The Mercenary Next Door (Rogues and Rescuers #2) - Lucy Leroux Page 0,54

himself for now or he might pull a stump back. However, it was very tempting. Rosamie was cute, and she kept it tight.

“Very nice,” he murmured to no one in particular.

A flash of something crossed Dubey’s face. He picked himself up, then indignantly dusted himself off. “Laila and I had a misunderstanding. I admit that the situation got out of hand. I had a bad couple of days is all. This isn’t me—I just want to talk to her.”

“Not going to happen, asswipe.” Rosamie bucked against him as if she were going to go for the douchebag. Ransom hid a grin as he held her back. It took some effort, too. He admired her all the more for it.

Dubey glanced at her, but he wisely kept his gaze on Ransom.

“If I can’t talk to Laila, then I can talk to Jasmine? Maybe she will listen and be fair.”

“Fair?” Rosamie spat. Her voice rose, her clenched fist rising threateningly. “I’m gonna give you fair!”

This time, she did go for the moron. But Ransom had been told to keep Rosamie out of trouble. He just hadn’t expected to have to save anyone from her.

Ransom plucked the little Venus up, mid-lunge. She blistered the air blue, clawing in Dubey’s direction.

The guy gaped at her as if she had sprouted horns. His lips parted as if he meant to say something else.

“Take the hint, motherfucker,” Ransom said in warning, letting his voice grow Siberia cold. “Or I’ll let her go, and my money is on the lady getting at least one of your testicles before I manage to restrain her.”

Dubey closed his eyes, shaking his head. “Tell Laila this is just a bump in the road. I’m going to fix everything.”

Wow, this jackass was delusional. That and Ransom had a feeling there was no way Mason would ever let that happen. His best pal wasn’t an idiot, and he had a hard-on for little Laila. The fact it hadn’t gone away in the time they’d been apart could only mean one thing—it was true love.

“Get the hell out of here,” Rosamie spat a final time.

Skin slack and grey, Dubey staggered away. Ransom watched him go with narrowed eyes.

“You can let go now,” the spitfire told him, but Ransom wanted the asshole gone before he released her.

Dubey had just disappeared around the corner when Rosamie lifted her arm. Quick as lightning, she grabbed his nipple and pinched hard.

“Ow.” Biting his lip to keep from laughing, he set her down, but he quickly sobered.

“Think Laila will file charges?”

Rosamie deflated, losing her steam right before his eyes. “I don’t know,” she said softly.

“Isn’t it better if she reports him?”

“You don’t understand.” Rosamie sighed. She rubbed her face. “It’s complicated.”

“I realize she’s scared, but if it spares another woman from going through the same thing, isn’t it worth it?”

Rosamie’s downcast expression didn’t change. “Don’t you think she knows all this? She’s one of the founders of the Night Witches. Our group is all about protecting other women—but Joseph is a Dubey. As in Lieutenant Governor Dubey. The family is old money. His uncle is a former senator, and Joseph is expected to follow in their political footsteps, too. If Laila makes trouble for him, she could bring the clout of the entire family dynasty down on herself.”

Ransom grunted, getting the picture. It was easy for him to poke and prod for justice, but he’d seen the girl. Laila was so delicate looking. Plus, she was shy to boot.

That’s probably what makes Mason so crazy. His friend was an alpha guardian. A girl like Laila would flip all of his protective switches into full throttle.

“Mason will make sure nothing happens to her—whether she goes to the cops or not.”

Rosamie considered this. “And that’s the only reason I let her go with him. I still don’t trust him. He might break her heart all over again.”

“Mason’s gold. You’ve got nothing to worry about there. Trust me.”

She grunted. “We’ll see.”

Sudden concern tightened the skin around her eyes. “I better call Jasmine to warn her of the incoming asshole—she moved in here after Laila moved out, but she stays with her boyfriend sometimes.”

Rosamie stepped to the side and made a quick phone call, but her friend didn’t answer. Frowning, she left a detailed message. Then she made another call and then another. By the time she was done, half the women on campus knew that Joseph Dubey was persona non grata with the Night Witches as a whole and on Rosamie’s shit