Killer(26)

“Until you settle your problems I’m not letting anyone enter this door. Every part of our hospital is precious. I’m not having you cost us more money.”

Wiping the blood from his lip Killer stared at Michael.

“What is your fucking problem?” Killer asked. “I don’t know you, and yet you’re here pretty much pissing on Kelsey. She just tried to kill herself, and you want to keep me away from her.”

“She’s my wife. I have a right to care about her and her health.”

Killer couldn’t argue with him. There was so much he didn’t know about Kelsey. Shaking his head, Killer turned away giving the other man his back. He wished he could go back to when Kelsey was in his arms. They’d never gotten naked together, but the heavy petting had been more than enough for him. Her sweetness caught and held him all the time they were together.

She almost died.

The thought of never seeing her again petrified him. A world without Kelsey would be unbearable.

“You throw the fact she’s your wife around as if it actually means something,” Killer said, turning back to glare at Michael. He wouldn’t be pushed aside because of him. Until Kelsey told him she no longer wanted him, Killer wasn’t going anywhere. “You’ve only just come on the scene. Are you telling me you’ve been faithful to her?”

Michael broke eye contact. “I was prepared to make it more when we first got married. I was more than willing to have her by my side. I never made her any promises I wasn’t prepared to keep. She didn’t want to have anything to do with me. I left everything alone. All I needed was a wife, and I got it. Kelsey wanted her independence, and who am I to take it the fuck away?”

Spitting blood out onto the pavement he kept his gaze on the other man. “You fucked everything that walked. You can deflect all the fuck you want. You’re not in love with Kelsey, and you’ll never be faithful to her. Are you a criminal? Kelsey didn’t have a clue why you were wealthy.”

“She never asked what I did. I own the company her family mortgaged the house with. Also, her family’s debts were known to me. I’m a businessman. A legitimate businessman. I own multiple companies, and I invest in small ones that I see turn a profit.”

Staring at the other man, Killer could see it. Michael could sure pack a fucking punch. His jaw hurt like hell.

“Why did you marry her?” Killer asked. “If you could have anyone, why her?”

“You really want me to talk about my decision in choosing Kelsey?” Michael laughed.

Killer didn’t care. The other man could laugh, mock, or even try to hurt him. He still needed to know the truth. After getting Kelsey’s side of the story, he had no choice but to listen to his.

“You’re right. I can have any woman I want, and I do, but when I went to see Kelsey about her house she was the first woman who didn’t try to use her body to get what she wanted. I was intrigued by her. She doesn’t see how pretty she really is, and it makes her sweet, in a humble kind of way.” Michael stopped to shake his head. “My father had died years before, leaving me part of our empire. There was a clause that stated I needed to be married by my thirtieth birthday. I could have anyone, but I wanted Kelsey. I’ve learned through my dealings that a person who owes a lot of money will do anything. She was an easy target, and I was not in the market of trying to woo a woman.”

“Kelsey is not like that.”

“She was eighteen and desperate. I used her inexperience to my advantage. I know she’d different. The money I’ve given her over the years hasn’t changed her. Her need to protect her parents is what drove her decision. I don’t know why. I heard the way they treated her. They were hateful. I thought my father was horrid until I heard them talking to her, treating her like shit.” Michael shrugged. “To each their own.”

“You’re not going to let her go?” Killer asked, keeping him talking.

“No, I’m not going to let her go. Kelsey is my wife and will remain so.” Michael buttoned up his jacket. “Now, if you excuse me. I’ve got to go and make sure my wife is in the best possible comfort.”

Killer watched him walk away. Every step the other man took made him angrier. He didn’t have the kind of money to rival Michael. However, he’d always been able to read people, and there was something in the other man’s gaze that struck him when he kept mentioning he was a legitimate businessman.

“What the fuck was that?” Tate asked.

“He’s telling me who’s boss.”

“I hate him. I can’t believe Kelsey married him. Not that she had a choice, but still, I fucking hate him. I’m rooting for you, Killer.” Tate stamped her foot.