One guided me to a chair while another muttered something to a young woman who nodded, running away.
“He... he tried... he...” I tried to speak, my tears choking my throat.
“Did he touch you?” Lucas asked again in a calmer tone than before.
I nodded slowly, afraid to look at the man in front of him.
Lucas slid the knife into his pocket as he stood, making his way over to me.
The man on the floor whimpered.
“I didn’t mean it, Boss. I didn’t know she was one of yours.”
Lucas reached me, lifting my head to look at him as he examined my face, touching the skin on my face gingerly when I winced. Cursing under his breath, he lifted my hand to his lips, kissing them tenderly.
“I apologize, Alice.”
I didn’t understand whyheapologized until the young woman walked back in with an ice pack and a whiskey shot, smiling at me kindly.
“Drink. Look at me, nowhere but at me,” the woman whispered, placing the ice pack on my cheek.
I stared at her, terror spreading through my body when Lucas spoke.
“Let this be a lesson to you all,” he said, as silence fell across the room like a blanket. “This woman is undermyprotection. No one touches her.Ever.”
The woman covered my ears and leaned forward, her blue eyes gazing into mine as she forced me to look at her.
“See you in hell,cunt,” Lucas muttered as a gunshot rang out.
I let out a silent scream, my mouth agape. I rocked back and forth as the woman brought the whiskey to my lips.
“Drink, keep looking at me,” she commanded softly, and I did as she said.
“Clean this bastard off my fucking floor,” Lucas growled, his voice sending shivers down my spine.
5
ZANE
This could be problematic.
“I need you to come with me, Zane,” Charlotte pleaded as I groaned, my eyes flickering to my phone as I rechecked my dates.
“Charlotte,” I murmured. “Just ask Tate.”
Her green eyes locked onto mine as she scowled at me. She uncrossed her legs as she folded them beneath her, studying her nails intently.
“What now?” I swung my legs off the bed as she chewed on her nail.
“Hehatessilent movies. You are theonlyperson who understands how awesome they are. Please, please, please don’t make me go on my own,” she pleaded, and I finally relented.
“Fine. But you’re buying my ticket—”
“Yes!” she squealed, running over to me, covering my face in tiny kisses as I chuckled.
“Alright, calm down, dear.”
She was on her phone immediately, booking two tickets to the show. I canceled my appointments for that day, sighing when I realized how much money I would be losing.
