Affection pushed and pulsed.
I could barely see.
My hold on her face tightened in emphasis. “I’m the last person you should be worried about, Emily. The last. But you’re right. It’s better if we stop whatever this is before it’s too late. Before I hurt you in a way that I can’t take back. But promise me, Precious, promise me. You do what’s right for you. When you’re ready—to tell me, to tell Melanie, to tell anyone? Whoever it is? You do it. Just . . . do me a favor. If you’re going to agree to do that show? Know that I will be there for you, Emily. I will protect you. Tell them yes, but under the stipulation that you don’t sign the contract until after. Until you play and you’re sure. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”
That piece of shit couldn’t have any power over her before this ended.
“But what about Mr. Fitzgerald? I don’t know the details, but I’m guessin’ he’s not gonna be pleased with that.”
Hatred rolled out on dark laughter. “I’ll handle Karl Fitzgerald. Don’t give that bastard a thought.”
Her eyes pinched, her pulse thudding so fast and hard and erratic. The beat of it calling for me.
It was fucking brutal.
“I . . . thank you, Royce. Thank you for all you’ve done for us. For me.” She pressed her hand over the thunder raging in my chest. “You are the best thing that has happened to me in so long.”
I pressed a kiss to her forehead.
Relishing.
“No, baby, you are the best thing that has happened to me.”
Then I stood, went to the door, and pushed out into the hall.
The second I stepped out, Melanie darted in, cutting me a glance of worry and speculation as she passed. The door slammed behind her, and I heaved out a strained sigh and started for my door only to freeze when I felt the presence behind me.
“What the fuck is your game?”
I slowly swiveled around to find Richard glaring at me from ten feet down the hallway.
He moved for me, advancing until he brought us head to head.
Toe to toe.
I lifted my chin. “I needed to have a word with your sister.”
A strobe of anger flashed through his eyes, and he lowered his voice. “I asked you to come here to help convince her to sign. Show her the reasons that she should. Not for you to go thinking she’s a good place to dip your dirty dick. She doesn’t come with the package.”
Rage flared, and I pushed him by the chest.
Hard.
He stumbled back into a door across the hall.
“The fuck?” he shouted low, the words barely contained in the hotel hallway.
I got in his face, voice grating and hard, dripping venom. “You have no fucking clue what your sister will do for you, do you? Have no idea what she’s been through, what she’s going through, to keep your name clean?”
Bewilderment bounced through his expression, and the redness coloring his cheeks quickly drained, his flesh turning a pasty white.
“What the hell are you implying?” he shot back, eyes narrowing.
“Playing ignorant isn’t a cute look on you, Ramsey.”
He shoved me back an inch.
“You think you know a fucking thing about me? Don’t you dare come in here trying to toss around some bullshit you don’t know shit about. And if my sister has issues with something in my life? She’ll come to me. Me.” He slammed a fist on his chest. “The last thing we need is some ex-con sniffing around, thinkin’ he’s gonna get a bigger bite out of the pie.”
I blanched.
He let go of a menacing laugh. “You forgettin’ I know who you are, asshole?”
My jaw clenched, and it was taking my all not to lunge for him. To keep from pounding that fucking knowing smirk from his face.
Only thing saving him was it was clear he thought he was standing up for his sister’s honor. Protecting her.
He took a step closer. “You think I don’t see you salivating over her? Sick bastard wanting to take a little more? She’s a good girl, has been through a ton of shit, and she sure as hell doesn’t need more. So why don’t you do what you do best and sign this fucking deal, and then step the fuck back?”
Eyes shooting daggers, he pointed at her door. “If I catch you even looking at her again, I’m going to ruin your ass, starting with me telling her who you are.”
“You were the one who wanted me to come here, Richard.” My voice lowered, nothing but gravel. “The one who wanted to sign with Mylton Records so badly that you were willing to go behind your sister’s back.”
He scoffed out a laugh. “I was doing it for the band.”
“And the deal was you didn’t mention my past if I came here. You want me to walk, keep making threats.”