Chapter 50
Gemma
But it’s not some man who thinks I’m going to be an easy lay because of what Claire said, thank goodness.
It’s Cassian. I should have known.
He has one big hand wrapped around my forearm and he glares at
Jace.
“I think you’ve leaned on him enough for tonight,” Cassian says.
I’m flabbergasted that Cassian is approaching me and acting so possessive, so publicly, but I won’t let him get away with bossing me around.
“I came here with him, Alpha, I say. In a lower voice I hiss, “What are you doing?”
“You are my wife,” he says, matching my tone. “If you’re leaving, I’m going to make sure you get home.”
I look at Jace and can tell he wants to jump in again. Just like last time, I feel like I have to protect him in the only way I can–by making sure Cassian has no reason to go after him.
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Chapter 50
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I take a deep breath through my nose and let it out, counting to five and trying to find my patience.
“All right,” I say. “Jace, thanks for helping me tonight. If the Alpha
is so determined to make sure I get back to Zina’s place, I’ll let
him.”
Jace looks from Cassian to me warily, and I feel a little stab of fear as I wonder if he’s going to try to fight Cassian after all.
He really looks like he’s willing to go toe to toe with the Alpha
mafia boss.
Then, thankfully, he backs down. I’m relieved.
As civil as people in this world pretend to be, I know something like this banquet can turn bloody at the drop of a hat.
I don’t want any of that blood to belong to my friends.
Cassian starts to tug on my wrist, and I yank it out of his hand. “Offer me your arm,” I tell him imperiously.
Heat flares in Cassian’s eyes. “Are you giving me a command, little rabbit?” he growls.
The sound of it sends a delicious shiver down my spine, and I fight against the ache that unfurls low in my belly.
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Chapter 50
18 min lett
“Yes,” I say simply. “Escort me out politely, or I will make my own scene.”
Cassian growls again, a low rumbling in his chest. Something wild looks at me from behind his eyes.
Slowly, however, he lifts his arm.
Seeing the beast inside him as he does something that should be gentlemanly does more to my insides I can’t afford to think about. Not if I truly want to disentangle my heart from him.
After leaning on Jace all night, I can’t deny that there’s something more to Cassian’s strength. Jace is strong, but Cassian is like iron
and stone.
We walk out. Apparently, Cassian had a driver tonight, because the car is already waiting at the curb with one of his people in the driver’s seat.
He opens the back door for me, and I breathe in the expensive scent of the leather seats as he helps me inside.
Once I’m in, he closes the door and walks around to the other side to get in. The car pulls away from the curb. The privacy divider is up between us and the driver. We’re alone. The ride is smooth and quiet.
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“If you need a date for an event, Gemma, all you have to do is ask,” he says suddenly.
I can’t help it. I laugh. “If you take me to events, people might connect us. It was your idea to hide the fact that we’re married to some wolfless woman from a fallen family. What, are you going to announce it to everyone, now?”
He bares his teeth. “You know why I haven’t. It’s for your own safety. I have enemies.”
“Being anonymous hasn’t protected me from your enemies, either,” I retort. “Did you ever figure out who tried to take down that plane you weren’t even on?”
His silence stretches, and that’s enough of an answer for me.
“What about Claire?” I say. “She spouted off about me being easy tonight, and you were nowhere to be found.”
Cassian sits up straight. “She what?”
I wave him off. “Does it even matter?”
“Of course it matters,” he snaps. “I won’t have anyone thinking that of my wife.”
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Chapter 50
18 min left
“Then tell your cousin to stop saying it,” I hiss. “It’s not a big deal.”
He shifts in the seat to lean over me. “Not a big deal? You have no
idea what kind of men come to these things, Gemma. What they might do if they corner a woman they think will be…receptive.”
His eyes go distant. “Finding out you aren’t won’t stop them once they’ve decided they’re going to get what they want.”
I shiver at the thought, but I can’t let that scare me. I have to be a grown up. “I’ll deal with it,” I say.
At the exact same time, Cassian says, “I’ll handle it.”
I roll my eyes. “No thanks.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean I’ve got it under control.”
He scoffs. “Oh, do you? The unemployed warehouse girl is going to figure out how to keep herself safe from the most dangerous men in the supernatural underworld?”
His smug smirk triggers my rage. I slam my fist against the divider. “Stop this damn car!”
