“He’s a billionaire, you idiot,” Fiona yells, her voice wavering. “How can you be so stupid?”
“I’ll make you pay for that, my sweet Fi-Fi.”
“Don’t call me that,” she hisses.
“Didn’t she tell you?” Zack cackles. “We used to be lovebirds. That was my little pet name for her. My sweet Fi-Fi. I’m going to whisper it in her ear when I claim her juicy wet—”
I vault over the banister, sailing through the air. The impact thunders up my legs, my knees shaking, but I show no signs of pain as I rise to my full height and slowly walk over to Zack.
My instincts are primed, ready for war.
Drums beat in my skull, heavy and impossible to ignore.
Zack steps back, his coward’s eyes widening, his mouth opening and closing like a fish.
He fumbles in his pocket and brings out a switchblade, opening it with a hiss.
“I’ll c-cut you,” he snaps. “Stay there.”
“It’s time for you to leave,” I snarl, as he backs himself all the way up to the door.
He bumps into it and the bell gives a small rattle.
“Or I’ll take that knife and shove it down your throat. And if you ever come near my woman again, I’ll kill you. I’ll fucking end you. Leave. Now.”
“This isn’t over,” he blubbers, fumbling with the door handle, making a pathetic whining noise as he stumbles into the night.
I stride to the door and watch him scuttle down the street.
Once I’m certain he’s gone I go back inside and lock the door.
I find Fiona at the top of the stairs, gripping the railing as tremors move through her body, making her look as if she’s going to burst into tears at any moment.
My chest goes tight seeing her like this, rage thundering through me at the notion that some asshole could just march in here and ruin our evening like this.
I pace over to her and wrap my arms around her from behind, pulling her close to me. She shivers against me, letting out a strangled croaking noise.
“Can we go back to the room?” she whispers. “I don’t think I want to be here anymore.”
“Of course,” I tell her. “I need to make arrangements, anyway.”
“What sort of arrangements?” she murmurs.
“Protection,” I tell her. “I’ll put a security detail on us both from now on. They’ll stay at a distance, but they’ll be ready to apprehend Zack or any of his hired goons if he’s stupid enough to show his face again. And I think we should put protection on your family, too. Just to be safe.”
“I can’t believe this is happening,” she murmurs.
“I know,” I sigh. “But it is, and I wouldn’t forgive myself if anything happened to you, your mother, or your sister. They’re going to be my family one day, Fiona.”
She turns in my embrace, gazing up at me with tears glistening in her eyes. But my woman is doing a good job at holding them back, so the tears stay contained within her eyes, shimmering but not falling.
“Thank you,” she whispers. “I’m so sorr—”
“No,” I growl, squeezing her tighter, praying I make her feel safer. “This isn’t your fault. He’s the lunatic. He’s the fucking prick. You don’t have to apologize for any of this.”
“I should probably call my sister,” she mutters. “And my mom. I need to let them know that they’ll have people following them.”
“Will they be angry?” I ask.
“Pfft,” she says, shaking her head. “I doubt it. They know how dangerous Zack is. They’ll just be glad they don’t have to move again. I can’t believe he found me. Is this ever going to end, Forrest?”
“Yes,” I growl.
Taking her face in my hands, I lean down so that we’re staring directly into each other’s eyes.
I gaze into the universe of her eyes.
I never understood what it meant to lose yourself in someone’s eyes before.
But I do now.
“I’ll make sure it comes to an end. I’ll make sure you never have to worry about him again. Whatever happens, however long this takes, I’ll be with you every step of the way. You don’t have to be afraid of him now. He might think he’s tough because he’s got connections to organized crime, but I’ve got the best security detail in the world behind me. Ex-SEALs, ex-Army, ex-everything, these bastards have seen it all. And if they fail, if he ever tries to touch you, I’ll kill him with my own hands.”
She bursts into tears, collapsing against my chest.
I cradle her close, running my hand through her hair, kissing her forehead over and over again.
I have to focus hard to make sure I don’t apply too much pressure on her. The rage is still moving through me, potent and alive, ready to spread spiraling hands and combust every part of me.
I want to blow up and take the whole damn world with me, leaving just me and Fiona behind.