Page 44 of His Haunted Desire

“You’re yelling at this poor girl like you’re going to take it a step further.”

“I’m not a woman beater, cousin. And this is none of your business.”

“I just told you, I’m making it my fucking business.” I turn to the woman. “Has he hurt you?”

“Hurther?” Julian snaps. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“It’s a simple question.”

“No,” she says, shaking her head. “He thinks I tried to steal his watch. But why would I do that? I’ve got nowhere to take it.”

I step right up to Julian, look him in the eye. “If you hurt her or treat her badly, you’ll answer to me. What’s your name?” I turn back to the woman.

“Chastity.”

“We’re in the room right at the end of the hallway. That way.” I point. “If you need me, come and get me. I’m Raiden.”

“I think we’ll be okay.”

I prod Julian in the chest. “Treat your date with some goddamn respect.”

“I did a bad thing, Raiden. Shit. A selfish, ugly thing. But that doesn’t mean I’m a woman beater.”

“I’ve made myself clear.”

I leave his room, walk quickly down the hallway, thinking about going back there and smashing him across the face, sending his mouth full of fake-smiling teeth scattering across the room.

Back in our room, I pace up and down, hands opening and closing into fists.

“Do you know her?” Aurora asks.

Both of us are still in our masks, even privately, as though we need that shield.

“Who?”

“The woman. Chastity.”

“Never met her,” I grunt.

“You seem… angry. This seems… personal.”

I laugh coldly. “Could say that, yeah.”

She approaches me cautiously, as though I’m a wild animal, as though she thinks I’m suddenly going to explode. Perhaps I am.

“That was your cousin, yeah?” She gently touches my arm.

I stop pacing. “Yes. And my friend. At least, I thought he was.”

“What happened? We don’t have to talk about it… but it might help?”

“He stabbed me in the back,” I growl. “He used my trust in him to lead me down a dead-end business deal, stole almost everything I had in liquid cash, left me with a hundred grand, my car, and my apartment.” I grind my teeth. “I might sound like a spoiled rich man to you, Aurora, but I worked hard for my fortune. I bled for it. I killed for it.”

I sit on the couch, shuddering in anger.

“Hey, it’s okay.” Aurora sits next to me, her hand on my arm.

“We shouldn’t get too close, remember,” I grunt.