Panic sits in my chest, because I hate not knowing where she’s at at all times. I don’t care if that makes me insane, but it’s a fact and she knows it. It’s the reason we share our location. So I don’t worry and go psycho.
I shoot Michael a text and he responds right away telling me that everything is working fine, but if she’s got her tracker off there’s not much we can do. I wait a few moments thinking that I could go into the library and check on her, but I’m parked where I can still see her car. She’s working late, so I’m sure it’s fine. I’ll just wait on her until she’s ready to leave.
My service on my phone is acting up, and by the time I switch back over to the cameras, Emily is gone from her office and that douchebag boss of hers is gone, too. Frustration and mounting anger take over and I don’t have any patience left. I hop out of my truck and make my way into the library for the second time today.
Emily was texting me and teasing me one second, then the next she was out of my sight. I’m a man with a lot of control, but she tests me every chance she gets. Maybe she’s looking for a repeat of our lunchtime activities, and I’m all too eager to give it to her.
When I get to the front desk I see Nancy from earlier. She looks up from her book and she’s surprised to see me standing there.
“She’s already left for the day,” she tells me before I even open my mouth.
“I thought she was working late?” I ask calmly. Emily always says I get worked up too fast.
Nancy looks around as if to make sure we’re alone and then stands up and leans in. “Mark asked her to go to a charity function tonight. But to be honest, I don’t like the sound of it.”
“What do you mean?” Now is the time to get worked up.
“He just gives me a creepy vibe, and your wife is so sweet. It’s not that I think he would actually do anything. I mean, the man is like the size of my leg. I’m sure he’s harmless.”
“You’re not making me feel any better.”
“Sorry!” she says, covering her mouth. “They’re just across the street, at the lounge. I think maybe it’s being held there? I don’t have any more details other than that.”
I nod before I turn around and try to keep my stomps quiet as I leave the library. I hear someone following me and I glance back over my shoulder.
“Hey, wait up,” Nancy says, but I don’t slow down.
Right then my phone rings and I see it’s my friend William. I don’t want to answer it, but he hangs up and then calls right back.
“Can’t talk,” I say to Will, solely focused on getting to my wife. The feeling in my gut is churning and I don’t like this. Not one damn bit.
“Where are you? I’ve got eyes on your wife with another man,” he says.
“I’m coming in hot,” I growl just before I barge through the door.
Like a beacon in the night I spot her right away, and then I see the hemmed-in position her boss has her in and the fear in my bride’s eyes.
I’m a goddamn madman as my vision turns red and I begin to move. I’m going to rip every limb from his body for daring to get close to what’s mine and putting that look on her face. But just as I’ve taken a step towards then, I see the fear that was gripping Emily a half a second ago has changed into outright hate. As if in slow motion, I watch as she lashes out and backhands the taste out of her boss’s mouth.
My woman hits him so hard he flips around backwards and stumbles a few steps before he stands upright again. And by that time, I’m there. I come up behind him and grab him by the upper arms before I slam his face into the wall.
I do it once, and it didn’t feel good enough, so I do it again. I contemplate a third time, but I don’t want him to pass out just yet.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” I ask, flipping him around so he can face me.
“Someone call the police,” I hear Nancy say, but then Will is the one to answer.
“Let’s just give them a moment to handle this private matter. Then we can involve the authorities.”
I look over my shoulder to see him leading Nancy to the other side of the bar and keeping prying eyes out of sight.
“You okay, Button?” I ask, finally allowing myself to look at my bride. I’m scared that if I see her crying, I’m going to let him go and run to her. And right now, this motherfucker needs an ass-beating.
But my woman isn’t crying. Instead she’s got a determined look on her face as she stomps over to where I’m standing.
“He put his hands on me,” she says, crossing her arms and staring him down.
“Where?” I ask, looking back to Mark, who has a bloody nose.
“On my arm. Then he cornered me and tried to feel me up, but I hit him before he got the chance.”
“Good girl,” I say, nodding in approval. “Which hand did he touch you with?”
“His right one,” she answers immediately.
I reach down and grab his first two fingers and he starts to beg.
“No, no, she misunderstood—”
The sound of his bones breaking is drowned out by his scream, and his lies are silenced.
“Now you’re a little man, and I’m a big man. I don’t know if you’re good at math or not, but that means I could fuck you up.”
He doesn’t answer, only cries out again when I break his pinky.
“I’m going to leave your wedding finger alone, because I want to give you a reminder of how sacred marriage is. And how truly precious my bride is to me.” I grab him by the throat and lean in. “You’re going to lose your job, and you’re never, ever going to step foot in this town again. I’ve got friends in high and low places and I’ll make sure you don’t so much as put a toe in the same county as the love of my life.”
“Yes,” he croaks out, but I’m not done with him yet.
“I’d like for you to apologize to my wife, but I don’t want you to speak to her ever again. So I’ll take the apology. Go on, and make it a good one.”
I squeeze his neck a little tighter and he wheezes out an apology. It’s not much, but he’s turning blue, so I think it’s all he can really manage.
I drop him to the ground like a used rag and then turn to my wife. She’s in my arms instantly and as I carry her away, I can hear a soft sniffle. I know she was being strong in the moment, but she’s delicate. That’s why I’m her protector.
“Thank you,” I say to Will on the way out.
“I’ll be in touch,” he says, nodding and patting me on the back. He turns to Nancy and smiles. “Now, young lady, you may call the police.”
“Take me home,” Emily says, and I kiss the top of her head.
“Anything, Button.”
Chapter 10
Emily
Dylan doesn't stop until he has me planted in his truck with my seatbelt on. He fires up the truck and pulls out of the parking lot. As he drives, he picks up my hand and kisses my palm.
“Does your hand hurt, Button?” His eyes are filled with concern, but I can still see the anger simmering below.
Most people might not think so, but I know Dylan showed a level of control in there. We’re all lucky he didn’t burn the whole building down.
I shake my head as he runs his thumb across it. There was a small sting I felt when I smacked Mark, but it’s fading fast. I’m still shocked that I did it. When he tried to feel me up at the same time as making another comment about my husband, I lost it. I didn't even know I was capable of smacking a person. An anger rushed forward like I’d never felt before and I was striking him before I was even aware I was doing it.
I feel a lump start to creep up my throat. The anger I felt moments ago is turning into tears. Too many emotions are flooding me and I try to fight back the tears. But before one can even slip free, Dylan is pulling over and unbuckling me from my seat. He brings me over to his side and holds me in his lap.
“Button.” He places kisses all over my face. “Everything is fine. I promise.” I know my tears are killing him. Dylan can't stand when I cry, even when they’re happy tears.
“I hate my job,” I blurt out. I watch as he tries to fight a smile, and I smack his chest. “Don’t laugh.”
“Then quit.” He says it like it’s so easy. Can I just quit? Do I really want to?
“I put up such a fuss about getting it in the first place, then it turned out to be…” I throw my hands up in the air. “It’s a mess is what it is.”
Now I’m scared Dylan might be in trouble, even if Mark did need his ass kicked. I hate to think about what he might have done to other women in the past. A man in power thinking he can take what he wants is disgusting. I drop my head, but Dylan makes me look back up at him.
“Don’t I always give you what you want?” He gives me that side smile that always turns me into a soft marshmallow.
I nod because he does. He leans in, kissing me, and it’s so soft and sweet. It’s safe, and I know my Dylan would never let anything happen to me. He’ll always be my protector, and I shouldn’t worry about what a piece of shit like Mark is going to think about it.
“Now tell me what you wanted from that job.” I smile at the determination in my husband's voice. He’s trying his best to make sure I’ve got all that my heart desires. How’d I get so lucky?