I try to take a step back, but his grip tightens, as a sickening smile taking over his aged face. There’s a sour taste in my mouth the longer his hands are on me, and now I regret not telling anyone where I was going. But I won’t stand here and let this man touch me without a fight.
“Let go of me,” I demand, and this time when I step back, he releases me. Surprise crosses his face before another smile takes its place, making his age more prominent.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I was just so distracted with your beauty?—”
I ignore his comment and try to go around him, but he mimics my movement and steps right back into my view.
“Move out of my way before we have a fucking problem.” I grit my teeth hard enough that my jaw aches, anger churning deep in my stomach. The fucking asshole steps closer, and witheach step I take back, he takes one closer until my back is pressed against the wall next to the bathroom.
The man leans in, his nose only inches from my hair as he inhales. I scrunch my eyes closed when he makes a noise from his throat. At any point he’s either going to try something that will end up with me being groped or me kneeing him in the dick and running away. I’d prefer the latter. Maybe if Emris gave me my knife back, I’d be able to defend myself by shoving into this man’s fucking gut.
Before I even have a second to think, the sound of a gun cocks behind the man. I open my eyes and they land on Emris, who has his handgun pressed to the back of the man’s head.
“I’ll give you one chance to get the fuck away from her before I blow your goddamn brains all over the wall.” I’ve heard Emris mad before, but the way his words hold so much power makes all the hair on my body stand up.
Behind him, Carson, Killian, and Archer are there. Killian and Archer both look as lethal as Emris, and Carson is standing back, looking around for any other threats.
The man standing in front of me looks irritated but masks it with a laugh.
“Oh, calm down, fellas. Just some harmless conversation with a beautiful woman.” He takes a step back, turning to face the guys.
“Peter, why must you test my patience by coming to my hotel? Need I remind you, this is somewhere you’re strictly forbidden,” Archer says, stepping forward and standing next to Emris, who still has his gun raised at the man I now know is named Peter.
What a stupid fucking name.
Recognition crosses over Emris’s face when he looks down at Peter, but he doesn’t say anything.
“Oh, what a pleasure to run into you again, Emris, is it?” Peter smiles like they’re long-lost buddies, and I’ll have to ask what that’s about.
Archer puts his hand on Emris’s arm, guiding the gun down before Emris can reply. I can see the tic in Emris’s jaw as he follows orders, but he doesn’t put the gun away, only lowers it. I take the chance to slip away, and Emris holds his hand out for me. I take it, and he pulls me into his chest. Time seems to slow as Emris pulls us outside and away from Peter now that Archer has taken over, Carson following closely behind.
My stomach churns at the reminder of what Peter’s hands felt like on my skin, and It’s nothing I ever want to feel again. There was something seriously off about him, and I have no idea what.
“Let’s go.” Emris opens my door, waiting for me to get inside. After he watches me buckle my seatbelt, he closes the door, stopping to talk to Carson at the front of the car before he gets on his own side.
We both look in the direction of the glass doors just in time to see Peter being escorted outside by security. His puny eyes meet mine through the glass, and he winks. I avert my gaze, my skin crawling so much that I shiver. My nails dig into my arms, trying to rid the lingering feeling of that strange fucking man.
By the time Peter is gone from view, Killian and Archer are standing outside, talking with the security.
Archer looks pissed as he yells, everyone lowering their eyes as he passes them.
He’s fucking scary.
Killian, however, looks bothered, but he still manages a smile before running to my side of the car. I roll my window down, and he holds out a bottle of Sunny D.
A laugh escapes me.
“For the ride home.” He winks and grips my hand. “I’m so sorry for what happened. You’ll be safe at home with Emris. Come visit soon,” he says, looking between me and Emris.
“Will do, cousin.” Anger brews behind his eyes, but he nods anyway. Killian steps back and joins Archer with the security team.
“Are you okay?” Emris asks as we get farther away from the hotel, his hands gripping the steering wheel so tight they’re turning white.
“I’m fine,” I tell him, and it’s not a lie. I am okay. Maybe a little uncomfortable, but nothing a hot shower can’t fix.
“No one will ever fucking hurt you, touch you, breathe any of the same air as you again. I swear to you.” His jaw is clenched so hard, I’m surprised his teeth haven’t cracked. Yet he gets his anger under control the second he switches hands on the steering wheel and reaches gently for my hand with his free one.
I look at him but can’t form words. He can’t possibly care that much, can he?
