Oh damn. I lick my lips as I look him up and down and see that he is wearing his black trousers, grey shirt and black tie, which just so happens to be my favourite suit of his.
“Watch where you’re going,” he says before walking down the hallway, leaving me with my mouth open and my irritation ramping up a notch.
I follow him outside and to the car, getting in the passenger side as he gets in the driver seat.
“Are we going to be out for long?” I ask as he starts to pull off the driveway.
“I’m not sure.”
“Are we going out for lunch or something?”
“No.”
“Shopping?”
“No.”
Jesus, he’s not going to give anything away, is he?
“Come on, Nate, just tell me where we’re headed,” I say, trying once more.
He turns to me with a smirk. “You’re about to get your introduction to my world.” And with that, he turns back to the road and drives at speed.
Well, okay then.
* * *
We pull up to a rundown building, and I immediately clock the three SUVs parked outside, two men stood by the side of each one.
Nate pulls us up alongside the cars and gets out, coming round to my side of the car and opening the door.
He holds his hand out for me to take. “Jeez, such a gentleman,” I say sarcastically as I comply and get out, steadying myself once I’m standing.
“Now is not the time for your quick wit, my love,” he says before closing the car door and turning to me. “You are about to see what kind of man I can really be.”
I don’t get a chance to say anything as he takes my hand and leads me to the other cars, and it is at this point that I notice Stefan is one of the men waiting.
“Stefan,” Nate greets before nodding to the other guys.
“Nate. Kat,” Stefan says, turning to me and smiling. I smile back and admire the fact that he is good-looking. Cropped light-brown hair, deep green eyes, stocky frame and a goatee that is shaped perfectly. He doesn’t have a patch on Nate’s looks, but it’s safe to say that most of these men are pretty easy on the eye. I’m sure there would be a queue of women just waiting to take my place and open their legs for any one of these guys…
“Kat,” Nate says as he gives my hand a little squeeze, gaining my attention.
“Yeah?” I say, turning to him.
“We’re going in. You will stay with Stefan as a spectator. You are not to say or do anything. You are merely getting a look at the man you are marrying in action.”
“Duly noted,” I reply dryly, and I hear one of the guy’s chuckle before quickly composing themselves.
“Good,” Nate says before turning his attention to the men. “If anything goes wrong and anyone attempts to get near Kat, you are to make sure that you take whoever it is down. I do not care for anyone thinking that they can touch or get near my fiancée, is that clear?” he tells his guys, and they all nod their heads and say, “Yes, boss.” It’s clearly not their first rodeo.
I gulp as we walk towards the building with its chipping paintwork and graffiti sprayed in several places. It looks deserted, no one in sight, but as we near a door, I can hear the sounds of voices.
Nate turns to me and puts his finger over his lips to warn me to stay quiet. I nod my head and then he opens the door, walking in as if he owns the place, the voices dying down as they all turn to look at him, one by one.
“Good evening,” Nate says as he lets go of my hand and I feel Stefan drop beside me, his hand coming in front of me to halt me. This is clearly as far into the building as I go. Nate keeps walking into the middle of the room, and I count five men. Five to our six, so at least we’re one up on them.
“It’s come to my attention that you’re late with our payment deal, again,” Nate continues, his gaze zeroing in on a guy sat to the left of him. “So, you want to clue me in here, Eugene?” he says, his arms going out wide either side of him.
