Page 94 of Coercion

He’ll kill me and throw my body to the dogs.

Preston

Ididn’t want to leave but I could hardly not when someone was going for our warehouses. I raced down, all guns blazing, only it turned out to be a false alarm.

The minute Jace gets there I can’t hold back, I can’t keep in my frustration. I slam my fist into his jaw and the impact sends him flying backwards.

“Next time you call me up, acting like something big is going on, you check first.” I snap. I’m not some god damn lackey. I’m not some low level criminal used to racing around this city, trying not to be caught with my dick in my hands.

“Preston.” He stammers but I cut across him.

“Sort this shit out.” I growl, waving my hand to all the men who are stood waiting for orders after we burst in like there was a full on war inside.

He glances around then nods. “I’m on it boss.” He murmurs.

“You better fucking be.” I growl before turning around and heading back home.

It took me the best part of an hour to get out here. It’ll take another god damn hour to get back. I hate the fact that Ruby is there, with Gunnar and though she didn’t say anything, didn’t seem to protest, the more I think about it, the more it sets my teeth on edge.

I grab my phone, calling up Noah, and he picks up after two rings. “Boss?”

“Go to my house.” I order. “Gunnar is there with my wife. I want to make sure nothing happens.”

It already feels too late.

In my gut it already feels like I’ve left her to the jackals and when Noah calls back barely ten minutes later, I know shit has gone down.

What have I done leaving her like that?

“What’s he done?”

“He’s left Boss.” Noah says. “The house is empty.”

“What?” I snarl, taking out my anger on the one man who isn’t responsible.

“The lights are off. Sidney says she went to bed not long after you left.”

It doesn’t make sense. Something in my gut tells me that but if something had happened there would be evidence, and besides, Ruby wouldn’t have just slinked off to bed. I know her too well now.

I get into my car, speed back across, jumping every red light, practically crashing my car in my haste. I all but smash my waythrough the gates and then I’m out, wrenching the door open, bellowing Ruby’s name.

Only, I’m met with silence. Eery fucking silence.

I stalk up the stairs and Sidney meets me on the landing.

“Where is she?” I bark, “Where is my wife?”

“In bed,” He says quickly, like he doesn’t understand what all the commotion is about.

I push past, sprinting down the hall. I don’t know what I’m expecting to find, I don’t know what the hell has happened but every instinct in me is screaming out as I storm into our bedroom before coming to an abrupt stop.

She’s curled up in bed, the covers all around her but I can tell she’s not asleep.

“Ruby?”

She shifts, giving me a glimpse of her tearstained face and within seconds I’m there, wrapping my arms around her.

“What happened? Did he hurt you?” I ask. If he laid a finger on her, he’s a dead man.