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She crossed her arms. Expected? And that was no tantrum.
That was me saying enough.
Her father gave her hardly a dismissal of opinion. Gather your
things. He eyed the suitcases with disdain. You re coming back
to stay with me until you find work. He stalked forward, brusque,
and as usual expecting little argument, expecting her to follow him
right back out the door. There was never arguing with her father.
He had made sure of that. No wonder Mom left him. I would, too.
She has work, Ja Rol stated easily. She s our Senior
Administrator.
Impossible. She hardly knows how to file. Her father sneered.
Quick thinking, she answered, but it won t be enough. And for
the record, I can too file.
She felt their gentle chuckles, soothing her miffed sense of self at
the insult.
Watch us, pet, Slone purred.
Slone stepped forward, partially hiding Brigit behind his
shoulder. I must ask politely that you leave these premises. Your
antagonizing is not welcome. Your attitude toward Brigit is not
welcome, either, he said with a definite warning undertone. I
recommend the next time you address this woman, you do so with
great care.
Who the fuck are you?
Brigit s eyes widened at the none-too-quiet challenge. Dad!
Stop it. This isn t the place.
Ja Rol stepped forward and Slone met him shoulder to
shoulder, completely blocking her behind them. Refusing to let him
see her at all.
They leaned in, lowering their voices, but she heard them
clearly.
We are the men who will see you staked and baked in the
desert if you ever hurt Brigit again. We know about your abuse. We
know you re controlling, and how much it has affected her. It stops
here, now. Slone didn t raise his voice. In truth, he didn t have to.
She lies. You can t trust her. He tried to push Slone and
Ja Rol, but neither budged. Now, get out of my way. I have a
plane to catch. Get your bags, Brigit.
Brigit gasped. Those words hit her like a knife, slicing through
her. Is this what Mom had to live with? Reality hit her like a
three-ton wrecking ball. Her father despised her. At this moment, it
didn t even matter why. The shock left her reeling.
Your mother left because she couldn t take direction. Women
belong where they ve always belonged. In the house. Nothing but
breeding whores.
She gasped, feeling her face blanch of warmth.
If he was going to say anything else, her dad didn t get the
chance.
Slone grabbed him by the arm and with one strike, had her
father out cold on the lobby floor. He tugged at his shirt,
straightening himself.
Carl? he called. The frozen in time picture of the lobby at mid-
morning gained motion again as people returned to their errands.
Brigit watched as Slone gave directions to Carl to help her father
find his way to his plane, and to ensure he got on it.
Yes, Sir! Carl lugged out her father with the help of one of the
security guards, jamming him into the sedan with very little real
intent to be careful about it.
I wasn t expecting you to do that! Brigit gaped, then fumed at
the man before her.
No one will disrespect any woman in my presence. Ever,
Slone stated, his jaw so tight, his face was mottled red. Let s go
upstairs and discuss our problem.
Ja Rol walked to Judy and left orders for the bags to be sent up
to the penthouse when possible, then before she could stop either
of them, they flanked her again and all three piled into the elevator.
With the swipe of their key card, they bypassed the office floors,
the elevator rising like a comet to the very top.
Brigit popped open her mouth, but Ja Rol cut her off. Not yet,
he advised cautiously. Slone needs to calm down. I ve never seen him
behave like that.
Realizing what he meant, she tipped to stare at her other lover.
Dark and forbidding his attention was on the door. There was no
softness to be found in his chiseled expression.
Then it hit her. He was truly furious at her father.
She lifted a hand to his forearm. It was tense and rock solid
beneath her fingertips. Slone? she whispered. It s all right.
The cab slowed and halted with a gentle settling motion, then
the twin doors opened, giving her the first view of their shared
home.
Slone lifted a hand, gesturing for her to go first.
Brigit took a few steps and stopped, not sure of her situation.
Ja Rol curled an arm around her waist. It ll be okay.
He s never done that? she asked, watching as Slone stalked
right through the living room into a room she couldn t see.
Ja Rol shook his head. He doesn t have to for me, and the last
woman to be insulted in front of him like that was decades ago, at
least.
Brigit felt a little sick to her stomach. All this time, I thought he
was just a prick, a mentality that never meshed to modern times.
He despises me, she whispered. She wrapped her arms around
her waist and gasped a few breaths of air, but it did little to ease the
pain his words had caused.
No. He despises all women. You ve seen it. You know it s true.
Does he treat his wife any different than you, or your mother?
Ja Rol pulled her into his body, his arms protectively wrapped
around her.
She drew several breaths, then managed to shake her head.
No. I had no idea.
A few minutes later, she asked, Where did Slone go?
He s in the shower. It s a way to distract himself. He rested
his chin to the top of her hair. He ll be okay soon.
He doesn t react like that? He doesn t get mad? She leaned to
search Ja Rol s face. Dark as honey, his eyes warmed for her.
Of course he gets mad, but rage? No, not like that. He hugged
her closer, the shape of his body molding with hers. He cares
about you, the same as I do. Neither of us want to see you
mistreated, by anyone.
His voice lowered, a mere wisp of sound, his breath sweeping
over her hair. Then his lips were pressing to her, little kisses that
soothed and comforted her.
How do you taste so sweet? he mused, his mouth flowing with
her to find the curve of her neck.
Good soap? Brigit said back, sighing through a giggle.
She squealed when he smacked her once on the ass. Tease. He
brushed a quick kiss to her lips. Slone is asking if you are ready to
talk.
Why is he asking you, and not me? I can answer him.
Because he knows he disappointed you, he replied, looking
back at her with eyes that spoke the truth.
Ja Rol, we all make mistakes. Slone didn t make one today.
I hope you feel that way when we re done, Slone said from
behind her.
Turning, she spotted him, his skin still dew-damp, his hair
towel dried with the towel low on his hips.
You were in the shower?
Extreme cold helps me to refocus. I owe you an apology for
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