Blame it on the Champagne (Blame it on the Alcohol #1) - Fiona Cole Page 0,113
thought about his anger.
Because what the hell did he have to be angry about?
He got what he wanted. He won. He lied. I lost. I should be the one mad. Instead, I trembled like a leaf fighting off the urge to run into his arms.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he growled, taking a threatening step closer.
“Hey, now,” Raelynn tried to cut in. She rested her palm on his arm, but he shook her off like she didn’t even register.
His eyes locked on me and didn’t move an inch the closer he got. “We had a deal, Verana. Five fucking years. No backing out.”
“What?” I screeched, my head jerking back like his words crossed the space and slapped me.
“Did you think I would just sign the papers? You signed a contract.”
“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” I looked to Raelynn for support, but she moved to the kitchen island and studied her nails. Her eyes flicked to mine but just as quickly jerked away. “Seriously, Raelynn?”
She held up her hands, and if she had a white flag, she’d have waved it with pride.
“Do I look like I’m kidding?” His voice went dangerously low, and he closed the space down to only a foot between us. “Because I’m dead fucking serious.”
“How dare you, Nicholas mother-fucking Knightly Rush.” Shock at the entire situation and the flood of emotions I’d done my best to block out all week rendered me damn near speechless. I could hold my own in an argument, and there I stood, throwing his name at him like it was the best weapon I had. I might as well have thrown the spoon.
“Yeah. Nicholas mother-fucking Knightly Rush. Also known as your goddamn husband, Mrs. Rush.”
“You can’t hold me to that.”
“I can, and I will.”
His arrogance and the sheer certainty in his eyes had my steel walls sliding shut, blocking everything else out, making me stand taller behind my shield of armor.
I pulled my shoulders back and lifted my chin, each move done with the clang of me locking down the hatches, prepared for battle. I leaned forward and curled my lip to match his. “No.”
His only reaction to my calmly spoken word was a blink—a single blink, but it was enough to know I’d landed a blow. Unfortunately, I’d held too much confidence in my defenses and celebrated too soon. No amount of steel, no lock, no stubborn denial could keep Nico Rush out.
“I’m done with this shit. You’re coming home.” With that declaration, he squatted low enough to wrap his arms around the back of my legs and tossed me over his shoulder.
I let out a feral screech and pounded against his hard back. “Goddamnit, Nico. Put me the fuck down.”
“No,” he answered calmly, throwing my word back in my face.
“Raelynn,” I shouted, trying to support myself enough to look around for my friend.
She stormed over, and I had faith that even in her red stiletto’s, she’d stop this man from taking me. She shoved a matching red nail into his chest.
“We said this weekend.”
“You never told me about a fucking divorce. It kind of moved things up.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” I screeched.
Raelynn flicked her eyes to mine before returning her glare to Nico. “If you hurt her, I’ll fucking kill you. And not in a funny—ha-ha—way. I will legit utilize every crime show I’ve watched, and I’ll get away with it too.”
“I would never hurt her,” he promised.
He sounded so sincere, and it had rage burning its way through my chest. “You’re hurting me now,” I shouted, choking on the words. Seeing him—having his hands on me—for the first time was too much, and no matter how much I tried to escape him, I couldn’t.
What if I never could—even when he wasn’t there.
“I want messages every few hours,” Raelynn stated.
Then, she went to the door and did the last thing I ever expected. She held the door open for him.
“Raelynn, please,” I begged. “Please don’t let him take me. I ca—I can’t do this. Please.”
Her face crumbled under my pain and fear of being alone with him. Not because he’d hurt me physically but because of what he’d do to my heart. I barely survived without facing him—how could I do it with him right in front of me. I was so scared I’d forgive all his lies and turn a blind eye when he did it again. I was scared of everything when it came to this man.