I shake my head, trying to ignore the sensation. And then I see Igor and Erik move toward the two girls with predatory looks on their faces. I run a hand through my hair, knowing that this is about to get ugly. Those two are low lives in the bratva and I will not tolerate either of them laying a hand on what is mine.
Igor is the idiot who goes for Eliza, grabbing her hips.
Before I can even rethink my actions, a red-haze clouds my vision and I find I’m acting on auto-pilot, marching toward them.
Eliza turns tense as he touches her. A sight I’m thankful to witness as she tries to push him away.
“Let go of me,” I hear her say just as I grab Igor by the shoulder and yank him away from her.
I slam my fist into his face over and over, the rage inflicting my blood. The anger so overwhelming I’m not sure how many times I hit him. People on the dance floor gasp and move away, but I’m so wrapped up in my rage I can’t stop. As blood drips down his face, I finally reel it in.
When I look up, Eliza is staring at me with wide, fearful eyes.
I grab a handkerchief out of my pocket and wipe the blood from my knuckles before advancing toward her. Despite the chaos swirling inside of me, I remain calm. “Follow me. Your sister as well.” I turn then and walk away from the bloodied and bruised Igor, glancing at Erik. “Sort him out.”
Erik pales and nods. “Of course, Adrik.”
I lead the two girls into a private back room and shut the door once they’re inside, locking it to be certain no one follows. My heart is pounding and there are few things get my heart going like that. It appears having someone touch what is mine is a surefire way to drive me wild with anger.
When I turn to face the girls, they’re both cowering away from me. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
Eliza licks her lip and while it’s just a nervous reaction, it has that same unwanted effect on me. “We were having a girls’ night out,” she says simply.
I tilt my head. “And you wandered into the club owned by my uncle?”
Her eyes widen then, and she shakes her head. “We didn’t—”
“Silence,” I say, keeping my voice even. “You come in here dressed like a fucking whore—”
Lila gasps. “How dare you—”
“I said silence,” I growl, my rage overwhelming me.
Eliza places a gentle hand on Lila’s arm and shakes her head. “Quiet, sister.”
Lila falls silent but crosses her arms over her chest, glaring at me hatefully. I’m thankful I’m marrying Eliza and not Lila, as I sense she wouldn’t be so easy to handle. Clearly, she has no idea who she is dealing with.
“You belong to me as of today, Eliza.” I step closer, a tingling sensation in my fingers as the desire to grab her washes over me. Although, I resist the urge and stop when I’m a foot away, tilting my head. “We’re engaged to be married, which means after tonight you won’t go out to clubs or dance with other men.” My eyes drop to her full cleavage and the dress she’s wearing, making desire coil through my gut. “In fact, you’ll not dress like that ever in public unless I’m with you. Do you understand?”
Her chin rises in defiance and she looks me straight in the eye. “Until we’re married, you don’t have a say over what I do.”
Wrong answer.
I move for her, wrapping my hand around her throat and squeezing tightly. “Listen to me, baby girl.” Her pulse quickens the moment my hand is on her. My lips graze the edge of her face as the rage takes control of me, wrapping its tendrils around my heart like a vise. “If you don’t listen, then I’ll have to ensure your father brings the wedding up to one week’s time. Is that what you want?”
Lila grabs my arm in an attempt to stop me. “Let her go!”
I shrug her off easily. “Is that what you want?” I repeat my question.
Eliza can’t speak because I’m cutting off her airways, so she just shakes her head.
I release her then. “I didn’t think so.” I pace a few feet away from her and get a handle on my urges to take her right here and now in front of her sister to prove a point. “You’ll go home now before I call your father and tell him what you’ve been up to.” When I turn around, Eliza is glaring at me with hate in her eyes.
Good.
It’s best she learns to hate me sooner rather than later. I won’t be her ally in our life and the quicker she comes to terms with it, the better for the both of us. She will be my little pet that I’ll use and abuse to provide me with an heir and nothing more.
“Fine.” Eliza links arms with Lila and walks her past me, nudging into me on purpose.