There was a bruise on my leg, I was sure of it. I'd backed my chair up, hoping to stay out of Hugh’s reach, and he’d glared at me so angrily, I felt scared.

“I heard you’ve taken over Edmund Enterprises and broken it into a thousand little pieces,” Mr. Sinclair said, swirling the wine in his glass before breathing it in.

“I believe ‘thousand’ is a bit of a stretch,” Dorian answered, cutting into his steak.

“How the hell am I supposed to trust you with the Sinclair Group if all you care about is butchering companies and selling them to the highest bidder?”

“I butcher what can’t be saved. If Mr. Edmund had done right by his company, I never would’ve had to step in.”

“Keep talking, Gallagher. When I hit you back, you aren’t going to see it coming. You break my business, and I’m going to break everything around you.” Even though Hugh didn’t look at me, I felt as though the comment was meant for me.

“And here I thought this was business, not personal.”

Hugh snickered. “If you really think that, you’re a bigger bastard than I thought. You stole my family’s legacy. But don’t worry, keep kissing my father-in-law’s ass.”

“Ladies, I’m sorry for the show of testosterone.” Mr. Sinclair sat up, his eyes shifting to us around the table.

“I actually quite enjoy it. It’s like a battle of gladiators.” Portia clapped, then placed a hand on her husband’s shoulders.

“Gladiators? Try Greek Gods. And Zeus always rules.” Hugh kissed her hand.

“What do you think, Luella?” Mr. Sinclair asked.

I stuffed a piece of lobster in my mouth to keep from speaking, but he waited for an answer. “I’m not sure about gladiators or Greek Gods. Companies are real things, with hard-working people. That’s more than enough reason to be passionate. It shouldn’t be about legacy or power or money. It should be about the people, the ones who can’t afford hundred-dollar lobsters because, in the end, without them there is no company.”

When I finished, they were all looking, with the exception of Hugh, who glared.

“That’s so sweet,” Portia laughed.

“I quite like it actually. Honey, you should speak to reporters like that,” Mrs. Sinclair added.

I shrugged. “Don’t mind me. I can say that, but I have no idea how to run a company.”

“Are you all right?” Dorian leaned in, his hand on the back of my chair. He had no idea how not all right I was right now.

“I’m fine. Excuse me, where is the restroom?” I grabbed my purse and stood, and Dorian stood as well, helping me get around my chair.

“Down the hall to the right.” Mrs. Sinclair pointed.

“Thank you.” I walked as fast as I could in that direction. When I opened the door, it was to a coat closet. I turned around to find Hugh right there.

“She always gets those doors confused, blame the pills.”

“Hugh…”

He placed his hand inside my dress and pushed me up against the fur coat, his other hand trying grab at my chest. “You know my name, you dirty little slut… It’s Zeus.”

I bit his hand.

“You little cunt.” He slapped me across the face. My lip cut against my teeth, and the blood pooled in my mouth.

He grabbed onto the side of my head, clenching a fist full of my hair.

“Do you want me to teach you another lesson? How much is Dorian paying for you? Is the kid real? Wait, don’t tell me he knocked up a whore years ago.”

“Let go of me, or I will scream.”

“Scream, and I will let them all know how you used to ride my cock like a champion. I won’t just stop there either. I will ruin Dorian Rhys-Gallagher, let the whole world know he pays for his women. I’m already screwed, but he’s going to be disgraced, like the rest of his fucking family. So scream, sweetheart. Scream like I’m inside you.” He grabbed my breast and gnawed on my shoulder.

Scrabbling inside my purse, I was finally able to pull out my revolver. “Get. The. Fuck. Away. From. Me.”

He backed away. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Want to try me?” I asked, aiming at his face. “If you’re dead, you can’t speak. I’ll tell them you assaulted me, which you did.”

“How do you assault a prostitute? I’m sorry, I have to pay before I touch, right? Meet me at the Rosewood Hotel, room 301, at midnight, or I will talk.”

I pulled back the hammer. “Five, four, three….”

After he left, I collapsed on the floor, gasping for air and wiping his saliva from my neck.

Breathe.

Breathe, Luella.

Goddamnit, don’t cry.

Stop shaking.

When the door opened again, I raised the gun and pointed, hands shaking, thinking he’d returned, but it was Dorian.

“Luella?” He squatted in front of me, his hands covering mine. “Let go.”

I shook my head. “He’s still out there.”

“Who?”

I wanted to say, but I couldn’t.

“Luella, who?”

“H-Hugh. He was a client. I-I only had him once, s-seven months ago…it was seven months ago… Some guys like it r-rough, but he broke t-three of my r-ribs and m-my arm. H-he wanted to hurt me. I’ve never been so s-scared in my life. That’s why I tried t-to walk away.”

“Let go of the gun.”

Again, I shook my head.

“He wanted me to come to him again. I can’t! But he threatened y-you so I-I have to.”

His hands left mine, and he caressed my cheeks. “You are never ever going to be anywhere near him again. I don’t care what he said to you. It was bullshit, and I will do everything I can to protect you and Alaric. Believe in me more than you are afraid of him, okay?”

I nodded, the gun falling from my hands.

He retrieved it, put the safety on, and dropped it in a pocket. “Go to the bathroom, I’ll stand outside while you clean up. Then we’re going home.”

I wrapped my arms around him.

“I’m sorry I messed up your night,” I said.

He held on to me tightly. “I’m sorry I didn’t notice you were in pain.”

DORIAN

It was her.

She was the only thing holding me back from killing him. I wanted to put a bullet in his chest, but right now I needed to get her home. When she came out of the bathroom, her makeup was fixed, and she smiled as brightly as if I hadn’t just seen her break down in the closet. This was why I couldn’t tell something was wrong.

Taking off my jacket, I placed it over her shoulders and took her hand. “Don’t let go.”

She squeezed. “I promise.”

I led her back to the dining room. Mr. Sinclair and Hugh were laughing at God fucking knew what, and it pissed me off to no end.

Do it for her.

“Mr. Sinclair, thank you for dinner, but we have to leave.”

“Really? You’ve given up kissing my ass already?”

A maid brought over a box of Cuban cigars.

“Our son isn’t feeling well, please excuse us. Mrs. Sinclair, thank you for inviting us into your lovely home.”

“Of course, dear. Please visit again.”

Not a chance in hell.

“I do hope we meet again very soon.” Hugh’s gaze drifted to Luella.

You fucking little prick.

We turned toward the door. “Thank you for coming,” the butler said.

I didn’t reply. My driver was already waiting, the door held open for us.

She was gripping my hand for dear life. It was only when the door closed that she took several deep breaths. I pulled her close, laying my cheek against her head. She was trembling.

“I have a fear of spiders,” I confessed.

“What?”

“I’m terrified of them. It’s horrible, and clowns—God, do I hate clowns. I went to the fair once with Russell and fell. There, in front of me, were these giant feet, and when I looked up, all I saw was a giant red mouth and scary eyes. I screamed my head off. I even had them banned from Rhys-Gallagher National after someone had a singing birthday card delivered.”

She laughed, and I felt relief. I wanted her to feel safe and comfortable again.

I hummed as we drove back, and she was so tired, she fell asleep even though the drive was short.

“Are we here?” she asked softly, not opening her eyes. I helped her out and carried her inside.

“Mr. Rhys-Gallagher.” Russell scowled at the expression on my face, but I shook my head, not wanting to speak of it.

“You’re back already.” Goldie paused, startled at seeing Luella in my arms.

“I’m not going after Sinclair Group,” I told her, moving toward the stairs.

“What?”

I took Luella to the one place I knew would make her feel better. Alaric’s room. When I put her on the bed, she opened her eyes, saw her son, and brushed his hair out of his eyes.

“Luella, where did he want to meet you?”

“Why?”

“Just tell me.”

“Please don’t do anything stupid because of me, this is all my fault—”

“Don’t you dare...” I bit my lip. “Him hitting you then and now is not your fault. Don’t ever say that to me, or I will lose my mind.”

“You’ve always had to take care of people or watch them fall apart around you. I don’t want to be the next messed up person in your life, Dorian. We will work something out where you can still be there for Alaric, but you can’t keep saving me.”

“Why? Name one person on this planet who doesn’t need to be saved from someone or something? Point to one person who isn’t a mess, who doesn’t have problems or baggage? If I drink, I have a greater chance of getting addicted, and if I get addicted, I could drink until I kill myself. I’m terrified of dying alone, but I’m equally terrified of letting people in, because I might hurt them. So, should we walk away from each other? That doesn’t fix anything. Right now, at this moment, all I want to do is protect you, so please let me do that. You were willing to see Hugh to protect me, I can’t even imagine that. Talk to me! Tell me!”

“Rosewood Hotel, room 301.”

I kissed her forehead. “Get some rest. You’re safe here.”

She laid down, hugging Alaric as I got up. “Dorian.”

“Yes?”

“Please be safe.”

“Always.”

Closing the door behind me, I went downstairs, rolling up my sleeves.

Goldie stood at the bottom, waiting patiently.

“Not now.”

“I’m sorry, sir, but you just want to walk away from Sinclair after months of planning? I don’t understand—”

“Goldie, you don’t need to understand, you just need to execute. It’s done. I’m done. If Sinclair calls, you can tell him that. I do not, and will not, explain any more than that.” There was no way in hell I was going to get involved if I did, Hugh would always be around.

He needed to pay.

“I have a meeting to attend.”

I pulled out a roll of cash and handed it to the bellboy. He knocked once. “Room service.”

I glanced at the dinner for two, along with the bottle of champagne. Was he going to feed her, then abuse her?

Hugh opened the door in a robe. “Finally, I ordered this—”

I snatched the bottle and smashed it on his head. He stumbled back into the room and fell on his ass, stunned.

“Go,” I hissed at the bellboy, who was already walking away.

“Have you lost your goddamn mind?” He screamed, gripping his bleeding forehead, the blood staining the white robe he wore. He tried to get back onto his feet, but I kicked him in the stomach, making that difficult.

“Have I lost my mind? I don’t know, Hugh.” I squatted on him and punched him repeatedly in the mouth. “But what I do know is you are going to regret laying a hand on her.”

I allowed him to break free, and he spat out teeth as he crawled toward his phone.

“How many of her ribs did you break? She said it was three, but it must have felt like four or five, right?” I walked around him, picked up the phone, and threw it against the wall.

“Dor—”

I reached down and grabbed him by the hair. “And I’m sure you slapped her around a few times too. You’re that small of a man, you get off on beating women because it makes you feel strong.”

I smashed his face against the glass, and it shattered. I made sure it cut him, then let go. He slumped to the floor.

“Stop—”

“Let’s not forget the arm.” I grasped the tall lamp next to the desk and used it like a baseball bat, smacking his arm again and again.

“Please… Please! Help! Stop!”

“I’m sure she screamed that too! Did you stop?” I smashed it against his elbow, and he cried out like the little coward he was. “I asked you, did she scream like this too?”

Taking a step back, I dropped the lamp. He lay in the corner, covered in his own blood.

“She was just a whore.” He spat out blood, and I wanted to strangle him. “She was paid well enough, wasn’t she? Now she goes whining to her sugar daddy?”

Grabbing him by the throat, I lifted him back on his feet. “Keep talking, and I will kill you.”

“No, you won’t. You will beat me up a little, but you won’t kill me. You really going to put your career on the line for a slut? Rhys-Gallagher National will—”

Wrestling around him, I locked his head into my arms and squeezed tightly. “I am sick of hearing you speak, so here is what’s going to happen. If you ever come near Luella, me, or anyone in my circle again, I will end you. You paid for a woman, and you beat her. If I see any bad press on her, I’ll spin it to make her look like a saint. I have more than enough money and more than enough favors to make that happen. But you will always be a fucking scumbag.”

His face was turning red. He tapped on my arm. When I let go, he crumpled to the floor, gasping and wheezing for air.

“Leave the Hamptons, stay out of our way, Hugh.” I turned to leave, and, as expected, he waited until my back was turned before punching me. I saw his reflection in the mirror.

I turned and flipped him on his back. He landed hard. I put my foot on his neck. “You can never beat me. You couldn’t in school, and you can’t now.”

He screamed when I dislocated his finger.

“Enjoy your stay, Mr. Edmund.”

It was good enough. I truly wished I’d killed him. The fact that he was around, that he might ever scare her again—I couldn’t have that. Not ever.

LUELLA

I sat on the stairs, dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, waiting for him to get back. Everyone was asleep, with the exception of Bronwyn, Donovan’s sick dog. She crawled into my lap, whimpering softly as I stroked her brown-and-white fur.

“I’m sorry you’re hurting,” I whispered, then lifted my head as the door opened and Dorian stepped inside. I stared at his bloody hands.

Neither of us said anything. Bronwyn cried out softly again. He walked to the back of the house, and I followed with Bronwyn. Next to the double glass doors, which led out to the beach, was a side table Dorian unlocked with a key in his hand I didn’t know he had. He pulled out a syringe and stared at it for what felt like forever.

“Trade with me.” I passed him the dog, and he gave me the needle. He opened the doors, took off his shoes, and walked right onto the sand.

The night sky was starless, just the full moon hovering over the roaring ocean, and he sat down. He still didn’t say anything, just brushed back her fur, staring at the water as the tide came in. She licked his hands and only barked once, like she was saying goodbye first.

“Do it,” he finally said, and pointed to the spot where he wanted me to inject Bronwyn. It didn’t take long for her to close her eyes for the last time. “No more pain, Luella. Let’s try not to let the world hurt us anymore. Despite your past, regardless of my present, our future is undeniable. For Alaric, for you, I will always be here, in any way you need me to be.”

He was a good man. When everyone else was trying to be something bigger, he was just a good man.

“And we will be here for you. You have want you need.”