Page 44 of Point of Contention

No way in hell I could walk away with Anvil’s warning in my head.

I strode to the end of the hallway, stopping just within the shadows to hide my presence, then scanned the room for her.

My gaze landed on her quickly. She was so fucking beautiful my chest tightened around my lungs.

Beside her, making my chest tighten for entirely different reasons, was Master Gage. He had his arms stretched along the back of the booth behind her, but, save for his fingertips trailing over the curve of her shoulder, he was giving her space.

But even just that brush of his fingertips against her skin made my fists clench at my sides. Any touching was too much where Rylan was concerned, and yet…

I was fucking helpless to do anything to stop this.

If I marched over there and demanded she get away from him, she’d hate me. Rylan was too strong, too stubborn to let me act like I had any control over her life now that we were not together. Not that I had any control over her before. The thought made my lips quirk up on one side even as I stared daggers across the room at Gage Magnusson. No one controlled Rylan Blake but Rylan Blake. He’d figure that out soon enough, I was sure.

As for me, for those four weeks she allowed me to think I had any control over her, I would be forever grateful.

Watchful as always, Anvil spotted me and crossed the club, joining me in the shadows. “What do you want me to do, boss?”

I breathed deeply, biting back my immediate response and deciding instead on, “Just keep an eye on things. He’s been acting…” Taking a deep breath, I let the words trail off, but Anvil nodded as if following my thoughts. Magnusson had been on a bit of a power trip lately, and the fact that he’d set his sights on Rylan made my shoulders itch with trepidation. “Step in only if she needs you. She can handle herself.”

I focused on her now, drinking her in as she sipped from a glass of red wine. Then I turned around, my back to the club, and clasped Anvil’s shoulder. “Thank you for the head’s up.”

“Any time, Master Creed.”

Reluctantly, I left him to keep an eye on Rylan and returned to the underground garage as quickly as my feet would carry me.

Chapter Fifteen

Rylan

The air in the underground club still held that pregnant feeling, as if it was full, thicker down here. As if the air was somehow heavy with the desire that coursed through the room, each particle holding the weight of everyone’s lust like minuscule crystal balls of kink. The bass music was deep as always, but the way it vibrated in my bones didn’t feel sensual or alluring anymore.

Instead, it felt…

Well, it felt likea lot.

Like it was too loud. Too… bumpy.Too much.

My chest was tight with anxiety as I sat beside Master Gage.

Or maybe it was him that was too much.

Too big.

Too overbearing.

Too determined.

His eyes were a glint of glass every time they slid over my body, beautiful but razor sharp.

He kept his arm over the back of the booth behind me, but had thus far kept his hands to himself, save for occasionally brushing his fingertips over my bare shoulder, smirking when I shivered even though he misinterpreted the reason behind the reaction.

It wasn’t a good shiver. This wasn’t a good night.

I felt trapped, even though I knew I could leave if I wanted to.

On the other side of Master Gage sat a blonde woman with similar piercing blue eyes and long blonde hair that was perfectly placed over one shoulder in beachy waves that looked like they’d been pulled straight from a magazine. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say they were siblings.

But that was a bit too taboo even for this place.