Page 36 of Filthy Little Lies

Cassie groans.

I smile. She has no idea the beast she’s just awoken. Being insulted in my world is an instant beatdown. Being insulted in public, with this many eyes watching, could mean worse.

“Lucian, take care of that one. I’ll be dealing with this one.” Bending at the waist, I throw my shoulder into her stomach and hoist her over.

“Oh my god!” She screeches and goes feral trying to wiggle her way out of my grasp.

The crowd parts as I walk through the bar. Not a single person lifts a finger to stop me. They wouldn’t dare.

She seems to be the only person in the city who doesn’t understand the power I wield. I won’t bother denying that fact both irritates and excites me.

It explains why her reactions are so natural and so real. She has no fear of me.

Well, she might after tonight.

CHAPTER 11

Savvy

“Stay here,” the neanderthal orders me as Damien, our driver—and snitch—pulls up to the front entrance of the house.

I itch to throw open the door before he can come around to do it himself, but he’s been dead silent the entire drive back. No matter what bait I threw at him, he merely sat in his seat staring out his window.

At one point, he moved his hand to my knee, squeezed, then kept it there the rest of the drive.

He has no reason to be angry. Other than ignoring what time he thought I should be back, I didn’t break any of his stupid rules.

My phone buzzes with a text from Cassie.

I’m home. I’ll text after the interview.

I send back a heart emoji, my anger taking on a whole new level. I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye.

When my door swings open, I launch myself out onto the driveway and stalk my way up the steps to the door.

It’s locked.

Of course it is.

Silently, he steps in front of me and slides his key in easily and unlocks it. The door pops open immediately. He steps out of my way so I can barge inside.

A man steps out from a short hallway, scaring the breath right out of me. I jump backward, stumbling over my feet and landing in Gabriel’s arms.

The man, dressed in a pair of black jeans and a black button-down, stares at me hard for a moment before looking to Gabriel.

“You can go. I don’t want anyone in the house tonight.” Gabriel grasps my elbow.

That’s probably a bad sign for me, but there’s too much boiling rage in my chest for me to pay much attention to the warnings.

I rip my arm from him and stalk to the stairs. Taking them two at a time, I run up to the bedroom. Not the one I share with him, but the one I’ve set up as my own personal office space.

Before I can get the door locked, not that it would matter, he’s right there, behind me.

Without a word, he stalks me further into the room until I’ve walked myself against the wall. He presses a forearm over my head and wraps his hand around my throat, effectively trapping me. Like an animal.

His fierce gaze sweeps over my face. His nostrils flare, and in a flash there seems to be a decision made.

Then he kisses me. His tongue touches my bottom lip, coaxing my submission. His fingers tighten around my throat when I finally allow him entry, and the kiss deepens.