Page 19 of Controlled
“I, um… I’ll take care of that in the morning,” she managed, although her voice seemed swallowed. As soon as she started to turn to leave, he grabbed her wrist, easily pulling her back by a couple of inches.
Her gasp was met with a dark chuckle coming from the man. “Why put off what you can do tonight until tomorrow? I know you carry your checkbook with you in case you need to pay for all the naughty things your sugar baby purchases.”
She appeared even more horrified given her dirty little secret had just been revealed. “I… Of course. Tonight. Right now.”
He patted her on the cheek. “Good girl.”
Jonas took that moment to flank my side, giving Mr. Saint a nod and handing me a drink. But he didn’t stay around. It would seem his father had put the fear of God into him.
Poor Adelaide was shaking the entire time she was writing the check, almost ripping it in half when she pulled it from the checkbook. She shoved it into my hand, folding my fingers over it and her eyes were pleading with me. It was like she was trying to issue a warning. Jesus. Was Creed really the antichrist?
She walked away as quickly as possible, disappearing into the crowd. I took a deep breath, opening my hand and staring at all the numbers on the check before turning toward him. My mother had raised me on her own, and even though most of my childhood had been filled with various people coming and going from the house, she’d taught me to be very independent.
And opinionated.
I’d seen my share of men in action when my mother had still been a viable actress over fifteen years before. They’d acted as if they were something special because they were directors or producers, capable of making or breaking her career. In other words, they’d been users and blowhards.
“Do you always do that?” I asked without any sound of trepidation in my voice.
“Do what?” He was entirely too comfortable, acting as if he owned the entire room. Or maybe the hotel. For all I knew, he did. He swirled whatever drink he was having, his nostrils flaring as he looked at me as if I was caviar in a crystal bowl.
“Act as if you own the whole world and everyone included? Using blackmail to get what you want? Intimidating the fuck out of people. You terrified that woman.”
“Nonsense, Bella. Anyone who keeps a dirty little secret deserves to be reminded of it from time to time. If by doing so, that assists in providing a good deed, then all the better.”
“My god. You are an arrogant asshole. Aren’t you?” I wasn’t certain what had come over me, but I meant what I said. The man really did think he owned the world.
“Now, is that any way for such a beautiful woman to talk?”
I rolled my eyes and gave him a nod. “Thank you for helping to provide such a generous gift to the ballet that I love. However, I would prefer if the patrons gave of their own free will. Have an interesting night, Mr. Saint.” I turned away, determined to stay away from him when his deep baritone and the effect it had floored me into stopping short.
“Do not walk away from me, Bella. While I can be a reasonable man, disobeying me will only result in the harshest of punishments.”
“Punishment? You don’t own me, Mr. Saint.”
“Not yet, lovely Bella. But I will. There isn’t a single person alive who doesn’t hold a dark and dangerous secret like a tight vise.”
My lower lip trembled because I knew he was speaking directly to me. He knew exactly who I was and what I was hiding just like I’d believed. I dragged my tongue across my lower lip as my nerves kicked into high gear. “And decent human beings who have a conscience are smart enough and good natured enough to realize that often those secrets being held have a worthwhile or very painful reason for being kept. It’s not just about the ugly darkness I fear you thrive in but about trying to protect someone they care about.”
Why was I bothering? What was the point?
When he touched the side of my face, I flinched, immediately jerking my head to the side, but the striking feeling of lust could barely be denied.
“Secrets are powerful weapons, my beautiful creature. That’s something for you to keep in mind.”
The change in his tone was incredible. Still sensual and electrified while also being completely terrifying.
And I knew in my heart that defying him would be the worst thing that I could do.
The man both terrified and intrigued me, the longing for his touch indescribable and as he closed the distance, lifting his arm, I wanted nothing more than melt into his hold.
But I couldn’t do it. I knew better. The draw to him was incredible but the power he possessed, the way he was looking at me was enough to break the hold over me.
My fight or flight instinct swept through me, the reality that he was far too dangerous to be around turning the tide.
At that moment, I knew what I had to do.
Get as far away from him as possible. I had a feeling my life and my freedom were riding on it.