Page 19 of Corrupted Union

“Is this your natural color?” He finally allowed the hair to slip through his fingers.

Blood drained from my face, emotion surging to fill all the empty capillaries until I was overwhelmed with feeling.

I shook my head.

“What’s your natural color?”

“Blond,” I breathed.

“You always dye it?”

“Yes,” I clipped, pulling away as I fought for control of myself. “What is it you want from me?” I demanded softly. The damn man turned me inside out, and I was sick of grasping for purchase on his slippery slope.

Keir’s eyes finally returned to mine, an eerie calm reinstated. “I’ll think of something. The more important question is, are you sure you want to go down that road?”

I studied him—absorbed every nuance of his posture and each tiny tell into his personality. I considered the way he hadn’t tolerated disrespect at his club. I recalled the defacto manner in which he’d negotiated with my father, and the way I’d known innately that he wouldn’t harm me. As for his kiss, never in a million years would I be able to forget how the touch of his lips had found a way to unlock a piece of my soul.

But he was still a criminal, and this was my chance to walk away. To scrub Keir Byrne from my memory banks and do my best to continue onward with the life I’d so carefully constructed.

This was a pivotal moment in my life. I could sense it as clearly as I could feel the heat radiating off his body. One day, I’d look back at this single decision as either the beginning or the end.

If only I knew which road led where.

All I could do was go with my gut, and one word resounded in my head.

“Yes.”

Thoughts of Rowanhad crept into my mind like an invasive vine choking out all other life. No matter how hard I tried to concentrate on work that evening or clear my mind as I lay in bed that night, images of her hazel eyes haunted me.

No, that wasn’t right. Calling her eyes hazel was like simplifying the vastness of the Universe by calling it space. She had entire galaxies of color in her irises—full spectrums of green and gold and brown—different hues sparking to life depending on her mood. And her moods, dear God did she try to keep control of her fiery nature with a stranglehold. She was utterly fascinating.

If I was honest with myself, that was why I went to tell her in person that I planned to help. I didn’t have to. I certainly didn’t have to interrupt her class, but I liked trying to rile her. She was so damn self-possessed. That was usually my role. But when she was around, I felt like I’d lost all the progress I’d made over the years and was back to being a kid—unable to string two words together and talking with my fists. I liked finding ways to shatter her control. It was only fair, considering she did the same to me.

The other reason I’d sought her out was to ensure she didn’t go digging for answers and get herself into trouble. Considering she’d come to me because she was convinced something awful was happening at that house, I’d thought she wouldn’t have a problem with my orders to stay away. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I didn’t like her involvement with the Wellington family, but Ihatedhow she scoffed at the idea of staying away from her boyfriend.

How could someone so hell-bent on doing good care for a man as worthless as Stetson Wellington? I’d done the research—the kid was an asswipe. A spoiled little rich boy who had no concept of the real world. Two-dimensional. Pathetic.

She couldn’t have real feelings for him. I was even more convinced of it after I felt the way she melted in my arms. So why was she with him? And why refuse to walk away?

I shook my head to myself as the man in question walked out of his apartment building. There was more than one way to skin a cat. If Rowan wouldn’t stay away from trouble, I’d make sure trouble stayed away fromher, sooner rather than later.

The day after pulling her from class, I was back near the NYU campus for a visit of a different kind.

The douche had on a polo shirt with little golfers all over it, for Christ’s sake. He was making it hard to take him seriously. He’d probably piss himself if confronted by someone like me.

One could only hope.

He eyed me warily as he approached. I stood leaning against my motorcycle, which I’d conveniently parked only inches from the front of his car. He paid for a prime parking spot right out front. Handy when someone needed to track down his car.

“Hey, man, think you can move for a second so I can pull out?” He tried to be polite, but I could hear the irritation in his voice.

I simply looked him up and down and smiled as I lifted my phone to my ear. “Hey, babe. How was class?” Rowan stuttered on the other end, giving me the perfect opportunity for a genuine smile. “Good to hear. Listen, I have someone here who’d like to talk to you.” I tapped the speakerphone icon and leveled Stetson Wellington with a malicious stare. “Can you hear me?” I asked Rowan with a touch more volume.

“What? Yes, I can hear you.”

“Ro?” Stetson barked, his eyes rounding.

That’s right, pretty boy. I have your girlfriend on speed dial.

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