Page 30 of Possession

I don’t dare move. My heart races as I take in the older couple across from us. Eliza is trembling, and I’m worried Ed might suffer an aneurysm right here in the dining room given the protruding vein on his forehead.

The room is silent other than the rhythmic gong in my chest.

Boz never takes his eyes off Ed. “What do you say?”

Ed says nothing. His frown deepens.

“You just talked about my wife’s pussy as if she’s not sitting here next to me. That’s on top of your lack of respect for me since she’s mine.” Boz picks up his gun and trains it across the table over our dirty dessert plates. “For the final time, what do you say to my queen for disrespecting her?”

Eliza whimpers. A tear falls to her lap, but she never looks up.

“I…” Ed croaks as his beady eyes shift between Boz’s gun and me.

Boz’s finger hovers over the trigger. “You know I’ll do it.”

Ed looks like he’s in physical pain. “I-I’m sorry for disrespecting you.”

Boz doesn’t lower his gun nor does he miss a beat. “The funeral will be small—invitation only. I’ll take care of security and make arrangements for Damian’s body to be taken back to Tijuana to be buried with his family. If you even think of glancing in my wife’s general vicinity again, you’ll pay. Feel free to spread the word. You’ll grant her every ounce of respect I expect you to give me. I’m not Damian or your fucking son—I don’t share, and I don’t fuck around with what’s mine. Got it?”

“Got it,” Ed says, but it comes out on a grunt.

Boz continues to stare at Ed through the sight of his gun. “Get the fuck out of my house.”

Ed proves he can move faster than I gave him credit for. He might not look at me, but he does stand so abruptly, his chair crashes to the floor behind him, echoing harshly through the silent space. He grabs Eliza by her upper arm and yanks her to her feet. I lean into Boz and have to look the other way when she cries out in pain as he drags her out of the house while muttering curse words under his breath.

The door rumbles through the big house when it’s slammed. The guards lower their guns as I try to even my breaths. Whatever buzz I was enjoying through dinner burned off in a snap.

Boz’s gun hits the table with a thud, but he doesn’t let me go. “Leave us.”

I wonder how those men knew to come in when they did. It has to be the cameras Boz told me about. They’re watching us all the time.

“Landyn.”

I jerk against his chest when he calls for me, but I say nothing.

“Chica.” He’s called me that before, but this time it feels softer, more familiar.

Or so I thought. But then he takes familiarity to a new level.

He snakes his hand up my middle and between my breasts without ever touching them. Up my chest and neck, finally landing on my chin, where he forces me to tip my face to his.

His beautiful dark eyes bore into mine. “You okay?”

I shake my head immediately and realize I’m trembling. “That was my fault. What she’s going through right now … it’s my fault. I didn’t know that would happen—I swear.”

His voice is even and controlled. “You didn’t turn him into a wife beater. The way she was acting, I’m sure he’s always been that way. He was an asshole before he got here, and he’ll be one long after today. That’s not on you.”

I shake my head and tears fall down my cheeks. “No, but I made it worse for her. And you had to do the whole gun thing and magically bring others in to back you up. I’m not used to this. I’m sorry.”

“I’m not. He knows not to fuck with you, and his son had better not fuck with you either. Word will get out. If it doesn’t, I’ll spread it myself. I need you to trust that I’ll take care of you.”

I nod. Until now, he’s given me no reason not to trust him. I’ve also seen the horrible paths I’ve avoided, some thanks to him.

We haven’t budged. His arm is still bent up my body between my breasts, his big hand slides down and wraps around my neck. After what just happened, there’s something comforting about sitting here in his arms after he stood up for me.

“Boz?”

His voice is low and close to my ear. “Yeah?”

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