Chapter Two
Knox had no idea what an angel like Leah was doing in a place like this. He didn’t care. Fury coiled inside him when he thought of Leah’s spineless brother. Family shouldn’t betray each other.
His men had his back. Always. Leah didn’t have the same luxury.
Knox knew the kind of men who worked for him. They were cut from the same cloth as he was. Guy and Shane were assholes to women, but they were handy in a fight.
He wanted to snap Guy’s neck when he caught Guy looking at Leah earlier like she was his shiny new toy. Knowing the fucker’s loyalty lay with Knox and his organization was the only reason Guy was still breathing.
Knox cooled his temper and studied his latest acquisition. On the outside, his mask was perfect. Airtight. Knox had been taught from a young age that emotions could be used against him. Emotions equated to weakness. Knox knew he couldn’t let himself get attached to anything or anyone, but he had a feeling he was about to break that rule.
No one was ever going to lay a single hand on what was his. Knox’s men knew he didn’t share when it came to his possessions. Tonight, Knox had found a prize whose worth was beyond measure. Priceless.
“I’ll fight you with every breath,” the little spitfire whispered in his ear.
Knox chuckled because no one threatened him and lived. He would make an exception for Leah because she didn’t know any better.
“I look forward to it,” Knox answered.
She looked rattled by his response, suddenly unsure.
Knox offered her his arm once more and to his surprise, she took it.
“Prepare my car,” Knox told one of his men. He scrambled to obey.
His second-in-command, Patrick, stopped Knox in his tracks. Patrick was more like a friend to him than someone who worked for him. At that moment, Knox was annoyed by the interruption.
“Boss, what do I tell your business associates?” Patrick asked, sounding worried.
“Tell them I’m busy.”
Patrick must’ve understood Knox didn’t want to be disturbed for the night, because he stepped aside.
Knox didn’t lead Leah up the stairs. He guided her instead to the back of the room. The door there led to the unused kitchen. The way she gripped his arm tightly told him she was scared shitless. Leah kept her brave front nonetheless.
“Relax, we’re just leaving through the back,” Knox told her.
“And then what?” she asked, looking up at him.
Fuck, but the fire in those sapphire eyes made his dick rock hard. Knox hadn’t imagined her nipples growing hard under the white sweater she wore. This woman wanted Knox as much as he desired her—even if she would deny it with every breath.
Leah had curves in all the right places. Knox wanted to rip off that ugly sweater right there and then and put his hands on her soft skin.
Knox could take her right here. Push her up against the nearest wall and trap her there. He’d wrap all that glorious chestnut-colored hair around his fist, angle his face against hers for a kiss. A proper one this time around.
Knox would take his time with her. Make her compliant. Needy for him. He’d start by tasting her, pushing his face between her sweet thighs.
Maybe she’d fight him at first but not for long. Knox would make her so addicted to his kisses and touches, to his cock, that she’d want no other man but him.
Not here, Knox told himself. She deserved better. Leah needed to be treated like the fucking goddess she was. Knox didn’t know what the hell this woman was doing to him. They just met and yet she was doing things to him he couldn’t explain. With her, he felt downright possessive that it was bordering on insanity.
He placed a hand on the square of her back. She tensed, but he only guided her past kitchen and up a different flight of stairs. This establishment used to be a bar, but a business associate of Knox’s turned it into one of his gambling dens. Knox opened the door leading outside.
The night air kissed their faces. They stood in a narrow alleyway with a dead end. Knox’s black Ferrari was already waiting for them, along with his trusted driver Craig.
Craig opened the door for them. Knox watched Leah and the way her gaze darted from left to right. There was nowhere for her to run. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what was going on in that pretty little head of hers.
“Be my guest,” Knox told her.