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What the hell is he doing here?

I leap up out of my seat and storm over to him.

“Ah, there you are,” he says.

“What are you doing here? It’s my friend’s birthday,” I hiss, glancing over my shoulder to see my friends are open mouthed.

“I’ve come to see my girlfriend since she’s been ignoring my calls all day. You do remember you have a boyfriend, right, Gabby?”

“How could I forget?” My tone is laced with sarcasm.

He leans in, wrapping an arm around my back. To spectators, it would look like he’s embracing me, ready to kiss me, but his voice is full of venom and sends chills down my spine as he grips my wrist with a bruising force that makes me let out a little whimper of pain. “I’d watch your fucking tone with me. When I call, I expect you to answer. Got it?” I nod, and he plants a kiss on my lips that makes me want to hurl.

“You’re hurting me,” I say weakly. He releases my wrist and I bring it to my chest to massage where he held it.

“Now, take my hand and show me off like a proud girlfriend or I’ll be telling all your friends over there what you really get up to in your free time.”

He has me over a barrel and there’s nothing I can do but obey him. My shaky hand reaches out for his and I fix my smile as we walk over, hand in hand, to the booth.

“Everyone, this is my boyfriend, Patrick. Patrick, this is Kate, Harley, Mason, and Brad. It’s his birthday.” I point to Brad, and the look on his face crushes me.

Patrick greets everyone with a hug or a handshake and when he reaches out to Brad’s, Brad ignores it.

“We’ve met,” Brad says flatly.

“Yes, you’re right we have. Sorry, you just have one of those faces that’s easy to forget.”

Brad scoffs and his eyebrows raise, and I want the ground to swallow me up.

“Why don’t we get a drink?” I suggest, trying to break the tension.

“Good idea. I take a scotch on the rocks,” Patrick says, taking a seat next to Harley.

“You’re not going to get the drinks?” Brad asks, his tone annoyed.

“Gabby’s a big girl. She likes her independence, don’t you, honey?” I fight back the shudder that wants to roll through me at the use of the word honey. I don’t want him to give me a pet name.

I clamp a hand round Brad’s arm, stopping him from causing a scene.

“Yes, does anyone else want a drink?” No one answers me. Patrick already is commanding the attention of everyone, and I turn and head to the bar, with Brad hot on my heels.

“Why do you let him treat you like that?” he spits.

“Just drop it,” I say through gritted teeth, taking a spot at the bar, waiting for a waitress.

“You know he’s cheating on you, right? I caught him with another girl in my club.” His words should hurt, cut me in two, but they don’t. I don’t care what Patrick does. All it does is make me angry that Patrick can get away with doing what he wants, and I’m expected to go along with his games.

“You deserve better,” Brad says, pressing his front to my back and I could so easily melt into him and beg him to save me, but I deserve this. I’ve fucked up, and this is my punishment.

“Brad, with all the respect in the world, my relationship isn’t any of your business.”

I stare straight ahead, and I feel his hand come to my waist and circle my stomach with his fingers, sending zaps of pleasure right to my center.

“Whether you like it or not, Gabriella, you are my business and will always be my business. I can’t stand by and let some piece of shit treat you like that.”

I tap my foot impatiently, trying to block out his words.

“Follow me,” Brad mutters.