A pause. “And you are?”
“Not Mark Cooligan.” It’s looking better and better for his death. But I made her a promise—so I’ll be good. For once.
Looking down at Collins, I kiss her forehead. “Why don’t you grab us two more glasses of champagne and I’ll see how much longer until you present?”
Her brows furrow and there’s a nasty retort on her tongue, but I silence it with a hard, wet kiss. Against her lips, I whisper, “I love when you fight me, but not right now, viper.Go.”
Pushing her gently, the woman rolls her eyes, finger raised. “We’re going to have words.”
“I can’t wait.” Dodging eager partygoers, she steps on to the white and grey stenciled tile, giving me an insufferable look as the fragrant blue flowers swing behind her.
Once she’s far enough away, I grab the idiot by his throat, tossing him into the nearby staff bathroom. The lights flicker on and I stand at the door and pin him with a glare.
Smart boy. He doesn’t move.
“What the fuck, man?”
“Don’t talk,” I demand. A smile stays on my lips but I’m itching to throw my fist through his mouth. I adjust my cuffs.“Just listen. You don’t know Collins. You don’t know who she is, what she sounds like. In fact, you’ve never heard the nameCollins O’Briena day in your life. And you sure asfuck, haven’t screwed her in a library study room either.”
His face pales, eyes wide. “How did you?—”
“Eh, eh,” I wave my finger, pulling out the Glock from my side holster, hidden under my jacket, “you’re still talking. I said no talking.”
He gulps loudly.
“Youdon’tknow her,” I repeat, stepping close, holding the gun to his throat. A bead of sweat rolls down his cheek, wetting the barrel. “And you’re going to tell all the other fuckers who were her study friends too. No one talks, knows,thinksabout Collins O’Brien. Because if you do,” I say, clicking the safety off, “you’ll end up burning in a pit in the middle of the woods, a charred body. And I’ll sleep like a damn baby for putting you there. Got it?”
Mark nods, stuttering, “Y-yes, sir. I don’t know her. Not at all.”
“Good. Spread the word.” Just for fun, I slam him into the wall before he scurries away. Before he gets to the exit, I call out. “Oh, andMark? Don’t tell anyone about me, or you might find out the hard way if I’m serious or not.”
He fumbles with the door handle, throwing himself to the safety of a crowd, without a backwards glance.
Was that over the top? Maybe. But fuck, does it make me feel better. I take out my phone. I’ll shoot Briar a text just in case. If Collins gives me the approval, then Mark won’t see his next birthday.
Exiting the bathroom, I stop dead, locking eyes with Collin’s wide green gaze, her mouth parted, eyebrows high. It takes a moment for it to sink in—fear and outrage painting her cheeksrosy. I turn toward the man at her side, and my fists clench in anger.
Roman.
33
HAYES
What the fuck?—
He’s got a firm hand on the back of my date’s neck, holding her still. She glares ahead, not at me, but at being caught. At him touching her.
He has a death wish. He has his filthy, deranged hands all over someone who is pure starlight on Earth—andmine. Taking one step forward, my vision turns red and I imagine Roman’s lifeless body at my feet.
“Little brother,” he greets, and Collins recoils in disgust. “Let’s move to a more private area, hm? We have a few things to discuss.”
Can I move quick enough to grab her before then? Glancing to his hand, I weigh the options. I’ll take a bullet for Collins but I will not let her be hurt because of me. “You’re knocking on death’s door,” I retort, lips barely moving. “You’re touching my wife. I’ve killed men for less.”
“You meanmywife. She’ll need to get used to the feel of my hands on her skin.” Collins shudders and my heart skips a beat, bile on my tongue.
“The only thing of yours she’ll get used to, is your blood sprayed on her skin.” I raise my gun. “Let her go.”
Roman smiles wide, a Cheshire cat with a story to tell and jerks her forward just to piss me off. Stumbling, she grunts and there, at her spine, I see Roman’s gun pressed deep.
