“I didn’t ask for this,” she blurted. Leah was just a normal girl a day ago. A waitress struggling to make ends meet. She was a nobody. Now she was Knox’s—whatever, and a walking target apparently.
“Remember that I saved you,” Knox said, brushing his knuckles over her cheek. His voice was gentle, which made the situation a lot worse. “If your brother didn’t gamble you away last night in a game of cards, he would’ve put you in danger eventually.”
Leah hated it when Knox was right. She punched him in the arm. Once. Twice. Again, and again. He didn’t defend himself. Leah let out a frustrated growl. The sound frightened her a little. It reeked of desperation. Leah had never felt angrier, more alone her entire life. She let out another scream. That made her feel a little better.
Knox finally gripped her wrists, stopping her pathetic assault. “Stop it. If you keep this up, you’ll just hurt yourself.”
“Not my fault you’re built like a stupid tank,” Leah whispered. He cracked a smile. “It’s not like my life’s worth anything anyway.”
Knox frowned and jerked her suddenly close. Leah thought he would kiss her. She was hoping he would because that would make it easier for her to suspend reality again. To let herself be swept away by him. Knox rested his forehead against hers.
“Never say those words to me ever again. Leah, I’ll be devastated if you’re gone,” he whispered.
To hear someone tell her that they cared, that she mattered, it was something else. Leah couldn’t speak for a few moments. It was his turn to envelop her into a tight hug.
“I’ll make the same promise to you again and again because you need to hear it,” he whispered in her ear. Knox worked his fingers through her hair and gave it a little tug. The quick bite of pain startled her awake. Made her realize how foolish she’d sounded a moment ago. “I’ll never betray you or hurt you. I protect what’s mine.”
Leah stilled. She could talk again. “Why? We’re practically strangers. We just met yesterday.”
“You belong to me,” Knox said simply, like it was obvious. “I knew the moment I saw you at that poker table that you were made for me.”
Knox’s confidence blew her away completely. God help her, but she was falling hard and fast for him. For this dangerous monster who seldom showed his vulnerable side to the world, but he wasn’t afraid to let her see his flaws.
Leah knew Knox was dangerous. Dancing with him was like playing with fire. He was bad news. She didn’t believe for a second this man was in love with her. It was lust at first sight, maybe. Obsession might be the better word, but she wasn’t cowed, wasn’t daunted by Knox anymore. Leah knew for certain Knox would hurt himself first before harming a single hair on her head.
Nothing good could come out of this, and yet the unexplored wild side of Leah wanted to find out where it led.
“You said I couldn’t leave because my life’s in danger.” Leah took a deep breath. His expression turned hard, unreadable. All his shields were back up, but she wanted to test him. “Once that threat is eliminated, what then?”
“We’ll talk about it when that time arrives.”
There was no arguing with his firm tone. This conversation was over.