Chapter 82

Sliding a possessive arm around my waist, a little tightly and almost frog marches me to the dance floor. He does an up and down look of my dress with obvious disdain and tenses that square jaw of his. ‘‘I hate this fucking dress you look like a hooker.’’ He is all charm tonight isn’t he?

‘’Thank you, that’s the look I was going for.’’ I answer smugly as he hauls me into position on the floor and starts dancing me slowly to a very boring piece of classical music, pulling me into his command and almost lifting me off my feet with how tightly I’m held. It’s hardly loving or comfortable and is just an aggressive show of how pissed he is at me.

‘’You think I am not tallying all this shit up in my head … for later?’’ He almost growls it with furrowed brows and tone husky as hell as my blood turns to ice in my veins. Heartbeat escalating as weakness waves through me. I think they call that a wave of fear, yet I lift my chin and smile. ‘’Shock … Alexi is thinking up ways to put me back in my place, should I be scared?’’ I shouldn’t poke the bear, but he just infuriates me at every turn and even if I am palpating with nerves, I am no longer going to show him that he affects me. Even if I feel sick with the fact he does.

‘’The club isn’t the only place I have shackles installed.’’ He rasps and that does shut me up, face dropping and all bravado too. He’s a prick that knows how to make me shit myself, and I wouldn’t put it past him to tie me up and do heinous things to me in the name of punishment. I think he gets off on it.

‘’You’re starting to lose your cool Carrero. Outright threats and angry tones, I think you might be coming down with something serious.’’ I jest at him, all fake attitude, while my heart pounds like a war drum. Alexi just smiles salaciously.

‘‘You forget how much of you I can feel right now. Smart mouth, yet your body is in panic mode, you’re running scared, London. So I can’t be losing that much of my edge.’’ He is a complete arsehole and I look away across the room to avoid the amusement and arrogance all over his smug arse face. I hate how clever the Tosser can be.

‘’Why did you bring me here? If all you are going to do is be a prick all night.’’ I can feel the welt of tears brimming and it’s so stupid, crying over him. Crying because of him and how much of an arsehole he can be. This is not who I am or the girl I have ever been. I rise above men and their games and laugh in their face with no effect whatsoever. I don’t get why he is any different and I hate that I cannot control it. The sooner he leaves me here the better. I need him out of my life while I get a handle on the power he has over me.

‘‘I wanted some arm candy and it looks out of place if I don’t bring a date. You were easier than finding a new one for tonight on short notice.’’

Wanker!

Knows how to make a girl feel special.

‘’How much longer do we need to stay here? I’m bored, I want to leave.’’ I say huffily and just avoid looking at him at all. Wounded that he just gets to me and hating the fact that I am just now one of his many ‘‘women’’ and I have lost my use in his club that separated me from the rest. I know he’s not a man you get easy access to any day of the week and my use meant I got a free pass to see him anytime I wanted. Now I am being refiled under the ‘‘pick her up when I feel the itch for a redhead.’’

Still slow dancing with his arm around my waist, one hand holding mine, my other on his broad shoulder and this intimacy is suffocating me. Like adding salt to my many wounds.

‘‘Now. I’m done here.’’ He lets me go and takes my hand a little too firmly to ever be confused as tender and walks me to the nearest old man while he tells them we are leaving. Oldie gives me the once over with his eyes and that smarmy grin as he whispers something in Alexi’s ear—it’s obvious to what he’s saying. Carrero just pats him on the back firmly and smiles. ’’She’s about to find out.’’ His glances my way do nothing to give me confidence, he just looks like he always does, and I sigh in complete deflation, letting out a long slow breath and try not to let my nerves show. Let the games proceed …

* * *

Mico drives us back to Alexi’s grand house, nestled on its own little piece of land standing back from other huge houses in the street. It’s a poster child for suburban living and wealthy lifestyles and is picturesque in a glamorous way. It’s already lit up with the men who stayed behind and looks almost welcoming despite my sombre mood.

My future security hanging around inside greet us with the once over, checking all who enter, and he dismisses them when we get inside. Nodding at Mico and sending silent messages with nothing but slight looks, he guides me upstairs without much conversation about it and I just do as I am told.

Not bothered that I am being ushered right upstairs upon our return, I’m not really a cosy lounge and watch Tv type.