Over my dead fucking body.
“Want to dance?” Perry asks Ash.
She shakes her head in vehemence. “I can’t.”
Both Nate and Perry look at me in question.
“She can dance,” I say in a smooth, unaffected tone. “I must warn you, though. She has two left feet. Your funeral.”
Perry shrugs. “Can’t be half as bad as the people dancing here.”
“Whatever, man.”
Ash shakes her head at me as crimson paints her cheeks. She doesn’t want to dance because she can barely walk in her shoes. It’ll please me to watch her make a fool out of herself. Maybe then these fuckers will stop looking at her like she’s the Queen of motherfucking England.
I slide out of the booth and offer my hand. She eyes it like it’s a snake, huffing in irritation as she makes her way out. When she wobbles upon standing, she smacks at me the moment I try to assist. Perry, the real Prince Charming around here, comes to her rescue. With eyes filled with venom for me, she takes his offered arm. They make their way to the dance floor, and my eyes track them the entire way.
“Someone’s in love,” Nate says, cackling like a bitch.
“Fuck off, douchebag. I’m not in love.”
“You just made your assistant take her panties off in front of us. She has you by the balls, man.” He grins like an idiot, clearly enjoying this.
“She’s my assistant. She does what I say. Mind your own business.”
“Perry has his hands all over her,” Nate tattles. “Are you going to beat his ass? I always wanted to see two Constantines fight.”
I flip him the bird, darting my gaze over to Perry. He’s dancing with Ash, but nothing too crazy. Nate’s just trying to rile me up.
“My brother is enamored with her. So are you. She’s pretty, I get it.”
“Enamored? Your brother looks like he’s planning his wedding proposal. I, on the other hand, wouldn’t mind taking her for a ride on my dick. We both know your old ass can’t satisfy a young thing like her.”
Though he’s joking, I don’t miss the edge in his voice. He really does want to fuck Ash. I’d cut his dick off if he tried. As long as I pay Ash’s bills, no one is fucking her. No one.
“Oh look,” Nate says. “She’s dancing with another chick. Maybe she’s into women.”
I narrow my eyes, annoyed at the fact Perry is dancing with two girls who aren’t Ash. She’s smiling and not falling on her ass, so I leave it be for the time being.
“You trying to taunt me won’t work,” I say, meeting his stare. “May as well cut the shit now.”
He concedes and launches into another project he’s working on. I’m only half listening. My mind is on other things. Like the panties in my pocket.
“Holy shit,” Nate barks out. “She’s dancing with a Morelli.”
“Nice try.”
“Man, look.” He points toward the dance floor.
Leo fucking Morelli and his entourage are crowded around my girl, keeping Perry away from her while Leo grinds on her ass from behind.
Hell to the motherfucking no.
I fly out of the booth, unable to control the rage blazing through me like an inferno. Nate calls after me, but I’m a man on a mission. I shove between two of Morelli’s guys, stalking right up to Ash.
“Time to go, Miss Elliott,” I bark out. “Now.”
Her smile falls, and her eyes grow wide. She must sense the tension rolling between Leo and me, because she starts to pull away. His fingers bite into her waist as he challenges me with a dark glare.
“Interesting seeing a Constantine slumming it around here,” Leo says, his face twisted into a sneer. “Just wait until I tell my brother. Lucian quite enjoys learning of chinks in the Constantine golden armor.”
“Let go of my assistant,” I grit out in my calmest tone. “She has work to do.”
“Is that what you’re calling your girlfriend?” He shakes his head, nuzzling her hair with his nose. “I’m not an idiot, Constantine. I’ve watched you with her all night. She’s important to you, which means she’s important to the Morellis.”
Grabbing Ash’s hand, I drag her from his grip and into my arms. The move sends her stumbling. I don’t take satisfaction in her embarrassment. I’m more worried about her life at this point. We’ve royally fucked up. This was a mistake.
“Miss Elliott is an asset to my company,” I snarl. “And you know we don’t take kindly to our assets being threatened. It’s best you find something else to fixate on, Morelli.”
His grin is vicious. “Too late. I’m all kinds of fixated on your new whore.”
“Let’s go,” Ash murmurs, clinging to my chest. “Please.”
Leo Morelli won’t hesitate to spread terrible rumors about Ash that would make her life a living hell. That’s the shallow end of the spectrum. He’s capable of far, far worse than errant words. And the deeper it cuts Ash, the more he’ll enjoy it. He knows the Constantine family is off limits. If he did that to one of my sisters, we’d retaliate so hard he’d see stars. But how can I protect Ash when we’re only temporary? I want to fuck her, not ruin her life. If that means I need to set aside some of my pride, so be it.