Page 70 of Prince of Darkness

I shrug, not giving a shit. I only took a couple of sips. I know now more than ever I need to be thinking clearly. It’s hard enough to do that when Fawn is near me.

“Is there something you need?”

“Wanted to remind you about the charity event tonight. You promised you’d go.”

I grit my teeth. I hate charity events with a passion. They often spend more money on the event and barely break even at the end of the night. I’d rather cut a check and be done with it.

This one is different though. It’s for a women's shelter. There were a handful of times I remember my mom taking me to one before. My father would always win her back in the end. He regretted that once I became a teenager and towered over him. I ruined his life as soon as I could, and I don’t feel any remorse over it.

“I’m still going.”

“Good. I told Fawn to be ready by six. Does that work for you?” I’d told her last week I had an event on Friday and she was to come with me. Like the bastard I am, I hadn't asked. I demanded it. I didn't want to hear the word no come from her lips, so I avoided it.

“If she wants to come, that’s fine.” I’m giving her an out.

“If she wants to come? How about you fix whatever you did so you can stop walking around here like a bear with a thorn stuck in his paw?”

“I don’t need your advice,” I grit out.

“Well, I think you do.” He turns, leaving my office, getting the last words in. He always manages to do that.

I have been on a hell path lately. I’ve been barking orders at everyone. At least I managed to get some work done. Not much. I missed her home-cooked meals and us sharing a bed. Overall, I just missed her. I’m addicted to her, and not being near her has me going through withdrawal.

If I was a better man, I’d let her go. But I’m not, and I know I’ll never be able to do that. I also believe she’s safer here where I can take care of her. She’s not working herself to the bone and barely scraping by.

Then you have her father. He’s bound to get himself into another mess. Offering his daughter up in order to get out of trouble came easily to him. She has so much on her plate. Especially the worry she carries for her grandmother. Fawn has no one to lean on to give her comfort. I want to give her all of these things.

I run a hand down my face, having no fucking clue what to do now. I’ve been trying to give her space, but the reality is I don’t trust myself around her. I lose control way too easily. My need to have her is all-consuming.

I try to focus on work for a few hours. I have a big buyout coming up soon. I’ve invested a lot of time and money into it. My father tried to pull it off years ago but failed miserably. It will give me great pleasure to accomplish something he was unable to.

It will also mean I would need to spend three weeks in Japan to tie things up. I’m not sure I can go that long without my wife and Ace. I’ll have to figure something out before I drive myself crazier. But I’ll worry more about that when the time comes.

I head upstairs to get ready. The event is actually a casual one. I grab a pair of jeans and shirt before I head into the bathroom to change. I stare at the scar on my face in the mirror. She never once asked me about it or seemed put off by its presence.

I run my finger down it. For so long it was all I could see when I looked at myself. Since Fawn has come into my life it doesn't dominate my thoughts anymore. That’s probably due to the fact that she does. I can be obsessive about things. It's how I’ve gotten so far in life. I’ve just never directed it toward a woman.

“Oh, sorry.” My eyes go to Fawn in the mirror. They lock there for a moment before she turns, half running out of the bathroom. I guess that means she has no plans to come with me tonight. Fuck me. Then her sweet voice calls out from inside the closest. “I’ll be ready in twenty minutes.”

The tightness in my chest starts to ease. She comes floating out of the closet a moment later wearing a light purple dress that has gold flowers on it. My eyes drift down her toned legs that I can’t help but imagine wrapped around me as I sink balls deep into her sweet innocence until I get to her sandals. Even her damn feet are sexy. Her toes are painted to match her outfit. She looks stunning. It takes everything in me to control myself.

“Unless you’re still avoiding me,” she tosses out as she walks past me, not bothering to look my way. My fingers itch to reach out and grab her. I fist my hands. I’m not going to ruin this. Her eyes aren't filled with tears. If anything, she’s pissed. Anger I can deal with much better than her tears. Witnessing them claws at my insides. “You could take someone else if you’d like.” She slams the door to the bathroom, leaving me standing alone.

“I’ll wait downstairs for you,” I tell her through the bathroom door. She doesn't respond. But twenty minutes later, she comes down the stairs glowing like an angel. It dawns on me that people are going to see her. Want her. I can’t blame them. Jealousy starts to rise up inside of me. She’s mine.

Her face is unreadable until Ace comes running into the room. Her whole demeanor changes once she gets a glimpse of him. She smiles so wide and welcomes him in for a hug. Now I’m jealous of Ace. I want her to look at me that way. Not with cold disinterest.

I have to win her back. It’s the only option. Thankfully I never lose, and I don’t plan on starting now.

10

FAWN

“This is all so amazing.” I smile at Rebecca and Jim. They’re the heads at Healing Homes. The things they do for women all over the city are truly incredible. “If there is anything I can ever do to help, please let me know. I would love to get involved in some way.”

“Really?” Rebecca's eyes dart from me to Roman. The man had me plastered to his side since we got out of the car. You’d never know that he’s been avoiding me for the last five days. I have no clue what the hell is going on with him. Either way, I’m pissed.

“Of course.” Roman pulls one of his cards out. Jim tries to take it, but Roman makes it clear he’s giving it to Rebecca. What the hell? I bite the inside of my cheek. Is he trying to piss me off more?

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