Page 74 of Coercion

Preston’s eyebrows raise. “Little tart?” He repeats, glancing at me, and god do I recoil at the look he gives me.

Does he think I came here for drama? That I led this guy on, intentionally encouraged his behaviour, like I’m playing that sort of a game?

I shake my head, pleading with my eyes for him to see that I haven’t done anything, that I tried to tell this man where to go and he wouldn’t listen.

“You have no idea who she is, do you?” Preston says.

The man glances at me, sneering, before looking back at Preston. “They’re all the same.” He laughs.

Preston smirks just a little. It’s a cold, calculated look I’ve seen a few times now and I know it won’t end well. He lures you in with that smile, makes you think you’re on even footing, when the reality is, you’re about to get your arse handed to you. “Is that right?”

“Yeah, you know how it is, they’re all happy to spread their legs if they think it’s worth their while.” He laughs again.

Only Preston doesn’t laugh. He pulls out his gun, fixing him with a look that utterly terrifies me.

“That little tart is my wife.” Preston growls.

The man visibly pales, stepping back, holding his hands up. “She didn’t say, she didn’t…”

Preston raises his gun, fixing it on his chest, but his head turns to me and those blue eyes are utterly furious. “Tell me, Ruby, did he offer to buy you a drink?”

I nod.

“And what did you say?”

“I said I didn’t want one. I said I wasn’t interested.” I half stumble over the words as I speak them so quickly.

Preston tilts his head, turning back to the man. “When a woman says she’s not interested, that’s what she means.” He snaps.

“I didn’t know. They’re all like that, these bitches all play hard to get, they all play these games…”

Preston lets off a warning shot into the ceiling and the entire bar falls deathly silent. “That’s twice now you’ve called my wife names. You’ve called her a tart and a bitch. You really want to keep going?”

I step backwards, right into the polished brass edge of the bar.

I can feel everyone staring at us now. Even Nico is. They’re all watching this play out, watching my husband go total alpha-male.

“You’re the wife?”

I look around, seeing the first barmaid from before staring at me with new eyes. Her gaze drops and she stares at the massive diamond on my finger. How she didn’t clock it before I don’t know. I guess she must have thought the one around my neck was costume jewellery, though how anyone could mistake a real diamond for a cubic zirconia I have no idea.

“I am.” I say quietly. I don’t hold her any ill will. Maybe that attitude of hers is needed to work in a place like this but I still don’t like the fact she’s obviously fucked my husband in the past, nor do I like the fact she shouts out so much about it.

“You will apologise to her, apologise to my wife.” Preston continues.

“I’m, I’m sorry.” The man splutters, barely looking me in the eyes.

Preston jerks his head and two men step up and drag him away.

I watch him go, kicking and pleading before Preston steps in front of me.

“I didn’t mean…” I fall silent as he puts the gun away.

“Why are you here, Ruby?” He growls, like he’s pissed at me.

“I,” I bite my tongue. I don’t really know why I came. All the reasons I had seem so stupid now that I’m stood here.

He grabs my arm, yanking me through the place while everyone stares. My heels seem to be the only sound as they clack across the floor. I drop my eyes, I drop my head, more than aware that my husband is super pissed at me and every person here can see it.