Page 22 of Fortress of the King

“Dane! Stop it, you’re hurting me!”

His face is angry in a split second; this is how he is, volatile. “You’re my wife, Rayne, and I want to come back.” His hand grabs me tighter, squeezing hard. “You can’t just cut me out of your life. We could’ve worked it out…”

“Ex-wife,” I seethe through gritted teeth. “You’re not coming back. You need to wake up, the time for talking was a year ago, but you didn’t want to do that. I’m done, now let go of me!”

His eyes narrow. “That’s fucking unfair and you know it!” he growls back.

My eyes dart over his shoulder at the very large man coming up behind him, it’s then that I see Angelo right beside him. Oh no.

“What the fuck is going on?” Angelo spits when he reaches us, glaring at Dane, then he sees his hand on my arm and he looks like he might explode.

“He was just leaving,” I say, pulling away once his grip loosens.

“Get your fucking hands off her!” Angelo barks in his face, grabbing him by the shirt as he yelps in surprise. Angelo’s bodyguard is dark and mean-looking and about twice the size. He stands there looking just as menacing as Angelo, who hasn’t let go of Dane’s shirt.

“Who the fuck are you?” Dane cries out, trying to get away.

The scene unfolds before me rapidly as I put a hand over my mouth, seeing but not believing it.

“Dane, please don’t,” I begin, knowing it’s fruitless.

I don’t know everything about Angelo, but I do know enough to know that picking a fight with him is not a good position to be in.

“What the fuck did you just say to me?” Angelo snarls, pushing Dane back, so he stumbles.

“Is this the new guy?” Dane sneers, his eyes darting to mine.

Angelo doesn’t wait for an answer, his eyes flick to mine. “Are you all right?” he asks.

I nod, stepping further away from Dane and closer to Angelo and the burly guy who looks like he’s about a few seconds away from slugging him one. It’s strange to feel safer with them right now than with this person I used to love.

“Go over to the limo,” Angelo tells me in no uncertain terms, nodding to the awaiting car in front of a startled-looking Melody, who has come out onto the street to look for me.

“Angelo, I –”

“Move!” he barks at me as I jump in fright.

“She’s my fucking wife!” Dane spits. “You can’t tell me what to do!”

“She said ex-wife, fuckface. Is this what you do for kicks? Is it, big shot? Intimidate women on the street? Assault them when they say no?”

“Who the hell are you?” Dane repeats.

I stare between the two of them, wishing the ground would swallow me whole, this definitely is not part of the plan.

“Your worst fucking nightmare,” Angelo sneers.

“She always was a fucking little slut!” Dane calls after me as I retreat backwards.

I turn as I see Angelo punch him in the face, then uppercut him in the ribs. He then twists his arm around when he tries to swing. Dane drops halfway to his knees, crying out in pain as I hear a loud snap.

“I’ll say this only once. Don’t talk to her. Don’t contact her. Don’t even fucking look at her. You hear me, asshole?” Angelo growls menacingly.

I back further away towards the limo, watching what’s unfolding right before us.

“You broke my fucking arm!” Dane wails as he collapses to the ground.

“That’s not all I’ll break if you come near her again,” he snarls and turns on his heel toward me. He shakes his head at the big dude leering behind him, who looks disappointed he doesn’t get to join in on the action.

Angelo comes towards me as I step back. His eyes are dark and cloudy, and frankly, he looks downright furious. He puts his hand on the small of my back and pushes me gently forward into the open car door.

“Get in,” he says close to my ear.

“Melody!” I call, but he turns to his burly bodyguard.

“Make sure she gets home,” he says, nodding towards her.

I’ve no idea where we’re going, but we leave Dane rolling around on the ground as the limo swiftly drives away, and I do not dare look back.

---