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Dante
Aelia keeps trying to get away from me. I may have failed to tell her she didn't have to go to Jenkins's office tonight. Or the night before. Or the night before that. It hasn't gone over very well, especially when she realized she'd be glued to my side for the foreseeable future.I'd like to spend more time convincing her to help me bring the Guild down, but her handler, Grant, has been annoyingly present.
I'm posted up at a poker table with Aelia secured on my lap, my arm around her waist. Every time she shifts, I tighten my grip. My subtle clues for her to knock it off apparently fly right over her head, because she keeps doing it. Sliding my hand up her body, she tenses. I stay away from her tits, not wanting to spook her more than need be, but the others are watching.
Wrapping my hand around her throat, I guide her head back. I run my nose along her neck. She shudders, and her body relaxes into me.
"Stop squirming or I'm going to have a hard time walking around," I murmur in her ear.
She turns toward me, nuzzling into my neck. "Maybe if your leg wasn't so bony, I wouldn't have to."
"Pretty sure that's your ass, angel."
"Are you going to call or fuck your woman?" another player growls.
Instead of answering, I brush my lips over her cheek. I'd kiss her, but I'm slightly terrified she'll either go catatonic or use my own knife to stab me. Her mood seems to swing between the two. Add in her emotionless mask, and I'm never quite sure which I'm going to get.
"I'll raise," I say into her skin, and her eyes meet mine.
I tip my head, gesturing for her to bid, and her nostrils flare. I'd rather hide away in another room with her, see if I can convince her to take a risk and help me. Byron tipped me off that Jenkins is watching me, though. Or maybe he's tracking Aelia. Either way, I had to put on a show, so here we are.
Aelia tosses a few chips into the middle of the table. It's not as much as I'd bet, but I'm not going to correct her. For the first half hour we were here, she barely breathed. The dealer sets the flop and the rest groan. I flip my cards without even looking.
"Mr. Cruz, your presence is requested," a man says at my elbow. He can't be more than twenty and his eyes keep darting around.
Another guard comes up, murmuring how he'll tally up my winnings and leave them at the counter. I set Aelia on her feet, scanning the faces of the others around the table.
"Gentlemen," I say, smirking.
I've probably made more than a few enemies, but at least I won some money while doing it. I grab Aelia's hand, tugging her after the man. When she jerks away, I whip my head toward her.
She widens her eyes, trying to convey something I don't understand. Glancing around, I catch Grant tracking us from his spot at the bar. When he narrows his eyes, it hits me. I'm being too gentle with her. I seize her wrist and yank her into my body as I paste an annoyed look on my face.
"What the hell am I supposed to do?" I growl.
"Drag me along behind you. Make me crawl. All you have to do is look around and figure it out, genius," she mutters, ducking her head, feigning submission.
She plays this part much better than I do.I'll need to up my game to pull this off. I grip her hip with one hand, sliding the other into her hair. She winces when I yank her head back until her eyes meet mine.
"Remember, I'm not going to hurt you," I snarl, infusing my hatred for the Guild into my tone.
I release her, then tip her over my shoulder. She cries out, struggling to pull her dress down, but I smack her in the ass. Whatever feelings of desire she drummed up in me before has fled. I won't be able to keep up this charade of manhandling her for much longer. When we step into the hall, my feet stutter, not sure whether to stop or keep going. I spot Grant speaking to an older man I haven't met yet, but his eyes find mine.
"Stop fighting me, angel," I mutter and she stills.
"Mr. Cruz, if you'd like to leave her with me, I can make sure she doesn't take off on you," Grant calls as he crossed the foyer.
I freeze, closing my eyes and slowly pulling in a breath to dampen the rage that whips through me. Sliding her from my shoulder, I grip her wrist and tuck her body behind my own. His lascivious grin begs for my fist.
I resign myself to covering my disdain for him and everything he stands for. Right now, I'm the only protection Aelia has, and I won't throw that away to satisfy the beast inside me.
"I suggest you keep your hands off my property, Grant," I sneer, narrowing my eyes, and he flushes.
"I was only offering you my assistance to watch your bit to ensure she didn't engage in prohibited activities while in service to you."
Aelia's small hand brushes my lower back, and I tilt my head as she whispers, "They call us bits when we're claimed."
I step closer to Grant, crowding into his space as I tower over him. His eyes widen, finally understanding how serious I am. Grant needs to learn his place, and it isn't anywhere near Aelia. She's mine now. The sooner he figures that out, the more likely his head will stay attached to his body.
