Page 34 of Bargaining

His thin lips took on an amused twist. “Don’t these little games get boring for you?”

When he spoke to me in that tone, I was a powerless kid again. Scared. Obedient. He’d bullied me. Made me feel out of control.Never again.“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The strings of the violin screamed in my ear. His voice dropped to a vicious whisper.

“You’re pathetic. Vindictive. Spiteful. Just like your mother. You won’t go far like this.”

He wanted an outburst from me. He’d never seen me as a person. Just as someone to criticize and belittle. I’d best him by not giving him what he wanted. I kept my tone level and composed. “Never speak about my mother again. You don’t have the right. We’ve all moved on, Philip. I’ve changed. I’m not the man I was in New York.”

“Changed? Don’t kid yourself. You’re a Thorner. Men like us don’t change.” He leaned in closer, forcing me to inhale his sour old-man cologne. “That hotel is mine. Stay out of it.”

“Why do you even want it? What does it matter to you?”

“It’s the best hotel in Rome. Why wouldn’t I want it?”

The truth flickered in his eyes. He wanted it because he knew what it would do to me. He wanted it because my mother had loved it. And I’d loved her.I need to get Charlotte the fuck out of here. I can’t ever let him near her.A wave of stark panic went through me. I’d made her vulnerable. I’d got cocky and selfish. What had I been thinking, bringing her into my world? My father destroyed everything I cared about. What if I couldn’t protect her? I’d keptaway from Ecclesdale for all these years. It should have stayed that way. I’d been weak.

I twisted and strode with purpose through twirling guests to where Reuben, the snake, had his hands on Charlotte.

“We’re leaving.”

Charlotte’s eyes widened. “Already?”

Reuben frowned and swished Charlotte away, giving me his back. “Shame on you, Cole. This is terrible etiquette. Interrupting in the middle of a dance.”

Rage exploded inside me at his stupid grin. Nothing made me sicker than coming face-to-face with my father when I was unprepared for battle. Reuben extended his hand so that Charlotte could do a twirl. She spun with a smile on her face, and he pulled her back to him. His approving eyes roved over her body, landing where her beautiful breasts curved above the bodice of her tight gown. Jealousy coursed through my blood, hot and sour like poison. He had no fucking right to look at her like that. How could she let him hold her? How could she be so at ease with the golden boy, of all people?

I fought to keep my voice low and level. “That’s enough. Put your eyes back in their sockets and take your hands off my fiancée.”

“You’ll get her back, don’t worry.” Teasing sparkled in his eyes. He was always so carefree and fun. He’d lived such a charmed existence. That floppy hair and endlessly sunny disposition made me sick. Everything was always such a big fucking joke for him.

“You didn’t warn me Philip would be here.”

“And you didn’t tell me you were engaged!” Reuben shook his head in surprise. “He changed his mind last minute. Apologies. I didn’t know I needed to warn you.”

My fingers burned to grab Reuben by the collar and shake that easy smile off his face. But causing a scene wouldn’t serve mypurpose here. Word would get back to Gabe, and I’d look like the problem. Philip Thorner would win.

“Take your hands off my fiancée.”

Reuben laughed. “Someone is jealous. I told you, I’ll give her back to you.”

This bastard.My breath burned my lungs. The music was too loud. There were too many people. I had the strangest sensation, like I was in motion, driving a fast car with no brakes. My words exploded, raw and loud. “Remove your hands from my fiancée before I remove them from your fucking wrists.”

Reuben frowned and held still. A couple of nearby dancers turned to look. Charlotte’s lips parted in shock. Heat climbed the back of my neck. Fighting to keep any scrap of civility, I reached for Charlotte’s hand.

“We’re leaving. Now.” My words came out as a rough command despite the guilty sensation creeping over me.

She snapped her hand away from me, surprise and hurt glittering in her eyes. This wasn’t me. Not with her. I didn’t give a fuck if the world thought I was an arsehole, but not Charlotte. I didn’t want to lose my temper in front of her.

Her eyes searched my face. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing. Just do as I say.”

Her expression filled with belligerence, and she folded her arms. “Do as you say?”

I glanced over my shoulder, scanning for my father. He’d still be lurking around here somewhere. My pulse pounded a sickening rhythm in my throat.I need to get out of here.“I brought you here, and now it’s time to go.”

She clamped her jaw tight and stared. Her breasts curved above her folded arms and I fought not to let my gaze wander down. She looked magnificent. No wonder Reuben had headed straight for her and put his filthy hands all over what was mine.