Page 26

Liam turned a glare on the sniveling coward. “I understand why someone with a pencil dick might find that threatening.”

Pompous threw a weaselly glance around the room, then dipped his head, whispering, “That job I offered you to eliminate the bitch is still on the table.”

Liam stiffened, fury tearing through his system. Pompous had never mentioned the target was female, much less that it was Vivian. “You’re still looking for someone to take her out?” If he’d already hired another hitman, Liam would need to deal with the bastard after he dealt with Pompous.

Oblivious to the fact these were his final minutes on earth, the male cut Vivian a glare through the glass. “It’s been hard to find a hunter willing to incur the magister’s wrath. The little whore’s ambitious. I’ll give her that. First, she landed the Council’s mage, and now she’s after the magister himself. Long as she has Tiberius Steele’s favor, I can’t touch her. I’ve been sending her gifts instead.” He snickered. “Sent her a skinned cat just last week along with a note that she was next. Wish I could have seen her face when she opened it.”

Those minutes the bastard had left on this earth turned to seconds. This was one of the sickos who’d been sending Viv death threats. Maybe Liam would skin the prick before he killed him. Feed his entrails to some pussycats. See how he liked it.

Pompous seemed to take Liam’s silence to mean he was considering the offer. “Don’t act like you wouldn’t want a piece of that for yourself. Accept the contract, and you can break her any way you see fit. Long as she’s gone, I don’t care how the deed is accomplished. Hell, you could even screw the whore while you—Blegeck.”

Liam grabbed the bastard’s throat, snarling in his face, “One problem with your plan. I’ve already accepted a position as the Black Widow’s bodyguard. You let your friends know this. If anyone so much as coughs in her direction, I’ll make what you did to that pussycat look like child’s play.” Before he gave in to the urge to snap the prick’s scrawny neck, he tossed him away.

Pompous backpedaled, off balance, arms cartwheeling. Back, back, back.

Lucky for Pompous, the buffet broke his fall.

The overburdened table split down the middle, folding in on the male. Food slid down the two sides, piling on top of the screeching aristocrat. Stuck in the crease, Pompous looked like a fish taco. Complete with wiggling leaches and caviar.

One of the guards from the front door stormed across the room, bearing down on Liam. Before the male could try to remove him, Liam reared his fist back and cracked him in the jaw. Just as Pompous was gaining his feet, the guard spun, crashed into him, and they both landed in the pile of fish jizz.

“Liam. Stop.” Vivian’s sharp command hit his ear holes. He turned to find her gaping at him, a look of horror on her face. Magister Steele stood beside her, his fury a palpable force Liam was all too willing to engage.

“What are you doing?” Vivian gasped. “Do you have any idea who that is?”

“Yeah, I know who he is. He’s the prick who just offered me a hundred grand to rape and murder you.”

She gasped, pressing her hand to her chest. The way her cheeks paled had Liam wishing he’d squeezed the bastard’s throat a bit tighter.

Pompous gained his feet, snarling, “Lies. Arrest him. This ruffian assaulted me.” He threw out his arms, gesturing grandly, slinging food at the crowd. “You all saw it.”

Liam met eyes with Tiberius. The look on the guy’s face said Liam was screwed.

Before the magister could call for his guards, Vivian placed her hand on his chest. “Tiberius, darling. I’m certain this must all be a simple misunderstanding. Allow me to take Liam home, and I promise I’ll sort him out.”

Tiberius turned his dark glare to Pompous, saying, “I’m sure you’re right. No one would dare to threaten someone I hold dear. Especially not while under my roof.”

Pompous puffed out his chest while caviar dripped from his nose. “My Liege, I would never offend you in such a way. Nor would I ever raise a hand to a helpless female.”

The magister’s icy glare turned Pompous into a block of ice. “Perhaps Liam misunderstood then, and Lyle was simply donating that hundred grand to Vivian’s charity.”

Pompous pressed his lips together, glaring at the floor.

“Mr. Hastings?” Tiberius prompted, those two words so thick with menace Lyle Hastings blanched.

Lyle swiped a glob of fish jizz from the end of his nose. “Yes, yes. That’s exactly what I was doing. How astute of you.”

“Very well,” Tiberius said. “Then I see no crime here beyond the defilement of a buffet table.” Nervous laughter ensued.

Turning to Vivian, he said, “Vivian, as much as it pains me to see you go, I believe it's time you and your guest headed home.”

“Thank you, Tiberius,” Vivian was quick to agree. “Come, Liam. We’re leaving.”

Before Liam obeyed that command, he scanned the circle that had formed around them. Making eye contact with every person gathered, he said, “Anyone fucks with Vivian Laurent, you’ll answer to me. Only, next time, I won’t be as subtle in getting my point across.” The last he delivered while locking eyes with Magister Tiberius Steele.

* * *

After the disastrous party,Liam made a quick stop to bring Soren and Kyrell up to speed, then escorted Vivian into the house.