Page 76 of Lust

Before I can step in front of her, he says, "What the fuck are you doing here?"

Chapter 24

Clarissa

IthinkI'mgoingto throw up.

The retort I was about to fling at Matthias after he admitted being a manwhore chokes me.

"I said, what the fuck are you doing here?" Damien shouts, his face red, the grin that he had when the elevator doors opened, sliding off his face into an angry mask.

"Damien. Wait," Matthias says, stepping in front of me.

"Wait for what? Don't make me ask again."

I take a step back into the elevator, my back up against the wall. Past Damien, I see Kingsley standing there, his face frozen in shock. But if Damien is usually quiet, Kingsley is practically mute. A man of the fewest words I've ever known.

"Damien, easy. Let's go inside," Matthias says, extending his hand behind him. What for, I don't know. Is he trying to take my hand? Does he want Damien to actually kill me?

"What the hell am I waiting for?" Damien roars.

He tries to rush past Matthias, his finger pointing at my face. " Clarissa, I told you to stay the fuck away from me and my family. You soul sucking, fucking bitch!"

Matthias shoves his brother, and Damien stumbles back into the apartment. "Hey! I said take it easy. I'll explain everything, but you need to calm the fuck down, okay? I'm not going to let you talk to her like that."

Damien's face blanches, then flashes red again. "I'll talk to her any way I want. In case you want me to remind you what she did to me. Tous."

"I know. You don't need to remind me. But... we're going to need to put that in the past, Damien. Because, Clarissa are I... we're getting married..."

Well. So much for breaking it to them gently.

Matthias turns to me, his eyes softening to reassure me, checking on me, taking charge.

"I'm sorry, what?" Kingsley finally speaks up, while Damien stares at Matthias.

"I said Clarissa and I are getting married. It's going to be announced on Saturday, Paula leaked that we're dating tonight."

Damien clenches his fists and hisses at me, "What the fuck are you doing to him?"

"I'm not—" I speak for the first time. "This isn't anything like that."

"Then what the hell is it?" He pushes his face up into Matthias's face. "You hate her, Matthias. You've always hated her."

"Well, yes, I did." Matthias agrees as he takes a step back to stand next to me. Maybe it's for a united front, but frankly, I was okay with him shielding me from Damien,

Damien, who's always just waiting to erupt.

A traumatic childhood, so many pressures from his job, with no outlet, left him angry, brooding, and unreasonable when he was with me.

He's never hurt me, but his anger is intimidating.

Matthias continues, "But I don't anymore. Look guys, we'll talk about this inside. It's for the best, I promise."

Damien narrows his eyes. "You're making a mistake."

"I'm sorry, I don't think so." I'm not sure I don't agree with Damien about this. Maybe we have made a big mistake.

My ex snickers as he glances back at me with hatred. "Trust me, you are. You don't know what she's capable of."

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