guardian.”
That wasn’t a question.
Victor lurched to answer, but she beat him to it. “No.”
Dominic’s brows dropped in confusion as if he’d never heard the word before. “No?”
“No.”
A snort came from her left, but she didn’t need to follow Dominic’s furious scowl to know it had come from George.
“For what reason are you refusing?” Dominic growled.
She gave him a dismissive shrug. “Because I can.”
His jaw rolled slowly, and Rayna fought the tickling urge to smirk.
There was nothing he could say to counter that, and his dumb silence was music to her ears.
She cocked her head in a taunt. “I also don’t like your attitude, so maybe if you fix that up and apologise to these men, I’ll reconsider.”
“I have done nothing that requires an apology.”
She pointed to each man as she listed his transgressions. “You were dismissive of Monty, you threatened River, you insulted George, and you’re being unnecessarily aggressive towards Victor. But nothing they’ve said or done justifies the way you’re treating them. So apologise. Now.”
Dominic scrubbed a bandaged hand over his whiskered jaw and shuffled closer to her. “What link is there between my apology and your refusal to be my Guardian?”
She scrunched her face at his stupid question. “You’re being rude to the people I work with and care about, and I can’t stand that. So why would I agree to live with you and take care of you for possibly four months?But,if you have the decency to apologise, then I’ll consider being your Guardian.”
“No,” he declared after a few seconds. “There will be no pointless consideration. If I apologise, youwillbe my Guardian.”
“No,” Victor said.
“Andno onewill contend otherwise.”
“I already said no,” Victor said low and slow.
The two men had a stare-off, and Dominic might have had the taller, bulkier build, but Victor’s ice-blue eyes were deadly laser beams that burned like liquid nitrogen.
Rayna turned her back to Dominic. “V—”
“No, Rayna,” he said sternly.
