Page 74 of Retrograde

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ARON

As we approach the cave complex’s concealed entrance, I detect Riley’s hesitation in her slowing step and her pinched expression.

“Careful, Hotshot,” I tell her. “You don’t want me to take offence. I promised you wouldn’t go back in there. And I always keep my word.”

Why does she affect me so damn much? I’ve watched people bleed and scream in agony. Fuck, more often than not, I was the one to make them bleed and scream in agony. But one wounded-puppy-eye look from her is enough to melt everything inside that was—and should have stayed—firm and jagged.

I lay my hand on the small of her back as we pass through the entrance. A shudder runs through her, and she leans into my touch. Despite what we have just done, my lust surges, my cock twitching. But no time now. I have other pleasures to attend to.

“You don’t have to worry,” I tell Riley, my lips curling, fury searing me from the inside. “That cave is now reserved for someone else.”

She frowns, biting her lip. I could almost think she likes seeing this side of me—vengeful, threatening—when it’s not directed at her.

Blissful in his short-lived ignorance, the man my wrath belongs to is walking towards us.

“I’ll be damned!” Attila greets us, arms outstretched. “The bitch wasn’t kidding! Not going to lie, I had zero faith she could actually pull this off.”

There’s a wide grin on his face. Watching it fall as he takes in my expression shoots a jolt of twisted pleasure through me.

“Your buddy’s over there.” Scanning the crowd, I quickly locate Corrado and point him out to Riley. “Go stand with him. I’ll come for you.” I pat her hip. “No time for questions,” I urge her in a firmer tone of voice when she raises her eyebrows at me.

Attila makes it over just as she walks away. He already knows I’m not pleased. The whole courtyard senses my rage, men standing frozen in a circle around me and my second-in-command, the air crackling with nervous anticipation.

Attila is scared. I can tell by his hunched shoulders, the reluctance in his step, the unvoiced pleading in his ice blue eyes.

But his clenched jaw and the tight line of his mouth defy me at the same time. Similar to me in height and size, and with comparable combat experience, he is a formidable opponent even for me. He would never challenge me. But if challenged by me, he could give me one hell of a fight if I let him.

I know him like the back of my hand. I’ve fought countless battles by his side, ones where we were so outnumbered we should have been doomed. He and I fought destiny together, stalling and redirecting tides of history that should have swept over us.

But that ends today.

I begin circling him. Our gazes locked, he turns on the spot to mirror my movement.

“Aron, what the fuck?”

“You know,” I snarl. “And if you don’t, then you should have fucking known better.”

Confusion flashes across his face. Bastard has no fucking idea, does he? A fresh surge of fury crashes through me, painting my vision red.

“What did I say should be done with Riley?” My voice is flat, emotionless, belying the inferno raging inside me.

His own anger flares, blazing through his eyes.

“Is that what this is about?” he asks, his volume rising. “A pussy?”

“It’s about respect. It’s about you daring to disobey my direct order.” My voice rings louder than his. “I made it clear she wasn’t to be touched. I made it crystal fucking clear she was mine to do with as I saw fit. MINE,” I roar. “Not yours. And yet the minute I’m gone, you lay your filthy fucking hands on her and threaten her? Your brother in arms is not even dead yet, and all you can think of is stealing his toy?”

Eyes are burning into me from all sides. I don’t care.

“I let her go after you! I could have fucked her in any way I wanted to! I could have made her my personal property. And instead, I allowed her to go and rescue you!” Attila spits. “And this is the fucking thanks I get?”

Jarringly, my rage burns itself out, transforming into ice-cold, eerie calm clarity. The kind that brings nothing but destruction.

“No. This is.” I drive my fist into his Adam’s apple—where I know he’s not expecting it.

My adrenaline soars, fuelling the most absolute kind of focus there is—every inch of my body under my total command. I was born to fight in a way that a few men are, deep down. Attila knows that—he knows it’s a state of mind I get into, a place of no thoughts, no hesitation. A place where I let well-honed instincts drive me. That’s the key to my invincibility. Where others can’t defy the urge to stay in control, I fully give myself over to the beast inside of me.