Page 80 of Claim

I shook the thought from my head. Sophia’s strength went beyond anyone I’d ever met. She’d walk away with her head held high before she’d let anyone destroy her. Hell, she’d punch someone in the face on her way out.

No matter how much I wished otherwise, the guilt over Maria’s death would forever stay locked away in the back of my mind. I’d never forget the shock and numbness I’d felt. Williams had raged at me, blamed me for bringing her into the life, for forcing her to my wicked ways.

I hadn’t defended myself. I never revealed the truth about his sister and the fact she’d been a submissive to other Doms long before we’d ever gotten together. Williams wouldn’t have believed me even if I’d tried. He grieved out of love for a lost sister. What I felt was only guilt.

Maybe if I’d tried harder, I could have loved her.

Who the fuck was I kidding? I’d had no heart to give a woman. The concepts of physical needs and protection were ingrained into me but love never sat on the list.

I was so much like the building I created, structured and soulless.

Until I met Sophia.

What the ever-loving fuck had I gotten myself into? The woman made me feel. For her, I found myself doing things I’d never considered before in my life.

First, the incident in the common room at the club and then last night in the ballroom.

The thought of anyone else touching her, being with her, made me murderous.

She was mine. Mine to fuck, mine to punish, mine to watch shed those beautiful tears.

Until her, no one stood up for me or sought to defend me.

Only an idiot wouldn’t fall for a woman like that. So I’d do everything in my power to shield her from the Randolphs of the world. I’d rid the earth of them without a second thought.

Randolph would learn soon enough the consequences of ignoring my warning. Lucian took care of things his way. I handled things more cleanly. Well, my way left less chance of evidence.

Although, the method Lucian wanted me to use to end the situation had its merits too. And technically, the original idea came from me.

Not so long ago, Lucian had used one of my construction sites to dispose of a celebrity, rockstar, or something who’d interfered in his relationship with Elaine.

No matter, Randolph wouldn’t trouble Sophia or any other innocent again.

Was this the type of devotion Maria craved from me? A pang of guilt hit me. It would never have been possible. I never felt for her what roars through my blood for Sophia.

Fuck, I’d send myself on a head trip.

Downing my coffee, I turned to set my cup on a nearby table. That was when my cell phone rang with an incoming call.

Reading the display, I groaned inside and picked up. “This better be important, Morelli. Especially since it isn’t even seven in the morning, so spit it out.”

“If you hurt her, I’ll make your life a living hell.”

“You made that threat already. Want to come up with a new one?”

“She’s my sister. Do you expect me to condone what you’re doing with her?”

“For a sadist kink club owner, you play the pearl-clutching church lady very well.” I set an arm against the railing. “Does your wife know this side of your nature?”

“I should have taken care of you years ago.”

“Probably.” I shrugged, even knowing he couldn’t see me. “Then again, you needed someone in your life who wasn’t scared of you. I was the only one who qualified.”

“You don’t deserve her.”

“She’s an adult and makes her own decisions. Besides, if you’re so against us being together, why did you direct her to the greenhouse?”

“She would have found you eventually. Nothing deters her once she puts her mind to something. I only kept her from causing another incident looking for you.”

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