Page 36

“Fuck!” With a rough yank, I pull off my tie as I sit inside my town car on the way to the airport. Not that it does anything to the heartache and betrayal coursing through me.

My mind is filled with images of her laughing, flirting with a random guy she just met—a guy who probably doesn’t even understand the beauty of thorns on roses.

How could she deny everything between us? Did all of it mean nothing to her?

I was supposed to head back to New York right after a business dinner tonight to take care of some bank business that couldn’t be done remotely, and frankly, I’d been away for too long, delaying my departure because of a certain minx. I told myself to just leave. Maybe the distance was what we both needed to think through things. After all, she was the youngest sister of my best friends. Things could get messy.

But the itch to see her only grew throughout the dinner. I needed to see her before I go. I wanted to tell her how proud I was of her.

Her Odette, while still flawed, was beautiful in her own way.

The strength in her turns and lifts, the fierceness in her eyes.

To dance a role that challenged you, knowing the public was scrutinizing your every move, but still putting yourself out there, night after night, ignoring naysayers, gossipmongers, and critics.

There was strength, and yet, there was also an underlying vulnerability.

It made her white swan unique.

I wanted to tell her before I hopped on my jet, knowing I wouldn’t see her for a few months, knowing I’d miss her and hoping she’d miss me, even though I knew she wouldn’t admit it.

But what did I get instead?

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” Anger makes an appearance, joining the pain. Another person you care about who has no interest in you. This is why you don’t do emotions, Charles. This is fucking why.

I stare out the window, my mind a swirl of madness when the phone in my pocket vibrates.

My minx.

The immediate thought crossing my mind is concern because she never calls me. My anger quickly set aside, I answer, “Minx.”

“Ch-Charles?”

The hairs rise on the back of my neck. She sounds terrified. I rap on the center divider and instruct the driver to turn back.

“What happened?”

She shrieks. Something’s wrong. “H-He’s chasing me. God, I-I’m so scared. I’m sorry for everything. I need you—”

She needs me. I’ll fight an army to get to her.

“Stay on the phone, don’t turn it off. I’m on my way.”

Five minutes later, I dash into the club, my heart threatening to rip out of my chest. Scanning the space, I try to spot the most beautiful woman among the crowds. Fear curdles inside my gut as desperation rips the breath out of my lungs.

Fuck. Where is she?

“Sweetheart, I’m here. Where are you?” I try to keep my voice even. She can’t hear my panic. She needs me to be calm for her.

Silence greets me. I look at the phone. Damn it, it disconnected.

I push people out of the way, my feet carrying me into the throng.

Desperation carves me in half. I need to find her. I won’t be able to live with myself if anything happens to her.

Just then, I hear a commotion on top of the usual club ruckus. My feet pivot toward the sizable crowd huddled around the restrooms.

“Get out of my way!” I push through the bystanders and my heart nearly plummets to the floor at what I see.

The fucker is approaching Taylor, who is cornered and screaming. I hurtle toward them just as she bares her teeth and delivers a sharp elbow strike to the bastard’s face; the crowd reacting to her move with a roar.

The idiot howls in pain and staggers toward her. Her eyes are wild as she drives the heel of her palm into his nose.

My lungs heave in rapid breaths of oxygen, my heart beating against my rib cage.

Awestruck . I’m fucking awestruck. That’s my minx.

The crowd roars and some idiots even whistle. The bastard’s nose is bloody, and he charges toward her, obviously pissed off.

Torture. Maim. Murder. I’m going to strangle the life out of him.

Quickly, I reach them in a few strides. I clamp the asshole by the collar, serve him a right hook to his face, and fling him away from her. Then I pull her into my arms.

She screams, her arms flailing, the horror clear in her voice, “Let go of me!”

“It’s me, Tay. Me. Charles. Shhhh. You’re safe.” I hold her tightly, feeling her lithe body trembling in my embrace. God, she’s shaking so much.

Growling, I whip my head toward the asshole on the floor, who appears to be disoriented. I’m going to fucking kill him.

“Ch-Charles?” She looks up, her shaky voice drawing my attention back to her. Her gray eyes are glazed over, her lips trembling. Then her body slumps against mine, like I’m all she needs in the world. “You came. You came for me.”

Mine. Possessiveness curls around my chest.

“Always. I’ll always be here for you.” Always. Whenever she calls. I crush her in my embrace, floored by the intense emotions flooding my body.

“Charles, I want to go back to the hotel. Please.” She wobbles on her feet. A few bouncers head in our direction.

I lift her up in my arms, ignoring the stares and cell phone cameras pointed at us. “You’re safe, my little minx. You’re safe.”

Taylor moans, her body trembling, and she snuggles deeper into my hold. My heart fucking breaks. She looks so vulnerable.

“I kicked his ass, didn’t I?” she whispers.

My lips twitch up, a spark lighting inside me. My feral little kitten. No, she’s not vulnerable or fragile. She’s a fucking fighter.

“Damn right you did.” I press a kiss on her hair and carry her away.

“I’m safe,” she mumbles. “I’m always safe with you.”

A heady warmth floods my chest, my heart racing, pulsing, coming alive inside me.

Mine.

And it’s then I know, I’m already in too deep.