“You’re hurting me.” I yank hard, trying to free my arm. To my surprise, Aidon actually releases me. With everything I have in me, I reach out and shove him as hard as I can. He rocks back a few steps and it’s enough for me to get away from him.
I slam the front door in his face and flick all the locks closed. He bangs on it hard as I put the chain on it as an extra measure. Not sure how much it will do, but I’ll take anything at this point. I only need a few minutes to do what I need to.
I take off on a dead run hearing him shout my name as I make my way to the bedroom, shutting and locking that door too. I grab the phone, now understanding why Mom makes everyone have a landline in their home. My mom picks up on the first ring.
“Who is this?”
“They are coming for Roxy!”
“Cora. Honey, are you okay?” Her voice cracks, and for the first time in my life I hear worry in my mom’s voice.
“I’m fine, but they are coming for Roxy.” I hear a loud crash and know they’ve made it through the front door.
“They took you to Sara’s.” It’s not a question.
“Open the door!” I jerk around to look at the door. “Cora!”
“I love you,” I say before ending the call.
The door explodes in a second later. I drop the phone to the floor. I ball my hands into fists to try and hide that I’m shaking. I can’t stop the tears that break free.
The look on Aidon’s face has me scrambling backwards. In this moment I realize why men fear him. I fall onto the bed. I roll over and try and scurry to the other side. His hand locks around my ankle, and he pulls me back. I roll over again and kick, nailing him right in the chest. He doesn’t even budge this time. It’s as though I didn’t even do anything to him at all. His hold on my ankle tightens. I keep struggling, but deep down inside I know it’s useless.
“Who do you love?” he growls out. My mind blanks, not understanding what he’s asking. How can those eyes that looked at me with so much hunger now bore into me with anger he’s ready to unleash?
I am a silly girl for thinking he might have feelings for me. That he felt the same pull to me as I do to him. Now he’s showing me who he really is, and I need to remember that. My mom always told me that you should believe people when they show you their true colors because that’s who they really are.
“Answer me!” I jump, his deep angry voice startling me. “Find out who she called.” My eyes go to the door to see Kailler standing there.
“My mom,” I answer him. There is no point trying to hide it. I knew he would be able to track the call before I made it. All I needed really was to get a warning to my mom. I accomplished that so my job is done. His hold on my ankle releases.
“We’re leaving.” He grabs me, tossing me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
“Put me down!” I wiggle in his hold. He smacks my ass. I suck in a breath. The sting of the slap goes straight to my sex, turning into pleasure. You hate this man, I remind myself. I lift my head to see Kailler following behind us. “You’re a jerk face!”
“Jerk face.” He steps onto the elevator. “Did she call me a jerk face?”
“Yes.” Kailler’s response is snapped out. I guess she’s mad at me too. I lift my head again to meet her gaze. Her eyes soften for a moment before she quickly masks it.
Aidon walks out of the building, still carrying me over his shoulder. He puts me in the back of the SUV, slamming the door behind him. I don’t try to get back out, but his men are everywhere now. A moment later Aidon gets in on the other side, ensuring that I stay put.
“What do you want for dinner?” What do I want for dinner? Is that really what he’s asking me right now. “You didn't touch your breakfast or lunch. You need to eat. Tell me what you want.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“You have to eat.”
“No, I don’t.”
His jaw ticks. I am hungry, but now that I know it’s bothering him that I’m not eating I can’t help but poke at the big jerk. He deserves it after everything that’s happened today.
“You will eat.”
“Are you going to hurt Roxy?”
“You don’t need to worry about that.”
“You don’t need to worry about what I’m eating.” I fold my arms over my chest, looking anywhere but at him as the SUV starts to move.
In the blink of an eye my seatbelt is off, and I’m pulled into Aidon’s lap. “You’re starting to piss me off.” Tears sting at my eyes again. “Don’t cry,” he growls.
I burst into tears.
Chapter 13Aidon
My crew is mostly men, and the women who are on it, women like Kailler, would rather gouge their eyes out than cry. I don’t know what to do with a crying woman. It shakes me up inside to hear Cora sob. It makes me want to tear the world apart with my bare hands. If Kailler had her way, I’d be the one torn apart. Her eyes flash angrily at me to do something.
Awkwardly, I pat Cora on the back, but it does nothing to soothe her.
“Drive faster,” I bark.
Dante steps on the gas.
“Stop touching her,” Kailler hisses under her
