“How dare I? I find that to be an interesting statement coming from a man who trashed the house she was living in and plastered ‘bitch’ on the wall. In my world, that’s not only reprehensible but grounds for… termination.”
His initial reaction was not what I’d expected. Shock. Then his typical arrogance took over.
“Are you threatening me, Mr. Dmitriyev? Don’t bother. I’m not scared of you.”
Jaxon laughed first and I merely grinned. “Maybe you should be. No one is allowed to treat a woman with disrespect.”
“That’s between me and my girlfriend.”
“So you’re saying she’s a bitch.” Why not egg him on. I wanted to see just how stupid he was.
“She just needs to understand she belongs to me.”
That was enough for me. The guy was a fool as well as an asshole. There were benefits to almost daily trips to the gym, enjoying the art of boxing. I threw a brutal punch to his nose, the sharp crack and stream of blood indicating the direct hit had provided the result I’d been going after.
Before he could fully react, I tossed two savage punches to his abdomen then tossed him onto the floor like a ragdoll.
Sighing, I yanked his arm up, twisting it awkwardly and jerking his body so he’d be able to look me directly in the eye. I could easily either snap my wrist, breaking his arm in two places, or utilize the correct angle and pressure, pulling his arm free from his shoulder socket. I chose the latter. That was still tame in comparison to what I would prefer doing to him.
His howls were a clear indication of how dramatic he was. “You’re hurting me, you fuck.”
“Not nearly as much as I should at this point, Damien. You’re an abusive man who believes that women are objects to be used for your benefit and nothing else. I’m simply reminding you that your way of thinking is barbaric. And won’t bode well for you in the future.”
“Fuck you.”
Mistake.
As I’d often heard from my brother and cousins, it used to be easier when there was no reflection on decisions made. You simply eliminated your enemies in the most suitable manner.
Now that we were civilized, we scrutinized the objective of what we were trying to accomplish. His mistake ripped away the last of my patience.
I yanked out my weapon, pointing the barrel toward his face.
“No. No!” His moans were increasing in volume. “Please.”
“Please? Please what, Damien? Spare your life? Maybe I should just shoot you in the balls.” I jerked his arm painfully, exposing his groin and lowering my weapon to between his legs.
I was almost certain he was going to piss in his pants.
“Just please. I won’t touch her. But I didn’t touch her house. I didn’t leave a message on her wall.”
I could tell there was some truth to his statement. Maybe he’d hired someone to trash her place. Whatever the case, the fact he’d laid a hand on her was enough for me. I didn’t move for a few seconds, allowing the terror to increase.
Finally, I let go of his arm and he flopped on his belly, taking gasping breaths.
Very slowly I knelt beside him, my gun now held between my legs. “Damien, I’m going to give you one last reprieve, but if you as much as look in her direction or breathe her name, I will return to this moment and there will be no third chance. You’re lucky Ms. Rose is a decent human being. I, however, am not. Do I make myself clear?”
“Sure, but what’s it to you?”
I thought about his question as I stood, answering him just before walking away. “Because Lainey Rose belongs to me.”
CHAPTER 9
Sasha
“Isit possible for eardrums to be burst by little girls screaming at the tops of their lungs?” My cousin winced, even exaggerating a groan from the delighted squeals coming only yards away from where we stood.
Mikhail’s question was met with laughter. While I chuckled, my mind was still on Damien and his lack of admission.
