Chapter 11%
Vincent nestled in front of me. His eyes remained focused intently on the cut across my y wrist and he spied the still sealed shards of glass in the wound. His hand tightened slightly round my shoulder and pushed harder on my shoulder. “You’re hurt? This man he did all of this?“%
y to have Vincent’s jaw
Our eyes met. I cringed, suppressing the throbbing pain. Slowly, I nodded. That little head motion was plenty tightening and his gaze hardening.
He grasped my shoulder tighter. He stood slowly. Getting to his feet almost reluctantly, Vincent reached for Nolan to pull him up, and in one lunge, shoved him against the wall. There was a resound crash in the chamber.
“How dare you harm my woman and come to my territory!” he growled sharply.
A hard punch connected with the mustache on Nolan’s jaw. The man staggered. But rather than throw in the towel, Nolan fought back, A vicious blow landed in Vincent’s face, and the corner of his mouth’s teem wafinslipped.
“Scarlett is my woman. You should stay away from her. I’m here to get her back.”
Nolan, And in that moment
There was a pause from Vincent. He wiped the blood from his lip with his thumb and then raised his eyes to Nolan. A of silence. I heard Vincent get impatient. All of a sudden he began to laugh loudly
“You think you’re a man’s man?” he muttered quietly, but deadly. “You’ve not only hurt her physically, but many times you’ve hurt her heart” Nolan was about to answer, but Vincent pummeled his body with one punch after another. Nolan’s face or hands were no longer able to protect him. Cornered, swarmed, until finally his body fell to the floor.
Vincent stared at him coldly. He panted heavily, never breaking eye contact with me.X
Then, at length, he came back to my side. He went down on one knee again, and his big hand brushed the cheek still wet with tears. “No one will touch you again….. unless I give them permission,” he murmured firmly, but there was a softness just audible.
He shouted for the rest of his guards. Then, Nolan was dragged out. Not only Nolan, but Valerie and the others who assisted him ultimately were bruised and bloodied.
he sun come up
“If any of you so much as lay a hand on Scarlett again or set foot on my turf without permission, you won’t live to see the su tomorrow.T
That was Vincent’s last message to them. I was then taken to the hospital for treatment. Vincent never left my side, guarding me with undivided attention to ensure that I recovered.
The cut of my wrist wound closed. Elena replaced the bandage each day but the prick stayed whenever touched.
I looked out the balcony that afternoon, practicing not looking up at the shadow of Nolan, who, a few days earlier, had nearly rendered me speechless. I certainly never expected he would have the audacity to come see me and break into this mansion.8
Vincent came without a sound. He asked how I was, as usual. And then he handed me a small black velvet box. When I read it, I knit my brows.
“This is a little present for you. In a month, we are getting married. Recently, though, I’ve been busy with work abroad. If you miss me, just touch this bracelet, and it will vibrate the other bracelet with glowing. Like this.
And it turned up that Vincent had the bracelet. Inside were a pair of black leather bracelets, one with a sun symbol and one with a moon. I’d seen these bracelets on social media, and they were kind of expensive for me.
Vincent picked up the one with the moon design and slid it gently around my wrist, careful to lay it behind the bandaged area.
“You see, this moon is you, for you still glow in the night when all is dark. ”
I was silent. I could only gaze at him wordlessly.B
It was he that had been wearing the other bracelet, the one with the sun sign.
“I’ll wear this one. Cause that’s my job now.. Is keeping your light alive.”
I stared into the gleam in his eyes that would instill fear into his enemies, but with me, that gleam stared back at me with confidence. And then his hand slowly closed over my fingers. It was warm enough to touch my heart. He had me laughing, and then, before I knew it, smiling, completely charmed.8
And I began to think that perhaps this brave new world wasn’t all that bad after all.
Vincent has been in Italy for a week. Bored as sin at the mansion, 1 dragged Elena to the mall with me. With Vincent’s blessing and heavy secunty, I got out at last. It was awkward, but at least I could breathe a little fresh air.
I hung out with Elena at the mall fairly lengthy, The guards were still following me, lugging my shopping bags stacked in branded totes. I felt pretty satisfied. Or at least, it felt a little more normal today.
I used the outhouse before walking back up to the house. I stood at the sink and washed my hands, and was about to splash some water on my face. As I glanced at the mirror, what I saw reflected behind me made my breath momentarily catch.
Reflexively, I whirled around and my whole body tensed. There was a woman standing there, looking at me in a very
“Valerie? What are you doing here? Are you stalking me?”
She folded her arms across her chest, and her smile turned into a sneer.!!
“Relax, I just came to give you a little news.”
y peaceful manner.X
She stepped closer. I immediately became alert. If she did anyway, one scream would bring the guards outside crashing in. But I decided
27
3:55 PM
She stepped closer. I immediately became alert. If she did anyway, one scream would bring the guards outside crashing in. But I decided
to confront her alone, for now.
“Just get to the point. And if this is about Nolan, just shut up,” I said sternly.
She chuckled lightly, her voice grating.
“No. This time it’s about Vincent.”
My heart was pounding, but I tried to keep my voice calm.
“What do you mean?“8
Valerie looked at me, her head tilting slightly in apparent pleasure at my confusion.8
“You really think that he cares about you? That all his gentle gestures are sincere for you?”
I frowned, shaking my head. I don’t know where she was going with all of that !
“Stop circling around. If you have something to say, say it.
“Wait, Scarlett” she added moving back.
“Just wait until Vincent returns. Then decide for yourself who he is really after. You’re just part of his game. And the woman he really wants is already standing right in front of him, now.”
She grinned mischievously at me before opening the door and leaving me alone.
