Once they’re done, Irvin straightens his back, strides up to me, and examines my body. “Did he hurt you?”
I shake my head. I don’t know what to say or think. I knew what Irvin was capable of, but to see it in action is another thing. I don’t know how I should feel—if I should be scared of him or if I should be happy he came to my rescue.
“We’re leaving,” he says.
I nod, hug Winter, and tell her I will see her tomorrow on campus.
The ride to the mansion is quiet, eerie. Tension radiates from Irvin’s shoulders. I’ve never seen him so mad.
He pulls up to the driveway, kills the engine, and glares at me. “You’re staying inside the mansion while I’m away.” His tone is soft. Too soft.
I’m not staying in this creepy-ass mansion by myself. How many times do we have to have this conversation—that I do what the fuck I want? Controlling prick.
“No.”
He cups my face and uses the pad of his thumb to stroke my cheek. “Let me explain something to you. I control every aspect of your life. You don’t go to a fucking bar without letting me know. Do you know who that guy was?”
Warmth spreads in my chest from his touch. I fight the urge to lean in. And I should want him. I don’t know. Maybe him coming to rescue me, protecting me, sparks unwanted urges in me. And it will be a cold day in hell if I ever let him fuck me again.
I shake my head.
Irvin licks his lips, then taps the steering wheel. “He’s Robert. My ex-fiancée’s new fiancé. He’s under investigation for her murder. So am I.”
I stare into his emotionless jade eyes. “Did you do it?”
“Do what?”
“Kill her?”
“No. She gave me no reason to kill her.”
I don’t know if I believe him. I saw the way he looked at Robert at the bar, like he was holding back. The smile on his face when he beat the fuck out of him. The fixed, unblinking gaze. If there weren’t any witnesses, would he have killed him? He did tell me that he kills anyone he sees as a threat. My throat tightens. I bite my lip.
He shakes his head. “Do you know what that looks like? I’m already a suspect. And when Robert reports to the board members what I did, they are really going to keep an eye on me. So you know what—you’re going to stay in this mansion, since you can’t follow orders.”
My hand connects with his face. “You don’t control me. I had no control over that. No one told you to go apeshit on him. Winter and I were going to kick ass. We didn’t need you and Keanu to show up.”
He grips my chin. “Robert is part of the American Billionaire Club. He’s a trained killer. If you two had handled it, he would stalk the both of you and kill you. Robert is irrational. I said you’re staying in the mansion.”
My eyes venture to the said mansion. It looks even creepier at night than in the daytime. If a few bats circle around the roof, it would look like an Addams Family mansion.
I clench my teeth. “You can’t keep me locked up there!”
“Oh yeah? Watch me.”
My shoulders turn rigid. “I fucking hate you, Irvin Victor Ashford!!!”
I get out of the car and slam the door shut.
His gaze lingers a little too long over my body. “Ooh, I love you too, princess,” he mocks.
“Don’t fucking patronize me, you lunatic!”
He stomps up to me and strokes my cheek. “I already emailed your professors. You’re going to take your classes online, and my security team will be here in the morning after I leave tomorrow.”
My pulse accelerates. I smack him across the face, and of course, he doesn’t flinch—tears slip down my cheeks. I sob uncontrollably as I shove Irvin’s chest—shove, shove, shove—until I’m out of breath.
“If you do this, I will never forgive you, Irvin.”
