How dare he talk to her like that! I've had enough of this asshole.
I grab his wrist with my other hand and push down as I push up and twist with my captured hand. I bend his wrist back and look him in the eye as I step into his space.
"Idon't need to be a good girl. Don't ever touch me again. And if you ever talk to her like that, I will break your jaw," I whisper so only he can hear. The urge to punch him or break his wrist is overwhelming. I let him go before I do either.
Wrapping my arm around Ana's waist, I feel her deflate, her head bows and she instantly becomes the other woman again. Duncan lowers his hand to my waist and turns both Ana and me toward the doors. His hand slides to my lower back as his head turns back to Jonathon. He seems torn between getting us away and going back to fight him. I want to go back and kick his ass. We've barely cleared the doors when I whip around to Ana.
"What the hell was that?”
"What the bloody hell was that?"
Both Duncan and I say at the same time. I nod my head to him to continue.
"Ana, please tell me that tosser treats you better than that?"
I can see him trying to control his anger, his body vibratesfrom the tension. He doesn't want to scare her any more than she already is.
"He's just stressed with the wedding tomorrow." Her head stays down. I've seen this behavior before. She'd never allow that to happen to her. Right? I've watched many victims of domestic violence act just like this.Not my Ana, my mind screams.
"Ana, sweetie, does Jonathon get stressed a lot?" I dread the answer.
"I'm tired, Maya, can you and Duncan help me to my room?"
She avoids my question. Now I know for certain she's hiding something from me. She's acting like a battered woman. Oh God! How could I let this happen? Last time I saw her she was energized for whatever life was going to dish out. She was starting art school. Did my being away so much cause her to turn to a man like that?
I shake off the thoughts and follow my training.
"Ana, how about you and I ditch out on this pomp and circumstance?" I know it's bad to ask, but I need to protect her. I need to give her what she gave me years ago, a safe place. "Let's give Jonathon a break and you come home with me this time." I know her answer when her shoulders push back and she stands up to me. What's his hold over her?
"Now, Maya, you know I can't walk away from Jonathon. He loves me. Don't you dare push your paranoid bobby barmy on me or your fears of relationships."
Wow, it feels like she just slapped me in the face. No going back now.
"Ana, how about you tell me what the hell your fiancé was thinking talking to you like that? Explain why you're so different?Tell me why it bothers you so much to upset him?" I fire off each question as I step further into her space. I know my anger might set her off more, but I need to know the answers to my questions. I need to protect her. She’s my family and I won't lose her too.
Duncan puts his arm between us, pushing me back, trying to calm us both.
"Hey, Sis, Maya's just concerned. He just treated you like a daft cow. He grabbed ahold of Maya and was trying to hurt her, and he enjoyed it." His voice gets gruffer the more he talks about it.
"Okay, I'm sorry for my fiancé. Maya, he just doesn't want me hungover for tomorrow. Now, are you both going to walk me upstairs or am I going by myself?" She lifts her chin, nose going in the air, and all I can think about isInvasion of the Body Snatchers.
"Okay," Duncan and I say in unison.
We walk her back to her room, and as she enters, she turns to us. "Go back to the party. Get to know each other. I'm tired."
I want to protest. I want to take her from here. But Ana closes the door before I can say anything.
CHAPTER SEVEN
MAYA
Duncan turns toward me, and I can see him working something out behind those eyes. He nods his head as he comes to a decision. Grabbing my hand, he leads me to his room.
"Let's have that drink and get to know each other," he says as he opens his door.
I can't believe I'm here after all. I shouldn't be, but damn I want this man as I've never wanted another.
I look around the room trying to distract myself from the smell of his cologne. His room is almost exactly like mine, minus the door to a connecting room. While this hotel might seem stuffy, it's actually gorgeous, and the decor is something Ana couldn't stop talking about.
