Aldain followed close enough to keep Tori in his sights but far enough away so it didn’t look like she was being followed. He watched her pull into a driveway that had a huge house on the side, you could tell her ex came from money. When she got out of the car, he silently closed his door and went around the back of the house. He checked to make sure no one was nearby and quietly slipped inside. He found a large pantry to the side of the refrigerator and noiselessly entered it. He could tell Tom and Carrie were in the den watching television; so far, she seemed safe. He heard Tori ring the doorbell and Tom told Carrie to stay and watch the show. He said he had some business to attend to but would be back shortly. Aldain found it odd that he didn’t tell her it was Tori at the door. This gave him a bad feeling.
Tom opened the door and grabbed Tori by her arm and quickly shut the door after pulling her inside. He told her to make sure and keep her voice down, he didn’t want Carrie or his parents to hear her. Aldain knew this was a lie since his parents weren’t even there. He had checked to see if there were any other vehicles in the garage as he was walking around the back and the garage was empty. He knew Tom was alone.
Tom pulled Tori to the stairs that went down to the basement. Tori kept trying to pull her arm away but Tom had a death grip on it. Tori told him he was holding onto her too tightly, and that he was hurting her. He loosened his grip as they both went downstairs into a huge basement. It was set up like a theatre with huge television sitting in the middle of the room. A horseshoe shaped couch surrounded it.
Just as Tori opened her mouth, Tom grabbed her and threw her on the couch. His body followed hers down so he landed on top of her. He quickly put his hand over her mouth so she couldn’t scream. “You listen to me, you deceitful little bitch. If you don’t drop those charges against me not only will I come after you but I will get your parents and your best friend as well. You know I have the money to hire someone to take care of all of you and I will pay whatever it takes.” Tories eyes widened at his threat. She knew that he meant what he said.
He released his hand from over her mouth slowly to make sure she wasn’t going to scream. She hissed at him, “You slug. How about I go to the police and let them know you just threatened my life and the life of my family and friend. They can add that to the list of assaults you bastard.” She drew her arm back and punched him square in the nose. She felt it crunch as blood started pouring out of it.
“You fucking bitch!” he yelled. He put his hands around her neck and started squeezing. Tori was pulling at his arms as hard as she could, trying to get his hands loose when she started to lose consciousness. She could hear her heart beating in her head. Suddenly his hands were gone and she started gulping in huge breaths of air.
She looked up and saw Aldain holding Tom by the throat with his feet in the air. She could have sworn she heard a growl come from Aldain but that probably didn’t happen. Her hearing wasn’t totally back yet so she must be hearing things.
While Aldain was holding Tom in the air his mouth was close to his ear. “You listen to me you pathetic excuse for a man. If you ever, and I mean ever, bother Tori, her family or her friends. I will end your life. MYSELF! And just so we are very clear; not only do I have more money than your parents. but I also have the means you mentioned…. In fucking spades… You piece of shit. Do you understand? Blink your eyes once for yes.” Tom was almost purple from lack of air but he quickly blinked his eyes. Before he threw Tom into the wall, Tori had her cell phone out and took a quick picture. Aldain wasn’t sure why and didn’t care. He threw Tom into the wall where he fell into a heap on the floor.
Tori walked over to Tom as he was gasping for air. She showed him the picture she took. It showed Tom being held in the air by his throat and showed he had wet his pants. Aldain heard Tori say, “If you don’t want this picture plastered all over the internet you would be wise to listen to my big friend here. Your reputation for being big and bad would be ruined. You pig!”
It took Aldain everything he had to keep his dragon at bay, he wanted to kill Tom. He hurriedly grabbed Tori away from Tom as they went upstairs to collect her friend. Carrie was surprised to see Tori as she explained to her what had happened. Carrie apologized profusely for putting her in danger and thinking that Tom thought of her as a friend, acting like he needed someone to talk to. He made Carrie think that he was going to apologize to Tori. She was glad Tori broke his nose. Aldain hung behind the girls as they walked to Tori’s car. Carrie finally realized he was behind them.
She stopped short. “Tori, who is your tall dark and handsome friend here?”
Aldain smiled at her. “My name is Aldain Kincaid. I know your name is Carrie. It is my pleasure to meet you.” He said as he took Carries hand to his lips kissed it.
“My oh my… A gentleman with old fashioned manners. That’s refreshing. You must be the friend that Tori mentioned was coming from Scotland. I noticed that slight accent.” Tori felt a rush of jealousy. She shouldn’t have and didn’t understand why she did. Carrie was her best friend and she had no claim to Aldain.
She shook it off. “Yep this is him. My sister and husband live with Dain in his Scottish castle. He is my knight in shining armor. He is very handy to have around.”
Tori had no idea just how much of a knight in shining armor he really was. He just raised his brow at her shortening his name again. He was going to have to get used to it. He opened the car door for Cassie then went around and did the same for Tori. He told her he would follow her to Cassie’s, then home. Neither one of them thought it was a good idea to take Cassie to Tori’s house. Her parents were sure to ask questions and they didn’t need to know about tonight.
Aldain’s body was still tense as he followed Tori home. When he saw Tom choking the life out of her, his first instinct was to shift and tear his throat out. His dragon roared and demanded he save their mate.
Aldain was startled as he realized what his dragon had said; Tori was his soul mate. The realization made him ecstatic; he had found his mate! He wasn’t going to be alone anymore, there was someone to love. Now all he had to do was slowly romance her until she loved him back. A million thoughts were going through his head at this new development.
Aldain was very sure of himself with the opposite sex. Tori, however, wasn’t like any other woman he had ever met. She is very independent and outspoken. She has a very dominant personality and he would have to tame it, he also has a very dominant personality. He was going to have to be very careful how he woos her. He was definitely out of his element with her. One thing he’s sure of is there isn’t going to be a dull moment with her at his side.