Chapter 34
Chapter 34:
“He won’t find out tonight,” Gaston said. He reached across the table and took her trembling hand. His grip was solid, grounding. “You are safe here. No one gets into this building without my permission. Not Kieran. Not the police. No one p>
“He threatened to burn down the Hamptons house p>
“I have a security detail stationed at the gate of the Wolfe estate as of yesterday,” Gaston said. “Two ex-Mossad agents. If Kieran shows up with a match, he’ll leave in an ambulance p>
Jocelyn stared at him. “You — you did that p>
“It’s in the contract,” Gaston said, releasing her hand. “Asset protection p>
“Is that all I am?” Jocelyn asked quietly. “An asset p>
Gaston looked at her. For a moment, the mask slipped. His eyes softened, revealing a depth of emotion that frightened her more than Kieran’s rage ever had.
R𝗈𝘮а𝘯cе 𝗮ո𝖽 р𝘢ѕ𝘀іo𝗻 oո ѕ.с𝗼m
“You are the most valuable thing in this portfolio,” he said.
Then he went back to his paella.
The VIP room at The Gilded Lily was a haze of smoke and purple neon. The bass was so heavy it rattled the teeth in your skull.
Babe Vincent was sprawled on a velvet sofa, a bottle of Grey Goose in one hand and a lit cigar in the other. He had a bandage on his nose from where he had face-planted into a wall a few nights ago — a memory he couldn’t quite place, courtesy of the blackout.
Two models were giggling beside him, doing their best to ignore the smell of stale alcohol seeping from his pores.
The door to the private room didn’t open. It exploded inward.
Kieran Douglas stood in the splintered frame. He looked like a demon — suit rumpled, hair wild, eyes manic. Two bouncers lay groaning on the floor behind him.
“Vincent!” Kieran roared.
The music seemed to stop. The models screamed and scrambled away.
Babe blinked, struggling to focus. “Douglas? What the hell, man? This is a private party p>
Kieran didn’t answer. He crossed the room in two strides, grabbed Babe by the lapels of his silk shirt, and hauled him upright.
“Sign it!” Kieran yelled, shaking him.
“Sign what?” Babe sputtered, dropping his cigar. It burned a hole in the rug.
“The annulment!” Kieran punched him — a solid right hook to the jaw.
Babe’s head snapped back. Blood sprayed from his lip. He crashed onto the glass table and shattered it.
“You think you can touch her?” Kieran screamed, jumping on top of him, his fists flying. “You think you’re worthy of her p>
“Who?” Babe wheezed, trying to cover his face. “You crazy bastard! Get off me p>
“Jocelyn!” Kieran landed another blow to Babe’s ribs. A sharp, audible crack. “My Jocelyn p>
Babe coughed, spitting blood. “Th-the girl — with — C-C —” The name “Collins” dissolved in a bloody gurgle as another punch landed, driving the air from his lungs.
“Don’t speak her name!” Kieran’s rage-filled mind only registered the attempt. “She’s not with you! She’s mine p>
“I don’t — have her —” Babe gasped, words slurred behind his swelling lip. “That guy — the tall one — he took her p>
“Liar!” Kieran slammed Babe’s head against the floor. “Aspen told me! You married her p>