Blackstone Ranger Charmer - Alicia Montgomery Page 0,44

been seeing someone on the side all this time? How could he have missed it? Or was it an old lover? Of course, had his rage not gotten the better of him, he could have called her for an explanation, but he was already in the air by the time he thought of that.

It didn’t matter. Temperance was his, and he would fight for her with literal tooth and claw if he had to. There was no outcome in this scenario where he would not be the victor, and by the end of the night, she would know who she belonged to.

The door to the plane barely opened before he rushed out, taking the stairs two at a time and ran all the way to the parking lot of the private airstrip in Verona Mills where they landed. It was already past seven, and it would be another hour drive to that diner Ginny had told him about. He floored it and his Jeep ripped into the parking lot around eight o’clock. He didn’t bother to park his car, because his vision turned red as soon as he saw his target.

Temperance was by her car, while a man stood over her. He advanced toward her and grabbed her arm, making her jerk back. Fury burned through Gabriel as he slammed on the brakes and flew out the door. His lion roared in outrage and pressed its claws at his skin, wanting to get out. He was sorely tempted to give in to his animal, but this was not how he wanted to introduce his lion to their mate.

“Get the fuck away from her,” he roared.

“Gabriel!” Fear, and then relief spread across Temperance’s pretty face as she wrenched free of the man’s grip and then cowered back, pressing herself up against the side of her car.

The man who attacked her turned around; his face twisted in rage. “Who the hell are you to tell me what to do?” As if to make a point, he began to inch toward Temperance.

Gabriel rushed toward them, stretching out to full height as he focused on the other male. “I said, get the fuck away from her.” Opening his mouth, he bared his sharp teeth as his canines grew to full length, then let out an inhuman roar, making the man jump back.

“Jesus H. Christ!” he exclaimed. “You’re one of them.”

“You bet your skinny ass.” He stalked toward Temperance, placing himself between her and the other man. Her face was ashen, and she seemed frozen. “Are you okay, baby?” he asked, his voice turning gentle.

“Are you fucking this … this freak, Temperance?” the guy suddenly screamed.

Temperance flinched. “That’s none of your business, Tony,” she squeaked.

“Oh, it is my Goddamned business,” Tony yelled back. “I’m your boyfriend and—”

Gabriel spun around. “What?”

“E-ex-boyfriend,” Temperance qualified. “I left, remember?”

“But you didn’t give me a chance to explain.” Tony stepped forward, but Gabriel continued to block him, arms crossing over his chest. “Please, Tempe babe—”

“Stop calling her that,” Gabriel hissed. “Actually, just stop. Stop talking to her, stop looking at her, and stop thinking about her. She obviously left your ass for good reason and doesn’t want to see you anymore.”

Tony’s nostrils flared. “Listen here, you dumb fuck. You know nothing about Temperance and me—”

“There is no Temperance and you,” Gabriel interrupted.

“She doesn’t know what she wants,” Tony said. “Right, baby? You’re always changing your mind. I know what’s good for you. Just listen to me and stop being stubborn.”

There was a desperation in the other man’s voice that set off alarm bells in Gabriel’s head, but for now, all he wanted was for this asshole to get out of his sight. “Seems to me she knows exactly what she wants, or rather, doesn’t want: You. Moving across the country is a pretty clear signal.”

Tony bristled. “Why don’t you take a hike? Just because you got into her panties once doesn’t mean you get a say in what she does. What she really wants—and needs—is me.”

Gabriel tamped down the urge to kill him on the spot. “Tony, is it? I know your type—you like to talk big, probably compensating for …” His gaze dropped down to his crotch. “Something else. But what you really are is a big bully.”

“Oh, so you know me, huh?”

Oh, he knew Tony’s type all right, and it all made sense why Temperance seemed shy and withdrawn. He wouldn’t be surprised if this Tony guy was the reason she couldn’t believe Gabriel—or anyone—could possibly love her