Christmas Captive - Isabella Starling Page 0,54

didn't ask me a single thing about myself. You 'forgot' your wallet. And now you're offended because I won't let you come in?"

He reddened, obviously stewing with anger. "Entitled fucking bitch."

"Yeah, thanks." I fought the urge to cry, even though my first instinct was to slap his face. "I'll see you at work, Ross."

"You're gonna walk away from this?" He blocked my path all of a sudden, and I recoiled from the smell of booze on his breath. I had noticed he'd drank most of the bottle of wine we'd had with dinner, but the stench made me think he'd drunk something before then, too. "I don't think so, bitch."

"I'm afraid that's not up to you," I muttered, trying to walk past him. But he kept blocking my way until I finally looked up, my eyes meeting his murky, enraged gaze. "Please let me go home, Ross."

"No fucking way," he snarled, droplets of spittle landing on my face from his open mouth. "You're not getting away that easily. I'm owed at least a kiss if nothing else."

"I don't owe you anything," I bit back. "Move, or I'm pushing you."

"You could try," he laughed nastily. "But I'm bigger and stronger. And you're not just going to leave me on the street with my dick hard, are you?"

Ignoring his words, I came through on my promise and attempted to push him away. But when I did, he grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me in close. His eyes looked manic and for the first time in the evening, I found myself getting scared.

"You always treat men like this, Amicia?" he barked at me. "I think it was about time someone taught you a lesson."

"Let go," I demanded, trying to pull my arm out of his grasp but failing. "I'm leaving, we're done here."

"We're done when I say we're done," he snarled. "Now give me a kiss, I've been waiting all fucking night..."

He attempted to kiss me, sloppy lips trying to find mine. Finally, I found my voice, shrieking loudly as his hands started roaming all over my unwilling body. "Let me go! Stop this! Get off!"

"Get your hands off her right the fuck now."

Both Ross and I froze when a third voice joined the chorus. I recognized that voice, and my eyes flitted behind Ross, my stomach sinking. It was him—Kai, Grayson's right hand man.

"Mind your own business," Ross spat out.

"Didn't I tell you to take your hands off her?" Kai insisted calmly. I heard a click then, and my date's eyes widened in fear. He raised his arms in the air.

"Calm down, would you?" he asked, nervous. "I was just walking her home."

"No you weren't," I hissed in response. "You groped me!"

"Shut the fuck up," he snarled at me. "Can't you see he's got a gun pointed at me?"

My body froze. All my memories of finding Margaret's body came flooding back. She'd been shot point-blank and left for dead. I closed my eyes, unable to deal with the situation at hand.

"You don't ever speak to her again," Kai hissed at Ross. "Tomorrow you find a new job and hand in your notice at Mario's. You're fucking done. Got it?"

"I got it," Ross said, whimpering as Kai shoved the gun behind his back. "Fuck, just let me go. I won't even look at her again, I swear..."

"If you do, I'm taking your finger off that hand next time," Kai hissed. "Now get the fuck lost."

Ross scampered down the alley, breaking into a run and fearfully glancing over his shoulder as he did his best to get away from me.

"Are you okay?" Kai asked, and I nodded, refusing to meet his eyes. This man was a cold-blooded killer. I'd never be able to come to terms with that. "I'm sorry I didn't intervene sooner."

"How did you even know I was here?" I snapped, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear self-consciously. "Did he send you?"

"Mr. Kline, ah..." He smiled. "He asked me to keep an eye out for you."

"Tonight?" I demanded. By his smile, I knew that wasn't the case. "How long have you been following me around?"

"Since you left the penthouse," he finally admitted.

"That's sick," I muttered, even though I was secretly grateful. "Leave me alone."

I walked past him to the door of my building, feeling his gaze on my back as I unlocked the door.

"Miss Romano?"

I turned over my shoulder reluctantly to look at Kai. "What?"

"Mr. Kline cares about you very much," he said. "Please do try not to