Caged (Dark Empire #2)

Twenty-Nine.

Ethan

The moment I saw that man touch my wife, my blood boiled.

“Ethan, don't start something in my club tonight of all nights,” Ro said.

“He fucking bumped into her,” I hissed.

“And he stopped her from falling. Clearly it was an accident.”

"I’m still going down there,” I muttered.

I was glad that I came over to the ledge to watch her now, even when my brothers called me out for being possessive and paranoid.

Yes, I fucking was, but I didn't care. Mags and Mario had joined me anyway.

“Go and get her, pal,” Mags muttered, the tension in his voice telling me that I wasn’t the only one pissed about this.

I nodded. I knew that he wasn't keen on dancing.

“I’ll join you,” Mario said.

Whether he was coming because he wanted to check that I didn't start anything or he just wanted to see Hannah, I wasn't sure, but who was I to stop him?

Ashlee was dancing with the girls but her body seemed to be more tense than before.

I walked up behind her, my arm slipping around her waist.

She screeched and tried pulling away, her body shuddering in fear.

“Baby, shhh, it's just me,” I soothed, tightening my hold of her.

She turned around to face me, her eyes wild.

I frowned. Something had caused this reaction. “Ash, what's happened?”

She shook her head, her eyes watering slightly.

“Tell me, sweetheart.”

“A man, he bumped into me.”

“I saw, that's why I came down.”

"But he pushed this into my hand.” She opened her fist to reveal a scrap of paper.

I took it, opening it up to read what it said.

You never contacted me, krasotka. Time is running out on our deal. Your husband or your freedom. Make the choice.

I closed my fist around the paper with a growl. Dmitry had gone too far this time.

“Ash, we’ll deal with this tomorrow. I’m here now and I’m not leaving your side. Nothing will happen, so let's enjoy tonight.” I shoved the piece of paper into my pocket.

She stared at me, her eyes still full of fear. It tore at my heart that I'd caused this for her. Being with me came with too much of a burden. Sometimes I regretted it, but then I was also glad that I had this woman. She was everything to me.

I grabbed her hips and pulled her into my body, my lips crashing into hers roughly. Her lips parted obediently, her body relaxing as our tongues connected.

I moved my hand up to the back of her head, pulling her in even closer, my other hand sliding down to cup her ass. The kiss was messy but passionate, my heart being poured into it.

“Ash, I promise that nothing will happen to you.”

She nodded, staring into my eyes like I had all the answers.

I wished that I did, but I wasn't a God. I couldn't snap my fingers and make Dmitry disappear.

"Smile for me, sweetheart. We don't want to start the new year all sad, do we? Me and Mags are right here with you, baby.”

She forced a smile but it wasn't genuine. I turned her around and pulled her flush against my body. Then I looked towards the balcony and met Mags eye, jolting my head in an indication to come down.

He gave me a single nod before moving to the stairs.

“Dance for me, Ash,” I purred in her ear. “Please, baby.”

I started swaying, forcing her to move her body with mine. She was stiff and hesitant, but I kept going. I started kissing her neck, sucking on her soft skin.

The other girls were glancing at us, but I didn't care. They could look and judge for all I cared, but we were Prezello’s. We could fucking well do what we wanted.

Mario was dancing with Hannah which for some reason, didn't surprise me, but even he raised an eyebrow at me. I got it. This was very uncharacteristic for me, but I had a wife now and she was everything to me. I needed to make her happy.

I turned her around abruptly and covered her mouth with hunger. I grabbed her ass, which was barely covered by her dress, my tongue claiming her mouth as mine.

I felt Magnus pressing up against her back but I didn't open my eyes. I kissed her with everything I had, our display damn right sinful.

Ashlee moaned against my lips which was too much. I broke away before I ended up with a hard-on. Mags was kissing her neck softly sandwiching Ashlee between us, while Ashlee had her eyes closed and her head tilted.

She looked happier now, her muscles more relaxed.

“Now dance with us, sweetheart,” I said.

We both gave her a little bit of space to move, and then we started swaying with her to the music. Even Mags tried moving, although he looked awkward.

She was soon smiling again as she enjoyed the music, turning and pushing her ass into my crotch. I groaned as she wiggled, the friction so good on my dick.

“Baby, be good,” I hissed.

“I am.”

Mags chuckled. "Are you, Red? Naughty girls get punishments.”

“She wants a punishment,” I said.

“I think she does.”

"I don't. I’m good,” she said.

I chuckled. "Then stop making my cock excited.”

I pushed her forward a step, letting Mags pull her into his body.

After a few songs, Hannah and Grace came closer with Mario in tow.

"Girl, you know how to gain everyone’s attention.”

"What?” Ash frowned.

“Can you not see everyone staring? You’re here dancing with two gorgeous men.”

“Hey, am I not gorgeous?” Mario sulked, wrapping an arm around Hannah.

“Well, yes,” Hannah muttered. "I mean no, you’re an ass,” she quickly added.

Ashlee snorted a laugh as Hannah tried shaking Ro off but he didn’t budge.

I chuckled. “Shall we get some drinks?”

The girls all nodded, and they followed me upstairs back to the VIP area.

I grabbed Ro’s arm as the girls walked towards the sofas. "I need to tell you something.”

His eyebrows narrowed and he nodded, jerking his head towards the balcony ledge.

I scanned the crowd below us before meeting his eye. Then I pulled the piece of paper out of my pocket, shoving it into his hand. "That guy who bumped into Ash, he shoved this into her hand.”

Mario read it with a frown and then scrunched his fist. "Those fucking bastards.”

“Ro, I’m worried about Ash.”

“I’ll speak to dad tomorrow. We’ll deal with this, and I’ll check the security feeds tomorrow to see who that guy was.”

I nodded. "Thanks, brother.”

“Let’s enjoy tonight. There's only an hour until the new year. Go and welcome it with your wife. Nobody will try anything more. The girls aren't dancing alone.”

I gave him a small smile and then waved over a waitress. I think we definitely needed some drinks to make us feel better, me in particular.