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CHAPTER 26

Vince

Suddenly, every man in the world was my enemy. The random valet who held the door open for her, anyone that spoke to her, or worse, if they made her smile. I took that as a personal fucking threat.

I retaliated against a waiter last night who made her laugh. The poor bastard was probably still wondering who jumped him in the alley. There was also the shop assistant, the car dealer, and at this point, it was easier to make a list of who I managed to walk away from.

Each day that passed, I lost a bit more of my sanity. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could keep this up. For the health and wellbeing of everyone else, maybe I shouldn’t.

Looking at the clock again. It was after two in the morning. She still wasn’t home. Logically, I know she wouldn’t lie to me, so she was with her uncle. But the jealous raging monster side of me was worried. She was with someone else.

Turning over again. How was this bed so uncomfortable without her? Fuck it. Maybe I could call her.

Just as I reached for my phone, the bedroom door opened.

“Are you still awake?” she frowned, closing the door.

“Couldn’t sleep.”

“Well, turning the lights off usually helps.” Yawning, she pulled her jumper off. “I smell like plane air. Private plane or not, it still takes forever.”

Had she left the city? It wasn’t my place to ask. Tapping my finger on my thigh.

“I’m going to shower,” she stumbled over something on the ground. I hated seeing her this exhausted. Why did her uncles think it was acceptable?

“You’re too tired, you could slip in the shower and hurt yourself.”

She laughed, “You’re funny.”

“Just come to bed.”

Like normal, she ignored me. The shower was running a few seconds later.

So, I got up and followed her.

“Madeline, I am serious.” I walked into the bathroom. “Fine, if you are insisting on showering, I’m supervising.”

Acting as if that was only for her benefit, and not also mine, I’m sure has sealed my place in hell.

“I don’t care.” She turned in front of me, raising her arms, “But you can help.”

I can help.

This shower was the best idea she had ever had.

Gripping the end of her T-shirt, I pulled it over her head.

“Do you know how long we had to wait on that stupid runway? Three hours. And do you want to know why?” she reached around unclipping her bra. “My uncle had told my cousins, the wrong airfield.”

Dropping her bra to the ground, she unbuttoned the top of her jeans before I took over.

“A normal person wouldn’t just wait at an empty airfield.” Kneeling in front of her, she held my shoulder as I pulled her jeans off. “But not my cousins. Both waited. Until I called them.”

I hooked my thumbs under the sides of her G-string dragging it down.

Fuck.

She’s perfect.