Not alone, anyway. Slade slid his hand to the small of his back. Damn. No jacket, so no gun.
“I can assure you; I’m exactly where I intend to be.” Ever so slowly, the man pushed away from the car, stalking up the driveway. Gravel crunched under expensive-as-hell loafers. Stalking. Yeah, the guy carried himself like a predator: slow; unhurried; eyes on his prey.
Slade’s heart ramped up the beat. Oh, God. Fight-or-flight instincts kicked in. Everything about this man screamed danger.
Mr. I-Drive-a-Bentley stopped a few feet away.
Slade had never laid eyes on this guy before. Pissed off a one-night stand’s boyfriend? No. No recent fucks looked to have a rich sugar daddy.
Words popped into Slade’s head and out of his mouth. “Nice car.”
“It is. I’m blessed with many nice things in my life.” Heavy innuendo laced the words, spoken with a barely discernable, cultured accent. French, maybe?Parlez-vous,come suck my dick.
“Better keep an eye out. About half the people on this street are staring out their windows, planning a little grand theft auto.”
“They wouldn’t get far. I defend what is mine.” Definitely innuendo.
Slade took a step back. “What do you want?” Power. This man exuded power, despite his average height and build.
“Slade? I can call you, Slade, right?” Without waiting for an answer, the man continued, “You returned something of mine damaged. You see, I’ve worked many months to undo the insecurity caused by callous people who think only of themselves.” The calmness in his voice didn’t hide the menace.
What the fuck? “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Hell, no one on this end of town talked like this guy.
The man cocked his head to the side. “Don’t you? A vulnerable young man trusted you, saw something in you. Something not there. Kerry doesn’t know your rules or lack thereof. You took him because you could and for no other reason. We don’t know each other, you and I, but you’ve done me harm. You’ve harmed the thing in this world most precious to me—my family. You brought turmoil into my peaceful home. Kerry and I will weather this storm, for I care for him and am a patient man. To a point.”
He stared at Slade with storm cloud gray eyes, daring Slade to look away.
Damn. Slade knew the twink was trouble from the start. Unfortunately, he’d never been a man to walk away from trouble—the reason his brother called him an idiot. “You can’t mean much to him if he’s leaving bars with strangers.”
“Do you think I didn’t check you out? The bartender where you met is under the mistaken impression you’re a good guy.” The man sighed. “Look, Kerry is young. Destined to be mine by birth. I let him taste life like any other young man his age. When he’s ready, he will be my mate. Do you know what a mate is, Slade? Among my kind, a mate is everything. I waited years to find my counterbalance.
“I am not angry with him for leaving the bar with you. I am not angry at you for having sex with him. What I am angry about is how you treated him after. Like nothing. He’s not nothing, believe me. You didn’t take him because you wantedhim. You didn’t care about Kerry at all.”
Prickles raced down Slade’s spine. He readied himself to duck flying fists. “Listen to you.” Arrogant asshole. “What kind of messed up shit isdestined to be mine?” Slade mocked the stranger’s accent.
In a flash, the man grabbed Slade’s arm, holding him in place while driving his thumb into the back of Slade’s hand. “Listen to me, Walter Henry Slater…”
What the fuck? No one used Slade’s real name. He yanked back. The man’s grip didn’t falter.
“Walter Henry Slater,” the man hissed through clenched teeth.
The skin of the back of Slade’s hand heated. What the fuck? He tugged at his hand. The grip tightened.
“You caused turmoil, hurt someone you’re not worthy of. Because of your black heart, you will never know home like the one you nearly destroyed, will never find peace. You will wander the earth all the days of your life. You cannot settle down. You love the life of a nomad so much, cruising on your motorcycle, carefree. A different man every night? Go. I cannot kill you outright, but if you attempt to stay in one place, you will die.”
“What the ever-loving fuck?” No one told Slade what to do.
“I’m not completely without mercy. I’ll give you one month. Stay longer in any one place, and pay with your life.”
Pain slashed into Slade’s hand. A white-hot poker of agony sinking into muscle, skin, and bone. Oh, God! “Why are you doing this?” Slade nearly wailed, yanking on his hand. Excruciating agony set every nerve on fire, shooting pain up his arm. “He consented. I didn’t do anything he didn’t want.”
“He didn’t consent to being treated like a piece of meat. Not so much as a kind word. Now, I’ll have to console him, repair the mistrust you’ve caused. You tried to take my home from me. I’ll forever see you without.” The stranger released his grasp.
Stumbling, Slade barely managed to stay upright while his attacker strolled casually to the Bentley. Too shocked to react, Slade clutched his burning hand. What the hell?
Before the man closed his car door, he turned and repeated, “One month.”
“Come back here, mutherfucker!” Slade screamed, frozen in place. Why the fuck couldn’t he move?
