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I turn to the door to leave, to stomp back down the hallway and demand to know why Ezra won’t just let me sleep in another room, but Benji is there with a self-satisfied smirk on his smug face. He slams the door closed just as I’m lunging for the handle, locking it behind him.
I keep turning and yanking on it. I kick and punch and rage, but no matter what I do, the door won’t fucking open.
Angry tears burn the backs of my eyes. This isn’t fair. I don’t deserve to be treated like a caged animal for wanting to live my life.
“That’s enough, Maya.” Ezra’s voice comes through the speaker by the door. I push the button to say something, anything, to him, but I don’t have the energy. I slide down the door until I’m sitting on the floor with my forehead resting on my knees.
“Eventually you’ll understand I’m just doing this to keep you safe,” he goes on. “I love you, and I don’t want anyone hurting you to hurt me. You’remine, Maya, and you will never leave this mansion again.”
The line turns staticky before it cuts out.
I take a few steadying breaths before crawling back into bed and falling apart.
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
VIC
“You’re doinga terrible job of making her like you,hermano,” I say to Ezra, if only to piss him off. It’s the truth, though. He wants her to love him again, but he locks her in a room with no way out. It makes no fucking sense to me.
Ezra levels a glare at me. “What I do with my girl is none of your fucking concern, Vic. This is a business meeting—leave her out of it.”
I hold up my hands in surrender. “Apologies, boss. I just don’t like to see women being treated like shit.”
“I don’t treat her like shit,” he argues.
Jay stands up and slams his hands on the smooth countertop of the island. “Enough. I’m sick of hearing all of you talk about Maya as if she’s God’s greatest gift to mankind. We have more important things to talk about.”
I nod in reverence, ignoring the irritation I feel at Jay talking about Maya that way. “You’re right. My bad.”
Ezra doesn’t say anything else, but I don’t miss the way he keeps sneaking glares at me.
“I was finally able to contact Tony about what went down at the Black Card the other night,” Ezra says. “He was caught in the crossfires and got shot in the chest. Don’t know how the fucker’s still breathing, but Med worked his magic.”
“So, what happened, exactly?” Lee asked, leaning forward so his elbows rested on the countertop.
Ezra runs a hand over his face. “Tony wasn’t manning the front at the time, so he’s still trying to get the rundown from his team. He’s certain it was a targeted attack since it happened when he wasn’t at the front. He’d already informed everyone on his team that Jericho was not to be allowed entry under any circumstances, but someone let him in anyway. Three of his men are still unconscious, and the ones who are awake are adamant that they had nothing to do with it.”
“Should we bring them to the basement?” Jay suggests, his deep, rumbling voice a promise of the pain and bloodshed that’s to come.
Ezra considers for a moment. “Let’s wait until the others regain consciousness first. I’m not ruling out Jake, either.”
The three of us nod in agreement. Our attention quickly shifts to Dom Carlo and the Crimson Brotherhood. Jay and Lee filled me in when I got back from the airport. If he poses a threat to Maya, I want to do everything in my power to keep him away from her.
How can I be so protective over someone I just met ten minutes ago? There’s just something about her that’s…different.
I also enjoy pissing Ezra off. Pride myself on it, actually.
“I think that’s it,” Ezra says as he pushes his chair back from the counter. “I’m going to go up to my room and get some more work done.”
I nod. “And I’ll go check on Maya.”
Ezra’s head whips in my direction, and his eyes shoot daggers at me.
Yep. He’s pissed.
He rounds the island in a quick stride until he’s right in my face. He and I are the same height, so I never feel like I’m cowering beneath him.
“Something wrong, brother?” I taunt, grinning.
