Chapter 20 Liev
LIEV
Seraphina is too good for a man like me, and I’m a selfish bastard to want to keep her for myself before she’s had a chance to lead a wider life.
She needs to explore the world and decide who and what she wants.
But I’ve never pretended to be a good man.
I’m happy to give her whatever life she wants—if only she will let her walls down long enough to believe it.
Every time I think I’ve made progress, that she’s finally letting me in, something happens, and it sends her running. I finish buttoning my shirt. So far, the most effective tactic has been to keep her in a lust filled haze.
I can live with that.
Two hours later, it’s not her lust filled haze I’m concerned about, it’s the red one taking over my judgment.
If one more fucker approaches her at that bar, I’m going to kill someone.
As soon as we entered the restaurant, Keke made it clear that I was to sit with her and her entourage.
“Don’t be silly. It’s a four-top. It will look like Dani and Marco are on a date and I’m alone.
We don’t want rumors, do we? Optics and all that.
” She smiles innocently at Sera. “You understand, don’t you? ”
“Fine,” Sera says before I can object. “I’ll sit at the bar.”
“Sera,” I warn… plead… I’m not sure which. I know I don’t want her to sit alone.
“It’s okay.” Her voice is even. “It’s what the client wants.”
Keke’s smile widens with satisfaction. “Thank you.”
Now stuck at this table, my temper is mounting by the second as I watch Sera at the bar. She’s making it a point not to look directly at us. Her eyes are on the crowd and the front doors. She’s doing her job.
It pisses me off.
Keke says something that I’m sure she thinks is hilarious because she leans over, gripping my forearm with a loud laugh.
Her perfume fills my nose the way she planned, the way she’s been doing throughout the entire meal.
If it were a month ago, I wouldn’t hesitate to take her up on her obvious invitation.
Keke is a beautiful woman, and while she might be self-absorbed, it’s never bothered me before.
But it’s not a month ago, and the idea of touching any woman other than mine leaves me cold.
Luckily for the Brooks Brothers set at this restaurant, each one has graciously backed off when Sera turned them down. I don’t like the look of the asshole at the end of the bar. He’s been eyeing Sera ever since she sat down but hasn’t approached yet. Looks like that’s about to change.
I narrow my eyes as he stands, rolls his shoulders back, and works his way down the bar toward Sera.
The group around me is talking and laughing, and if this were a real job, I’d attempt to pretend like I care. But I’m only here to be close to her. Fuck, Elite.
He is standing too close to her, obscuring my view. I watch her face closely looking for any clue that she’s uncomfortable. He edges closer.
This fucker needs to step the fuck back. I shift in my seat, my body coiled to spring, but I stay in my seat because I know if I intervene, Sera is as likely to punch me as appreciate it.
Her spine goes rigid, and her hand leaves her glass, her focus zeroed on the man.
In my periphery, Keke notices my lack of attention, and her head, along with Dani and Marco’s, swivels to the bar.
“She’s fine.” Keke teases. “Sera’s a big girl. She can take care of a guy in a bar. If not, maybe it would be better if I replaced her.”
“Ooooh, shit.” Marco chokes out a laugh, eyes on the bar. My eyes swivel back, and my body locks tight, every instinct telling me to charge over and rip that asshole away from her.
Sera lifts her chin, her cheeks flushed, and I can see her hazel eyes glittering in challenge even from this distance. At the rate her lips are moving, I can only imagine how she’s destroying this guy.
Pride wars with rage in my chest as I stand. I know my Little Warrior can hold her own, but she doesn’t have to fight if I’m around.
“Liev,” I hear Keke snap, and then there is a smothered laugh from the two across the table.
Knowing I have to salvage this job—because if I get fired it cuts off my access—I look down at the woman. My brain searches for a phrase she might understand.
“We’re a team. I can’t have her distracted.”
It’s total bullshit. Makes absolutely zero sense. I don’t care. I’m walking away, literally turning my back on the person we are supposed to be protecting.
I hear Keke spluttering behind me and Dani say, “Come on, Keeks. It’s obvious what’s going on.”
“Ready to go?” I ask Sera, ignoring the man still trying to get her attention. He hasn’t bothered to look back to see who is talking.
“Come on. I’m a nice guy, I promise. I’ll take you to the best place in Chicago.”
Sera points at me. “I have to go.”
“I’m sure your friend will wai—” I place a heavy hand on his shoulder, and he finally looks back, craning his neck to meet my eyes before paling.
“Learn to take a hint.”
The man walks away, but not as quickly as I’d like.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to.” My blood is still thrumming, and I don’t hide it from her. Sera’s eyes dilate, and her lips part. “I don’t share.” I know it’s too much, too intense. But the primal territorial side of me is on full display.
Her eyes drop to my mouth, and she leans slightly forward before she catches herself and pushes off the seat. I don’t step back, forcing her body to brush mine. Heat instantly envelopes me and my cock thickens.
She doesn’t move away. If anything, I’d swear she presses her breasts harder into my chest.
Fuck. She’s killing me.
By the look on her face, she knows it.
Sera tilts her head up to meet my eyes, but her smile is far too sweet to be trusted. “You don’t share? That implies I’m already yours.”
You are, the beast inside me wants to roar, but what little oxygen is still fueling my brain tells me to keep my mouth shut.
My heart is beating hard, and I can feel the answering rhythm through her top. The moment heats and stretches between us. Finally, Sera takes a step back, brushing down her clothes.
If not for the pink still evident on her chest, I’d think she was unaffected.
“You didn’t have to go full murder-face, Gangster.”
My lungs expand as I force myself to take even breaths. The noise of the restaurant around us comes back to me, and an irritated “What the fuck?” in Keke’s voice reminds me of where we are.
“I wasn’t even trying. Were you impressed?” I say, matching her casual tone.
“You looked like you were trying to break his shoulder with that grip.”
I shrug, completely unrepentant. “He was slow to understand.”
“You know I could’ve handled it.”
“You were handling it.”
“Exactly. With charm… and words. Like a civilized adult.”
I give her a look. “Charm? You looked like you were about to take a bite out of him.”
“Always an option.”
“You’re a feral little thing, aren’t you?” I say, grinning.
“Absolutely. You should remember that.” She looks over my shoulder and sobers. “And that we’re working. Her Highness looks pissed.”
I don’t care if Keke is on fire right now. I’m having too good of a time.
Unfortunately, Sera actually cares about this job.
“They’re done?”
I pause. Keke and her friends weren’t done. What do I do now?
As we walk back to the table, I register the concerned looks on the other diners’ faces. The room feels wrong. My skin tightens as I scan the room looking for the threat.
Sera glances back at me, catching the shift in my posture. Her smile fades, too, and she pivots.
“What’s that noise?” Her brow furrows.
I finally pick up the muted sound from outside. I pace toward the front windows and mutter a curse, just as the manager of the restaurant hurries up to us.
A small crowd has gathered outside the restaurant, bundled in coats and scarves, signs clutched in gloved hands, breaths fogging the cold air as they shift impatiently on their feet.
“How did they even know we were here?” Dani murmurs, and I realize the group has followed me.
Keke lifts her phone, entirely unbothered. “I tagged the location on a story I posted when we left the hotel.”
I don’t bother responding. The protestors don’t look dangerous, more irritated than aggressive.
The restaurant manager hurries over, face pale, wringing his hands. “I’ve called the police—”
“That’ll take too long and bring too much attention.” I pull the keys from my pocket and press them into his palm. “Go out through the kitchen. Start our car.”
He balks, eyes darting toward the windows. “I don’t think that’s—”
“Do it,” I snarl.
That’s all it takes. He swallows and scurries off without another word.
“I can’t believe they came out in this weather,” Dani says quietly, peering through the glass again.
Keke raises her phone. “I just need one more—”
“No.” My tone is clipped. “Phone down. When I open the door, hold on to my jacket and don’t let go. No gaps between you. No stopping, and don’t engage with them.”
She sighs but complies, her fingers knotting into the fabric.
I keep my eyes on the street, waiting until I see the manager unlock the SUV and climb inside. A second later, the engine turns over and white exhaust blooms into the air.
“I’ll take point,” I tell Sera. “You got the rear?”
She nods immediately, already moving, guiding Dani in front of Marco, then stepping close behind him.
The moment I pull the door open, the cold slams into us and the noise jumps, shouts sharpening as phones lift to record. A few people closest to the entrance hesitate when I step forward, my shoulders squared, gaze hard.
“Back up,” I bark.
Most of them do.
Keke stays tight against my back as we move, her grip firm. Behind me, I hear Sera’s voice, steady and reassuring. “Stay close. Single file.”
When we reach the vehicle, I wrench the door open and start ushering them inside. Dani trips on the runner, and I catch her elbow.
“You’re good.”
Her eyes are wide as she nods and scoots into the seat.
I turn—
“She hit me!” The shout cuts through the noise.