Page 83 of In the Dark

And then she rolled her eyes when I told Archer to go with her.

Too damn bad. Maybe it was overkill, but I’d learned to be safe rather than sorry. Of course Paradise Grove was already highly protected. The gates were manned by professionals, the community had neighborhood watch twenty-four hours a day, and every person gossiped faster than the police could about anyone new in the neighborhood.

And each corner had Hardy security cameras, technology that was state of the art. We were alerted on our watches if anything was awry. I knew even when there was so much as an unauthorized drone in our neighborhood. Every Diamond had a smartwatch that allowed for it.

And the alert that came in thirty minutes later while we were walking out of the library and back to our car was enough for me to grab Jasmina and shove her into the car before explaining myself.

I didn’t wait for my security detail as I peeled away onto the road, going fast toward my estate. “What the hell are you doing?” she screeched.

“Three men are at the gates, demanding access. They’re not authorized.”

“So? Why are we rushing home?” She frowned.

“I’m not letting them get to you.”

“Oh, you think you’re my knight in shining armor again?” She laughed. “Go to the damn entrance of Paradise Grove, Callahan.”

“No chance,” I growled.

She slammed her hand on the dashboard. “I want a look at these men. If they want to talk with both of us, you’re sure as hell not dropping me off.”

“Jasmina … no.”

“Callahan …” She mirrored my tone. “Don’t act like I’m a fragile girl who can’t hold her own. I’m about to be your wife, am I right?”

“Yes, which means I’m going to protect you at all costs.”

“What? So you can protect your stupid shareholder percentage?” she screamed.

“No, so that you’re not murdered,” I threw back.

She punched the dashboard now. “Not one of you idiotic men can ever give an ounce of respect to an equal player if she’s a woman. That’s what made me hate Paolo. And I’ll hate you just the same.”

I whipped my car over to the side of the street. “I do respect you.” I tried to explain, but her stare held so much animosity, I didn’t know what more I could say to make her understand. “It’s not about respect, Jas. It’s about keeping you safe, and—”

“Respect is equality. Treat me with it, or don’t ever expect anything more from me,” she whispered like it was a deep pain that she didn’t want to share.

And guess what my dumbass did? I listened.

Because what more could I do? She wasn’t just telling me, she was asking me. Asking me to do what men before her hadn’t, asking for more from our relationship, and I couldn’t ignore it.

I squeezed the wheel two or three times, and then said, “Don’t make me regret this, Viper, I swear to God.”

I whipped the car around and drove back through the Paradise Grove suburbs. It only took two minutes to get there. We pulled up to the gates, three of my men now standing there, armed, while three men stood on the other side, armed as well. So much for keeping up any sort of facade.

Lucille waved from the sidewalk, because of course she was out walking, and pointed to the men. “Please take care of them. It’s not a good look.”

Jasmina got out of the car in her baggy blue joggers and sweatshirt looking like she was bound to be swallowed up by her own clothing with a messy blond-and-blue bun on her head. She was smaller than every single one of the men but walked straight up to the gate and glared at them. “Fitzpatrick? Come to deliver your RSVP directly?”

Jesus Christ. His lip curled in pure malice. We all knew he would have liked to have her for himself. “Care to open the gate?”

She didn’t look away from him when she said with complete control, “Callahan, get them to open this gate right now.”

“Viper …” I started, but she raised her hand to stop me.

She wanted the fight, and hell if I was going to stop her. I was going to fight anyone along with her though, that was for sure. I felt the adrenaline starting, felt my instincts teeing up. It was wrong, but I still waved at the guy manning the gate. I wanted this as much as she did.

If someone had a problem with our invites, with our wedding, with us … they got to answer to me. Fitzpatrick and his two men walked through.