Chapter 14
Alessandro
I’m white-knuckling the second-floor railing, my gaze locked on Lennon.
My angel looks like fucking sin in heels and a little black dress.
Since she arrived, she and her friend have just been drinking in the corner, but now they’re up and dancing, starting to draw attention. She must be feeling the alcohol.
Unfortunately, I am, too. We’ve been up here for two hours, sipping whiskey and coming up with a strategy to confront Zerilli when New York gives us the green light. My control is slipping. The urge to go to her is becoming an incessant tug, draining my willpower.
I feel Gunnar’s presence beside me.
After following my stare, he sighs. “Shit.”
My back stiffens as two men approach the girls.
The tall, finance bro-looking motherfucker puts his hand on Lennon’s hip and leans into her ear.
When she looks up and smiles at him, a pained groan escapes my throat.
“Fuck.” I squeeze the railing tighter and force myself to look away. “Mother fuck,” I growl.
Gunnar palms my shoulder. “Better not to watch, brother.”
My face is hot, my temples pulsing with my heartbeat. There’s a steel band around my chest keeping me from breathing properly. I nod in agreement but can’t stop myself from finding her in the crowd again.
She’s smiling and dancing, facing her friend but the asshole is grinding on her from behind. I try to look away, I really do. But I apparently like to make myself bleed as much as the victims in my warehouse.
She suddenly turns toward him, and the fucker pulls her against his body.
My vision goes black around the edges. My legs are moving, carrying me down the stairs before my brain registers my actions. I hear Gunnar call my name, but the sound is lost in the absolute white-hot rage sending blood rushing in my ears.
I cut a path through the crowd, shouldering people out of my way until I catch a glimpse of her dark auburn hair.
She’s moving through the crowd away from me.
I use my bulk to force myself through the bodies.
As we exit the crowded dance floor on the other side, I see the asshole has her hand and is pulling her toward the door.
Lunging forward, I wrap my arm around her middle and tug her into my body.
I feel her stumble, but I hold her tight against me.
Relief washes over me the moment she falls into my arms, but it’s quickly replaced by a spark of anger as the man who thought he was taking her home turns to see why she suddenly stopped. He meets my eye.
I let him see the Beast smile.
Yeah, you’re looking at the reason, motherfucker.