This wasn’t right.
He leaned in further, reaching his hand to gently turn my face toward his. I searched his black eyes fearfully to find any truth in them, but came up empty-handed. They weren’t the piercing blue eyes I was used to. The ones I wanted. I pulled my head back slightly about to tell him to stop.
But suddenly his hand was torn away from my face as he was being lifted from the bench and thrown on the grass.
Chapter 40
Jeremiah
Anderson sneered up at me from where he lay in the grass. I knew he wouldn’t be down for long. I was ready for him, putting my fists up and staggering my feet in a firm stance. Sadie scrambled from the bench, a horrified look on her face. I tried to ignore the worry etched into her features as she put her hands to her mouth.
“Get up,” I snarled. The amusement in Anderson’s black, soulless eyes just pissed me off more. He was enjoying this. Hewantedthis.
He pulled himself to his feet and casually brushed off his suit. Using two fingers, he coolly plucked a blade of green grass from his shoulder.
He looked me up and down. “I wondered when you would show up,” he said with a smirk. “You really shouldn’t let her wanderoff like that. You never know who might be waiting.” He nodded toward Sadie, who stood behind the bench as if it were a shield, her red hair blowing in the slight breeze.
“Don’t talk about her. Don’t even look at her,” I growled, fists still up.
“I’ve already done both,” Anderson purred. “I like what I see.” His gaze turned to Sadie, his eyes wandering over her slowly.
She grimaced slightly as she wrapped her arms around herself, as if trying to cover herself from his hunger.
“What is it, honey?” asked Anderson, feigning worry. “We were so close to having a moment just now. Until this asshole interrupted us.” He threw his thumb in my direction.
Sadie just shook her head before looking at me. There was a mix of worry and sorriness on her face. I swallowed hard, trying not to let my emotions show. While I had stopped Anderson from making a move on her, it didn’t make my stomach turn any less when I saw what was happening as I approached the park bench. I hated that he had touched her. His hand on her shoulder. Hated that he had even gotten the chance to be that close to her beautiful face, breathing her same air. He didn’t deserve any part of her, not a word. A glance. A touch. A thought.
I should have known he would have snaked his way into finding her. Just like I had hired a private investigator, I was sure Anderson had his own ways of keeping tabs on both me and her, though probably far more shady than the route I took. It mademy skin crawl that he might have put her in danger with whoever he was associated with. If only I had run after her sooner when she stormed out of my office, this whole thing could have been avoided.
Instead, I sat stewing in my office over everything John had revealed and my argument with Sadie that followed. I thought telling her everything about Anderson and the untrustworthiness of the whole damn world would make her see why we needed to keep us a secret. But it only pushed her away. She wanted more from me, but I didn’t know if I could give her what she wanted without losing everything.
I had finally left to find her, trying the apartment, only to find it empty. On the couch, I racked my brain trying to think of where she might have gone to. I hadn’t met her friends and had no way of reaching them. Thankfully, I remembered she had told me about this place in the park where she liked to watch the ducks. After trying a few spots, I was relieved to see her on the east end of the lake, but then I saw she wasn’t alone. Anderson had gotten there first.
As I quickly approached, it pissed me off that she was sitting there. I wondered how long they had been talking. I could only imagine the lies he was spewing to keep her there. To make her distrust me. Then he moved closer, his arm draping around her. Wheremyarm should be. I wanted to scream. Tell her to run. Then he moved in closer and I saw red. The next thing I knew I was in a full-on sprint and he was on the grass.
“I don’t know why you’re keeping her hidden, Jeremiah. I sure wouldn’t,” said Anderson, cocking his head. “With an ass like that and lips I want to bite into.”
His words bit into me like bullets. I didn’t want to hear another word about her coming from his lips. I quickly stepped forward and shoved his chest with both hands. He stumbled backward, letting out a laugh as he regained his footing.
“Is that all you’ve got?” he sneered. “Maybe she’s not worth it after all. I’d have to fuck her to find out, though.”
“Shut the hell up,” I growled, approaching again.
“She looks like she tastes sweet.” Anderson ran his tongue over his teeth slowly as he glanced at Sadie. She took an uncomfortable step backward toward the lake. With his attention elsewhere and my rage boiling, I stepped forward and swung hard. My fist met his cheek with a dull thud, and his head whipped to the side.
Sadie screamed and took a step forward. “Stop it!” She flung her hands to her cheeks in horror, her eyes darting from me to Anderson.
I could see passersby stopping to see what was going on, but I didn’t care. All I could focus on was Anderson and the anger that was pulsing through my blood. Anger that had been growing for a long, long time.
“There he is,” said Anderson, rubbing his cheek as he smiled at me. “There’sthe Jeremiah I know. You’re from the streets. Let the world know it.”
He turned, his arms outstretched, as if inviting an audience to come watch a fight that had been years in the making. It was like he was the ringleader, but I was the fucking lion.
I circled him, my fists up and ready to strike again. He followed my movements slowly, his eyes lit with amusement as he put his own fists up.
“You took everything from me,” I said, my voice low as I continued to circle him like prey for slaughter.
“Ha! You were in that alley with me. No one fucking forced you to be there,” said Anderson, still watching. Waiting.
