“If you’re ever with anyone else, I’ll fillet him with my dullest knife over the course of a year, taking a little at a time.”
“Well, that sounds delightful. I’m changing my answer to that.”
Julian barks out a laugh, and then we’re parked, and I look out the window.
My body goes ice cold.
Every muscle seizes.
Oh no.Not this. Anything but this.
Suddenly, my door is opened, and Julian is helping me out of the vehicle.
“I th-thought you said you were taking me to dinner.” I can’t take my eyes off the Rapture sign.
I don’t want to be here.
“I am,” he replies, and with his arm around my shoulders, he leads me into the building.
I can’t do it.
I’m going to fuck you so hard, and for so long, your entire body will be a mangled, disgusting mess. You’ll be begging me for mercy, but no one will hear you.
“Angel?”
I shake my head jerkily as we board the elevator. My teeth are chattering, and I can’t pull in a breath.
“Natasha, look at me.” The elevator jerks to a stop, and then his hands are on my face and his forehead is resting on mine. “Take a breath. Like this, take a breath in, baby.”
“Can’t. Can’t be here. Please.”
“No, Christ, we’re not going to Rapture.”
I shiver at the word.
“We’re going to the penthouse. To Rome and Lulu’s for family dinner. I’m not taking you to the club.”
I want to cry. God, I want to cry and beg him to take me out of here.
“I h-hate this building.”
“You have nothing to be afraid of,” he assures me, his voice so hard and sure. “I’m right here, and I’m never leaving you alone. Nothing can hurt you,angelos mou.Lulu invites all of us for dinner every week. Food is her thing.”
I swallow hard as my lungs finally fill with air, and then the elevator is moving again. When we reach the top, Julian walks me out into the hallway and then tugs me against him.
“We’ll stay out here until you settle,” he murmurs against the top of my head. He presses kisses there, and it makes me calm down more. I’ve never found comfort in anyone’s arms before, but this I could become accustomed to. “I’m sorry, I thought it would be a fun surprise to see everyone. I didn’t even think to warn you that we were coming here.”
Taking a deep breath, I pull back and try to smile up at him. “I’m okay.”
“Are you sure?”
I nod, not wanting to embarrass him by keeping him out here in the hallway any longer. Rome’s guards are watching us, and I don’t want to give him a reason to be angry.
He hooks his finger under my chin and tilts my face up to his.
“Look at me, not them. I want you to tell me if you’re not okay, Natasha. Nothing is more important than you, so say the word, and we’ll leave.”
I shake my head and pat Julian’s chest. “No, I don’t want to leave. As long as we don’t go down to the club, I’ll be fine.”
