6. Astor
CHAPTER SIX
ASTOR
I don’t know what she thinks she’s doing, but this isn’t a game she wants to play with me. She’s swaying and bucking those fucking hips, like the pro she is, and I can’t rip my eyes away from her. Justin chuckles behind me. “You just gonna let her dance like that? Only a matter of time before someone joins her.”
“Yeah, and that’ll be their death sentence.”
“No one knows she’s yours, Ast,” he says matter-of-factly. “Well, would you look at that. Little miss pretty has a friend.” I whip my head from him and back to the dance floor in time to see Alessia wrapping her hands around some prick’s neck. A very dead prick , once I get ahold of him. I’m heading for the dance floor before I can fucking blink when Justin grabs my arm.
“It’ll be easier if you don’t care. Besides, you can’t have her, remember?” I yank my arm out of his grip and practically fly down the stairs. He’s right, I shouldn’t care, but fuck if I don’t.
I push my way through the crowd to where they are when he pushes his hands through her hair. She struggles against his hold as he tries to force his lips on her.
I can hear her saying no to him, but he continues his quest. I yank her out of his reach and push her behind me.
“Go upstairs with Justin and wait for me.” She doesn’t move, so I push her more forcefully. She bites her lip while retreating upstairs.
“Is there a problem?” the prick has the audacity to ask.
“You have no fucking idea.” I look at Tez, one of the security guards that work the club, and nod at him. He pulls the prick of a man out into the back of the club and I follow. I can’t figure out why I’m so fucking mad, I just know that I am. Can I have her in the way that I want? No. But does that mean that anyone else will have her?
Fuck. No.
“What the fuck are you—” I punch him in the face and blood spurts all over as he groans and grabs his nose.
“I saw her pushing you away. I heard her say no and did you let her go? Or did you continue trying to put your filthy fucking lips on what’s mine?”
“Dude, dude she was asking for it. You saw how she was danc— “ I punch him again and look at Tez.
“Stand this stupid fuck up.” I pull out the knife my dad gifted to me for my birthday last year and smile at the thought of what I’ll be using it on. “I don’t give a fuck if she was naked, dancing with a fucking sign on her body that said fuck me . When she said no, all bets were off.”
He opens his mouth to talk before I walk behind him, pulling his neck back by his hair as I run the blade across his throat. Tez tilts his head at the guy as he falls to the ground and throws me a cloth. I wipe my blade off as gurgling sounds flood my ears. “Get rid of this piece of shit.”
I text my father to tell him to send the clean up crew to the club as I ascend up the stairs. Alessia is chewing her nails and her leg is tapping rapidly. She looks up at me and her mouth freezes in place. “We’re leaving,” I say, barely looking at her.
“Jus, I’ll see you tomorrow.” He leans into me and glances at her.
“Did you kill him?” I raise my eyebrow at him and he nods his head. “Good.” That’s one of the reasons we’re so close: he doesn’t judge and he doesn’t take any shit. Especially when it comes to a woman. He’s just as possessive and protective. I have to say I do expect him to grill the fuck out of me with questions about Alessia later, but he knows this isn’t the time. He knows the deal my father and Ander told us, and as unconventional as it is, he thinks it’s something I should do and never look back from. When I asked him why earlier, he said, “Because every bitch we’re ever with only wants us for our money or our name. She already has both.”
Alessia waves at him and he gives her a quick nod. I stand next to her and wait for her to walk ahead of me. This is the last time I’ll be letting her have her freedom.
When we get outside, the cool air gives me the breath I need to get myself back together before I get into a small, enclosed space with her. This woman is making it her mission to piss me off, anyway she can. What’s worse is that I’m letting her. I can hear her heels picking up as she tries to keep up with me.
“Can you slow down?” she pleads. I halt and she runs into the back of me. I face her and she gasps as she looks at my shirt. “You’re hurt!” She reaches for my stomach and I grab her hands before she touches me.
“You don’t get to touch me.”
“But—”
“Get in the fucking car.” She puts her head down and climbs in the car without her normal arguing and I’m grateful for it. I don’t like resulting to violence, despite my reputation. I’m used to it when I have to, but tonight I shouldn’t have had to. I wouldn’t have had to if she had just fucking listened .
My phone dings with a text as I’m opening the car door.
Dad:
Handled. Do I want to know what happened?
Me:
No. You really fucking don’t.
I think the ride will be silent as it usually is, until she whispers, “I’m…sorry.” I tighten my hand on the steering wheel and she continues. “Say something…” I continue to ignore her and she pushes herself further into the seat, crossing her arms. She frowns as we pass the way to her apartment.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll stay with me tonight.” I expect her to argue, but she doesn’t. She just glares out the window while she plays with her fingers.
“I don’t have clothes.”
“I packed you a bag earlier.”
“Unbelievable.”
Ten minutes later, we’re pushing through the gate of my house. The guard nods at me as we drive through and she raises her eyebrows.
“Who lives here with you?” I ignore her again and she huffs. “Ok, guess I’ll talk to my fucking self.”
I’m so fucking pissed with her that I’m afraid if I talk to her, I’ll rip her fucking head off. When I walk in the house, she stands there with her arms wrapped around herself. She looks around as I remove my jacket and lay it across the back of the kitchen stool.
“Why’d you bring me here?” Her voice is small and almost a whisper as I glare at her. She meets my stare and I think for a moment that she’ll drop her gaze, but she doesn’t. “Answer me.” I lean against the countertop and watch her as her breath quickens. She’s getting pissed. I know there’s only a matter of time before she starts yelling. “Fucking answer me. We aren’t married, we don’t even like each other. We hate being around each other. And apparently my voice gives you a fucking headache. Why am I here?” she screams. I take a deep breath and crook my finger at her.
“Come here.”
“No.”
“Alessia. Come here.” She shakes her head and I realize at that moment that I have met my fucking match.