I wanna clock her right in the fucking face just for daring to admire him.
“Not ex. Iamyour husband,” the asshole contends.
Excuse me? Is he whipping his dick out? This isn’t a fucking pissing contest.
I turn to him, ready to make a nasty remark, but falter when his foul expression makes me smirk. His face seems almost red, his gaze switching between Carter and me. If we’re comparing, Carter fucking won. He’s taller, gorgeous, richer, and so much more powerful.
And right now . . . he’s pretending to be mine. Fucking delightful.
“If Scarlet says ex, you are her ex.” Carter replies before I bother to, and something swells not just in my belly, but in my damn soul too.
Settle. He’s acting . . . just acting.
“And who mightyoube?” Bernard sounds bitter, fitting his sullen look. If he’s not careful, one might mistake that for jealousy.
“Carter Pierce,” he says.
His name alone is enough explanation. The confidence he exudes is nothing short of insanity. Yet, it works.
“And you are with...her?”Ariana asks, pointing up and down my body like I’m the ugly duckling that could never snag a man like Carter. I can’t help feeling just a tad inferior.
Bernard narrows his eyes, and ever so slowly, something akin to recognition seeps through. He blinks a few times, then pulls his shoulders back as he crosses his arms, and I have a feeling he’s about to dig his own grave just by his expression.
“Look, no offense pal—”
Oh, here we go.
“Scarlet and I haveprivatebusiness to discuss. So, if you don’t mind...”
Does he have a death wish?
I can’t exhale as I look up at Carter to see how that indignation landed. He cocks his head, hand tightening around my waist as he nestles me deeper into him. Okay, that’s...surprisingly nice. Warm.Comforting.
“I mind.” He leaves no space for argument. “I don’t take lightly another man touching what ismine.”
My heart stalls beneath my ribs, goosebumps spreading over my skin as his last word echoes through my thoughts in that growling voice.
Calm down, Scarlet, he’s only pretending.
“But hurting her? Marking her skin?” Carter continues, shaking his head at such a slow, torturous pace. Violent threats lie in the wake of each movement. “That hasdireconsequences.”
Bernard scoffs, but his gaze becomes unsettled. “Consequen—”
“I’m not done.” Carter’s tone turns to gravel as it darkens, and he takes one small step forward, guiding me with him. “I know you are aware of who I am. You’ve also heard rumors. Correct?”
My ex purses his lips, indignation way too clear in his eyes as his nostrils flare. He’s aware.
“Let me clear them up for you—they are wrong. Who I am, what I do, ismuchworse than any rumor that graced your ears. I don’t plan on wasting my time with you. As it stands, you are insignificant. However—”
I’m pulled forward once again, his chest only a foot away from Bernard as he looks down at him.
“If even the tip of your finger grazes a single hair on Scarlet’s body ever again, I won’t just give you a glimpse into what I do. I will make you my masterpiece. I will carve you, Camora. So slowly, your screams will last for hours on end. They will imprint into my mind, and turn into a haunting. And I’ll use them as my motherfucking lullaby every single night to soothe me to sleep.”
Fuck me . . .
Gorgeously perfect. And Bernard is close to shaking. Hell, I am too.
I wanted this man before, but now? Now I’ll raze anything standing in my way.
