“I learned a long time ago that the heart is going to do whatever the heart wants.That no matter where lines are drawn, people are going to fall for who they want.Look here at you.Your brother even.With the peace we brokered, it’s time we don’t have issues with where the hearts lead you.”He pauses for a moment.“But if he hurts you, or I find out he’s using you, it will be war.”
“Zio, I know in my heart Patrick isn’t using me.”
“I understand you feel that way, but again, sometimes the heart does what it wants, and sometimes the heart is wrong.The only way to a true alliance is through marriage, and I won’t agree to that yet.”
“Yes, sir.”
The rest of the dinner goes off without a hitch, and before I know it, I’m kissing my mamma goodbye and Hayes is helping me into the back of the SUV he followed us here in.I wait a few minutes before the silence becomes too much for me.
“Thank you for backing me in there.I know your loyalty is to Patrick, yet you supported me.You don’t have to tell me if you lied to him.”
Hayes looks at me in the rearview mirror.“Do you doubt what Paddy told you?”
I think about it for a moment.“No, I don’t.I haven’t since we talked about it.I just mean, you didn’t have to, and I’m honestly sorry I threw you under the bus that way.”
“You had to appease Barone.I understand why you did it.Will you have to meet with Morosov also to confirm?”
“No, my brother already took care of that.Andrei called and had a discussion with Alek while we were at work.”
“Want to tell me what happened with that whale earlier?”
Hayes has been my shadow since he showed up at the casino this afternoon.As a matter of fact, I sent him to get my outfit from the boutique while I took care of March.He came in today, even though he wasn’t scheduled for another week.I knew March wouldn’t like the fact Hayes was with me, so I sent him on that chore.Then March cornered me again.This time he grabbed my arm tight to keep me from getting away.I saw that he marked me and just hope the bruises fade.But it’s what he said to me that still haunts me and bothers me more.
March told me he was going to get me eventually, and I should just let him have me now.I told him I wouldn’t, and he said I’d have no choice.That it was already in the works.When I asked him what he meant, he just shook his head.Hayes knocking on the door to the suite at that moment to check on me is what stopped March from forcing a kiss on me.
I can still smell his foul breath, and it sends a shiver racing up my spine.
“Your response tells me it wasn’t good.”
“He’s been interested in me for months now, and no matter what I say or do to tell him I’m not interested, he keeps pushing the issue.”I make an excuse for March and downplay what really happened, not wanting it to get back to Patrick.“Can we keep this between us?”I have to ask, even though I doubt that will be the case.
Again, he looks at me in the rearview mirror.“I can’t promise you that.I’m your friend, but your protection is my ultimate goal.If Paddy finds out, I can’t guarantee how he’ll react to this man.I’ll be honest.I’ve never seen Paddy act this way before with another woman.Granted, he hasn’t dated much, but with you, it’s been so different.He has a quick temper, he’s overprotective, and I’ve never been assigned to guard anyone else.”
“Aren’t you also his personal assistant?Doesn’t he need you?”Alek told me this after Hayes showed up today.
“I am, but I’m extremely efficient and can do both.As for guarding you, he knows other than Jordon, I’m the most dangerous person in his organization.”
I can’t help but chuckle.“Seriously?”
“Don’t laugh.I am.I may not be as big as JJ, but I can take him down and incapacitate him in under sixty seconds.I met JJ years ago when he and Paddy were fighting in the ring.I beat them both.After Paddy took over the organization, he hired me.I’ve been trained in many of the deadliest hand-to-hand combat styles.”
“Wow.Okay.I’m sorry for assuming otherwise.”
“It happens all the time.”
“Could you teach me?I’ve taken self-defense courses for years, but I couldn’t stop my client from blocking me in and trapping me,” I confess.
His eyes flare wide.“I’m never leaving you alone with that man again.I don’t care what you tell me.He’s a predator, and I’m going to show him what it means to be prey.”He takes a deep breath, then nods.“I can teach you.”
“What do I do if I’m trapped like that?”
“Were you in a tight spot?”
“He asked me to get him a bottle of champagne.I stepped behind the bar, then he pressed me into the counter when I turned around.”
“Hit him with the bottle of alcohol next time.You’ve warned him to leave you alone, correct?”he asks, and I nod.“Then hit him next time.If he restrains your arms, use his body against himself.He’s not respecting your boundaries, so show him what happens.”
“I don’t know if I could do that.What if he sues the casino?”
