Page 71 of The Charmer's Gambit
His foot connected with my jaw, silencing me. It wasn’t so much a kick as a stern tap and served as a warning that he could do worse if he wanted. I massaged the tender spot with my palm and fought off the tears brewing behind my eyes.
“What did I say about talking? Fuck, Rach. You’re smarter than that, unless all this whoring has gone to your brain.” He puffed his cigar again, his expression bored.
“Well, I thought it would be good for my career to have an accomplished woman at my side, but apparently, allowing you to work on this project has backfired. You’ll be going home with me in the morning, and we’ll be starting over. The first thing you’ll do is quit your job. All your time will be focused on planning our wedding and the campaign anyway, so that shouldn’t be a big deal. While you’re doing that, I’ll have your things moved back into my house. Then we’ll start working on your behavioral issues and my expectations.”
My stomach revolted at his words, and my limbs tensed.
No.
I wouldnotbe going anywhere with him.
The woman he used to push around retreated to the back of my mind as the confident one who confided in Will stepped forward. Ryan didn’t control this new version of me, nor would he ever own it. He could kick and hit me all he wanted, but I would not bow down to him. Not again.
“No,” I whispered.
This time I anticipated his foot and moved away from him to put my back to the wall and curl my knees into my chest.
I narrowed my eyes at him when he stood. “Go ahead, Ryan. Do your worst.”
He had likely already given me a concussion if the throbbing at the back of my head was anything to go by, and my throat would have a hand print around it in the morning, just like the last time he choked me, but my heart would be free. My mind, too. And that’s what mattered.
His gaze ran over me as he set his cigar aside and stood. I expected to see anger darken his features, but instead, they brightened with lust. My throat convulsed at the sight of it. Furious Ryan I could handle, but not this. It froze me in place, so much so that I couldn’t even breathe. He must have sensed my overwhelming fear, because he smiled.
“Oh, Rachel. I’ve always enjoyed whores with attitudes.” He grabbed a fistful of my hair again and forced me to my knees. “It’s so fun to fuck their mouths into submission.” His free hand was on his zipper when the door flew open.
One minute my skull was on fire from his grip, and the next, Ryan was on the floor beside me, cradling his jaw. A livid Will Mershano loomed over us, his gaze on my neck. His jaw clenched at the sight, but he said nothing as he held a hand out to help me up from the floor. I managed to stand with a wince,and he immediately pulled me to his side with an arm around my shoulders.
“If you ever touch her again, I will end you.” No hesitation, no anger, just an unerring threat delivered in the calmest tone I’d ever heard from Will.
Ryan spat out a mouthful of blood and stood to take his opponent’s measure. They stood at an equal height, both broad-shouldered and athletic, but the man beside me had more muscle on him. My ex’s lithe form was crafted from an expensive personal trainer, while Will earned his doing manual labor.
I half expected Ryan to try something stupid, like punch Will, but he was too suave for that. Instead, he smiled that damn charming smile and shrugged. “What happened to your security detail, Mershano? They seem to have dropped the ball.” He fixed his tie and smoothed it with a hand. “You might want to check on that.”
Will grinned. “Your connections don’t scare me, Albertson. But thanks for the not-so-subtle warning.” I had no idea what he was talking about but sensed something bad had happened to Beau and Sam. Ryan wouldn’t kill anyone, would he?
“Well, you can’t say I didn’t try.” My ex put his hands in his pockets, the picture of nonchalance. “Last chance, Mershano.”
“As previously stated, you don’t scare me. Now get the fuck out of my family’s hotel.”
Ryan nodded once in acquiescence, then caught my gaze for a long moment and held it. “See you soon, baby girl.”
28
All the Feels
Will rolled a block of ice in a towel and handed it to me. “You’re sure you don’t want to get checked out?” he asked, eyeing my throat.
I shook my head. “No, the ice and painkillers are fine.” The hospital would be more uncomfortable than this couch, not to mention more invasive. What I needed right now was to breathe and to relax.
I’m safe.
For now.
I pressed the cool pack to the back of my head with a grimace. It hurt a lot more now that the adrenaline was no longer flooding my veins.
“But are you okay?” Will’s soft tone did not match the faint flush of his cheeks or the fury blackening his gaze. “Sorry, that’s a stupid question. Of course you’re not.” He ran his fingers through his hair and paced the living area. “Fuck, if I’d answered my phone sooner . . . But I kept ignoring it . . .” He shook his head and went to his knees before me. When his head fell to my lap, my heart broke a little. He evidently blamed himself. “I’m so sorry, Rachel.”
“Don’t,” I whispered. “Don’t apologize for him.” It was reminiscent of what he had said to me after I’d told him about Ryan . . .Don’t apologize on his behalf ever again. Will’s nod said he understood, but his eyes still grieved.
