Parker made a dry, strangled laugh, too cocky and too stubborn to tone down his embarrassing behavior. "You think I'm scared of little pansies like you? Fuck off, Ellis. I'm talking to my ex-girlfriend, not you! She and I have some unfinished business. Stay the fuck out!"
River made a guttural growl, a clear indicator that he was on the brink of going bonkers. As much I despised Parker, if River did anything drastic in a middle of a party, it wouldn't be good for his image. Somehow, someway, I had to reel them both in. For all our sakes.
"River-" I began, but River wasn't having it.
The man snapped and, in no time, he throttled Parker's neck, fingers digging into his skin, as if he was hairsbreadth away from choking the life out of him. "BACK. AWAY!" Insurmountable rage broke out of him.
Parker's blue eyes darkened in fear, realizing too late that River wasn't to be fucked with.
River, smoldering with fury, tightened his hold, constricting Parker's breathing as he snarled into his face. "If I see you anywhere near my woman, I'm going to fucking break this little neck of yours. Don't fucking contact her. Don't come near her. And if you find yourself anywhere close to Cara, don't you dare fucking breathe until you're fifteen feet away because, if you fucking do, I swear to the fucking gods I will fucking tear you apart, limb from limb, until there's nothing left of you." He roughly shoved Parker's insipid form towards the nearest flat surface, leaving him there, reeling while the rest of the party looked on.
Blatantly embarrassed from being treated with such disrespect, Parker made a vicious growl, spun on his heels with an injured ego, and charged his way into the crowd in search of the exit.
"What the hell was that?" I gasped at the brooding man next to me, shocked beyond comprehension.
"I didn't like the way he was looking at you," the unruffled man stated, as if it was his God-given right to bulldoze any man who threatened to look at me.
As much as I appreciated him booting Parker out, I hadn't expected to witness such deep-rooted wrath coming out of him. River had gotten into hundreds of fights, but never like that-never to the point where he was about to murder someone. It was perplexing to see him so rabid, so livid. It troubled me deeply, more than I cared to admit.
"You can't treat anyone like that, or you're going to end up in jail."
"I don't give a fuck what happens to me. You come first … always. You already know that." His once lethal face had softened as he placed an endearing kiss on my forehead. Possessive. Protective. "I swore that I wouldn't let that pig come after you. I'm making good on that promise."
How could I not love him even more? I felt as though our relationship went further than before. There was this unspoken promise of forever and always. The unassuming love, the kind we shared in the very beginning-adulterated, pure, raw. It didn't judge; it cherished, it nurtured. But, above all, it knew no bounds.
"Babe-"
"No, Cara." Roughened fingertips affectionately caressed my cheek while cradling the other. "Don't thank me. It's my job to ensure your safety."
He did more than that. As long as he was with me, everything was all right.
"Thank you," I murmured as I reassuringly reached out to take hold of his hand, softly kissing the inside of his palm. "Let's get back to our friends and enjoy the night, just as we planned."
Chapter Six
After yesterday's crazy unforgettable affair, I awoke, needing to sweat off the stress of last night's madness. So, what better way to kick-start the day than by working out again at my old gym? This time, Anton was adamant for an exercise reprieve. So, all in my lonesome, I braved it out and hoped that the past eight weeks without sweating off wouldn't badly reflect on me. It wasn't because I didn't have spare time to hit the gym, but instead of investing all those valuable free hours to honing my body and skills, I somehow devoted it to sleeping.
During my session, I was paired to spar with a good-humored woman named Carmen, who was high-spirited and had tremendous stamina. So much so that, at one point, I felt the friendly sparring was becoming more like a competition.
"Aren't you River Ellis's chick?" Carmen directed at me after she had just thumped me into the floor with one quick sweep of her leg, swiftly making me lose balance, knocking my cheek straight into the black matted floor.
Shit, that hurt like a total bitch!
I groaned in agony as I gasped out a strangled breath before rolling on my side, ready for another round. "Maybe," I puffed a reply as I felt beads of sweat trickle down the back of my neck and on the sides of my face.