Page 39 of Brutal Heir

He lifted my coat from the back of the chair and draped it over my shoulders. “I’m out of patience.”

I shrugged it off. “I can’t just leave. I haven’t even paid for my share of the bill.”

He placed the coat back on my shoulders with deliberate care. “Take it off again, and you won’t like what happens.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but his expression silenced me.

Instead, he reached into his suit pocket, pulled out a black leather billfold, and tossed an obscene amount of cash onto the table. “Next round is on Sabrina.”

The café erupted in cheers.

My friends, too drunk or too careless to notice the tension, reveled in the sudden windfall.

Meanwhile, Sebastian’s hold on my arm tightened as he pulled me out the door.

I dug in my heels. “This is insane! You’re acting like a jealous boyfriend. I don’t even know you!”

Before he could respond, Henri burst through the door behind us. “Hey! Let go of her.”

Sebastian turned slowly, his eyes narrowing. “This is none of your business. Go back inside.”

Henri puffed up his chest. “I’m not afraid of you or your money. She doesn’t want to leave with you.”

I stepped forward, desperate to diffuse the situation. “It’s fine, Henri. I’ll handle this.”

Henri ignored me, raising his fists. “If you don’t let go of my girl, you’ll regret it.”

Sebastian’s gaze snapped back to me.

His lips thinned, and he cocked his head, sizing up Henri. Without warning, he lunged, his hand clamping around Henri’s throat and slamming him against the brick wall.

“What did you just call her?”

Henri’s eyes bulged as he clawed at Sebastian’s wrist. “Nothing! She’s nobody!”

My chest burned hot. Taking advantage of Sebastian’s distraction, I shoved my arms into my coat and stormed off into the night.

I didn’t get far.

Within moments, Sebastian’s arm curled around my waist, lifting me off the ground.

“Let go!” I kicked, but he carried me effortlessly into a recessed doorway. The stone wall scraped against my spine. Cold seeped through my shoes from the marble threshold.

His fingers encircled my throat, firm but not crushing.

“You broke rule number one."

Don’t disobey him.

I searched past him for help.

Did I dare cry out?

Would it be fair to endanger a stranger after seeing what happened to Henri?

I stared at the pattern on his silk tie. “I didn’t think it was a formal invitation. I figured you were just being nice to me or something.”

Despite the champagne bubbles bouncing around my brain, even I knew there wasn’t a chance in hell he would buy that excuse. Lame didn’t even begin to cover it.