Bound (Mastered #1)(95)

Amery snapped her teeth, which caused both Chaz and Emmylou to take a step back. It just further annoyed her when Chaz and Emmylou exchanged a pointed look. "For Christ's sake. Tell me."

"You want to play hardball? We're game. We've heard things about Ronin from people who've dealt with him," Emmylou said.

"He's a scary man, chère," Chaz said. "And the cautionary tales we've heard don't make him fairy-tale prince material like he's led you to believe."

"He's an eighth-degree black belt and a martial arts master; of course he's scary." Amery's eyes narrowed. "And who exactly did you hear these cautionary tales from? Because I know Ronin's confidantes, and they wouldn't tell tales out of school. Literally. So that makes me question your source."

Chaz looked cowed, but Emmylou remained defiant. "All I can say is it came from a reliable source. Someone who's in the Denver sports world."

Where would Emmylou have picked up something like that? Then she remembered Emmylou had done on-site work with the Rockies last week. And the one person in the Rockies organization who might have any interest in her relationship with Ronin was . . . Tyler.

No. A sick feeling took hold of her. Surely Emmylou wouldn't listen to Tyler. "Tell me the name of your reliable source."

When Emmylou dropped her gaze, Amery knew.

"Tyler Pessac, my self-absorbed asshole ex who annihilated my confidence and was the direct cause of me licking my emotional wounds for over a year, is your reliable source?"

Fury boiled up. Amery inhaled two deep calming breaths before she spoke again. "Did you even consider, for one fucking minute, that Tyler approaching you with information about the dangerous Ronin Black might be born out of jealousy? Tyler saw me with Ronin at the Colorado Sports Banquet. He saw how happy I was. He knows Ronin is a better athlete, better looking, better connected, and a better man in all the ways that really count. He also saw that Ronin is crazy about me. And that made Tyler a little crazy because the only time I ever appealed to him after he started cheating on me? Was when another man was attracted to me. That's the only thing that ever validated my worth in his eyes.



       
         
       
        

"You know how long it took me to dig out of that pit after Tyler dumped me. Or at least I thought you did because you were there supposedly supporting me. So I can't believe . . ." The word came out choked and she took a second to breathe. "I can't believe you'd take that lying sack of shit's side and even bring this up with me. Especially when I'm truly happy with a man for the first time in my life."

Chaz turned on Emmylou. "Tyler was your source? Are you fucking kidding me?" Then he faced Amery, his eyes filled with remorse. "I swear to god I had no idea or I wouldn't have-"

"Back off. Both of you. Leave her alone," Molly said hotly. She walked over and inserted herself between Amery and Chaz and Emmylou. "I came back to get my purse, so I overheard Amery having to defend herself to you two. Friends don't do that shit and you both know it. Now get out of this office and don't show your faces again until you can apologize. I mean it."

Chaz and Emmylou both slunk out.

Immediately Molly gave Amery a hug. "I'm sorry you had to deal with that. I overheard them bitching about you spending all your time with Ronin and I thought that's all they were going to talk about with you. If I'd known what they really had planned . . ."

"Molly. It's okay. Thank you for jumping in."

"No, thank you for teaching by example. I've learned so much from you-it's important to stand up for myself and be there for my friends."

"You are a good friend." Amery squeezed her one last time and closed herself in her office.

The shitty start to her morning continued throughout the day. She lost another existing client to the company's in-house restructuring, and a potential client went to another agency. She spent more time on the phone than working, but at the end of the day, she couldn't remain in her office a minute longer. After changing into workout clothes, she climbed into her car and headed toward Black Arts.

Maybe beating the shit out of a punching bag would cleanse her mind, body, and spirit.





CHAPTER TWENTY




YONDAN Deacon McCloud was a mean son of a bitch.

Amery fantasized about throwing him on his ass. Kicking him in the shins. Slamming her hands into his ears with her newly learned thunderclap technique. Sinking her teeth into his tattooed biceps.

The man claimed that missing a self-defense class meant he needed to push her harder. He showed her new moves and drilled her over and over until she was gasping for breath. Then he'd start in again.