9. Damon
Decidingto give my girl a little time to cool off, I spend my evening working from my home office. I designed it specifically to my needs during the renovations a few years back. The walls are flanked with built-in storage and open shelving displaying first editions I’ve been collecting. It’s been painted a deep, moody shade of green that is inherently masculine while simultaneously making the space feel more relaxed.
My eyes burn from staring at my screens for the last four hours, and my head feels like it’s about to crack apart. I take a long drink of my whiskey and welcome the smooth burn. Fighting the urge to watch her, I have several more hours of this torture to go before I can call it a night. Not that I sleep anyway.
A loud buzzing denotes a text coming in, and I check my phone.
Matthias: Your girl isn’t where she’s supposed to be.
Me: What the fuck is that supposed to mean?
Matthias: You should really keep better track of her.
Me: That’s what I have you for. Now, where the fuck is she?
Matthias: Looks like she snuck out, better call Nicholas. He’s going to lose his shit when he realizes he’s lost her.
Lost. Fuck, I don’t care how long the old man’s worked for me, if something happens to her, I’ll strangle the life out of him myself.
Matthias: Relax. She’s at Elysium. I’m looking at her right now.
Matthias: You better hurry though.
Me: Stop fucking around and tell me.
Instead of replying, an image pops up on the screen. Blood beats like a drum in my ears at the sight of my future wife throwing back a shot with the same asshole hockey player from the office, who has his fucking hand on her hip.
Me: I’ll be there in ten.
Matthias: You live twenty minutes away.
Me: Don’t let her leave with any of them.
Matthias: I like you like this, brother.
Me: Like what?
Matthias: Desperate. It’s cute.
Me: Fuck you.
Any other time, I’d be happy Matthias is joking around. He’s been closed off since the incident. But right now, all I can focus on are the fingers wrapped around Misty’s waist.
Matthias: You better hurry or someone’s going to fuck your girl.
My teeth clack together and I grip my phone tight enough to break.
Me: Do you have a death wish?
Bubbles come and go several times before his message comes through.
Matthias: Sometimes.
Fuck. I’m such an asshole.
Me: Just remember she’s my wife.
Matthias: Not yet.
Me: She’s MINE.