With This Ring (To Have And To Hold Duet #1) - Natasha Knight Page 0,49

her way.”

“Did you tell her the good news yet?”

I open my mouth to answer when his gaze shifts to the door. I swear the air around me shifts and sparks like it’s electric. Alive and humming.

She’s here. I feel it.

But something in Jacob’s expression has caught my attention. His jaw is tight, body stiffening. There’s something not right about the way he’s looking at her. At his fucking niece.

I blink, turn my head and the instant I see her from across the huge room, my breath catches.

Every man in the place has stopped to look at her and I want to punch every single one of them. I can’t blame them, however, can I? She’s fucking beautiful.

Scarlett is standing just inside the entrance, my uncle at her side. She’s looking around the room, lips slightly parted wearing a gown the color of her name. Silk hugs her curves, breasts lifted, nipples poking against the fabric, the slit that splits the dress exposing a toned, slender thigh. It’s just this side of modest.

I’d send the boutique owner a bonus if I hadn’t already seen the charge on my card.

She finally spots me, the dark, smoky liner making her eyes a soft gold. Like sand. The color of the beach on the island when the summer sun hits it.

Her lips are painted to match the dress and her hair is piled on top of her head. I know every man in here has a hard-on for her and every woman wants to be her.

That or kill her.

They’d have to get in line. My Little Kitten has more enemies than she knows.

My phone buzzes in my breast pocket. My uncle puts his hand on her elbow and she abruptly tugs it away. I’m glad. I don’t want him touching her.

“Beautiful, isn’t she?” Jacob asks beside me.

I turn to find him studying me with a smirk on his face, looking more relaxed than I’ve probably ever seen him.

“Shame what her brothers did to her.”

He’s baiting me. I know it. But I bite. “What do you mean?”

“Oh,” he says, trying too hard for casual as he gives a shake of his head. “Nothing.”

“What do you mean, Jacob. You clearly want to tell me something.”

He smiles. It’s not a kind smile. “Making a whore out of her like they did.” When his eyes fall on Scarlett again, there’s a leering look inside them. It makes my skin crawl. I’m about to grab this asshole and shake him, smash his face into the bar. Maybe stab his perverted eyes out with an ice pick.

But I need to keep calm.

“What do you mean?” I ask again, swallowing some whiskey to occupy my mouth before I give anything away.

“Rinaldi wanted a taste. They were smart though. I have to give them that.” He turns to the man behind the bar. “Bartender. Another for me and my friend.”

I can’t help myself. I grab hold of his collar because in my periphery I see my uncle leading her toward us and I want to know what the fuck this son-of-a-bitch is talking about.

“Spit it out, Jacob. What the fuck are you trying to tell me?”

He looks down at my hand and it takes me a minute, but I release him.

“Rinaldi wanted Scarlett from the beginning. Had a thing for her. The brothers thought if he fucked her, he wouldn’t marry her. But without the marriage, their position would be weakened. Having a look, however, well, that seemed to satisfy his lust. Building anticipation until the wedding night I guess.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

He turns to look at her, expression hardening. “Let’s just say that pig knows every inch of her.” He returns his gaze to me. “It was good for her pride, though. As you probably know, she’s prideful, my niece. The night her brothers sold her virginity in exchange for the marriage of the two families brought her down a notch. Several.”

Rage beats against my ears, my chest, my fingernails digging into my palms.

“How do you know this?” I ask through gritted teeth.

“Oh, I was there. And really, that was all assuming she was a virgin at all. I was around when she was growing up. I remember how she pranced around in her tight little shorts when she was just a girl.”

What the fuck is this asshole saying?

“Always putting on a show for any man who walked by.”

He turns to me, must see the rage building inside me because he clears his throat. “I tried to help