Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 142764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
I pat Harvey on the cheek gently, and he flinches away from me. Smart.
“Since you gave me your hand, I’ll go easy on you.” I snap another finger, then grab his chin and put my face directly in his. “I won’t kill you for touching what’s mine. And you know what? I won’t kick you out of The Mill either, at least not yet.”
I breathe in the sharp scent of his sweat and fear. This is where I thrive, where chaos and my demons can come out to play together. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Bel getting ready to make a run for it. Extending my arm out, I grasp her bicep, halting her midstep. There’s no way in hell I’m letting her walk away from this. If she doesn't want to suffer the consequences, then maybe she shouldn’t have provoked me.
I grin at her. "No, Flower, you don't get to start something and not finish it. Not when his punishment is all your fault. Your act of defiance will mean a world of hurt for little Harvey here."
The man looks like he’s going to vomit, his eyes silently pleading for me to release him as they ping-pong between Bel and myself. I know I have to choose to let go of one of them.
I can’t continue to teach this fucker a lesson without releasing Bel, but if I release her, she’s going to run. Still, if I let this fucker go, he might tell his friends what happened, and I can’t have anyone thinking I’m weak.
"Drew.” Bel leans in, clearly understanding the dark direction this is going in. She clutches the bottle of vodka in her other hand. "Leave him be, and come with me. Let’s go for a walk.”
I snort. “Do you think I'm an idiot? All you want is to get my attention off this fucker. I’m not stupid.”
Realizing her words are not enough, her small hand trails up my chest, and it takes everything in me not to lean in, sink into these feelings, and let them be more. Not when she's only touching me to protect this asshole.
It makes me more inclined to rip his head off and shit down his throat.
A hard slap lands against my back, the impact vibrating through my muscles, and out of the corner of my eye, I catch a flash of curls and wide-ass shoulders belonging to one of my friends. Aries. Always the peacemaker. He leans in, smiling.
"Come on, man. Go talk to your girl. I'll take care of this asshole for you."
It's a ruse. I know it. He knows it. Even Harvey knows it. He'll toss him out on his ass and let him run, but he won't be punished as much as I want. It’s a battle of choosing what I want more—to talk with Bel and make her understand there is no other option but me or to beat this asshole ten feet into the ground.
I glance down at Bel, and even as her voice has softened and her touch burns across my skin, she's still wearing that defiant-as-fuck look, daring me to walk away and let it go. That’s fine, though. Harvey’s punishment can be given to her instead. I shift my hand to Harvey's face and give him a shove. Stumbling backward, he nearly trips over his own feet. As soon as he realizes he’s free, he scurries out of the room without looking back.
Coward. Logically, I know he didn’t do anything wrong. It's more about looking weak and teaching Bel a lesson.
Aries gives us his signature grin, all pearly white teeth, then snags a bottle of alcohol off the counter and follows him.
Alone, or as close to alone as we’re going to get, I tug Bel closer. "You should be happy. I let him go for you."
Those defiant eyes shine, tipping me over the fucking edge. I’m done.
With my patience slipping, I tighten my grip and tug her toward the back door. She barely resists, stumbling over her feet a little too easily along the way.
I’m not sure how much she drank before I arrived, but it’s obvious it was enough to make her think she could get away with this ludicrous shit. I push the back door open and pull her outside behind me. The cold night air greets us, and the refreshing feel of it on my skin helps to clear away some of the anger clouding my thoughts.
I only stop once we reach the tree line of the woods, putting us far enough away from the house that I can finally hear myself think. There’s no one but us and the quietness now. Turning on her, I take her by both arms and gently press her back against one of the towering oak trees. I force myself to be gentle when what I really want is to take her over my knee and spank her ass until it’s cherry red.