Chapter 2
The man didn't move. He leaned back against the leather sofa, staring down at me with zero emotion.
He looked like he was debating whether to answer me or kick me away like a stray dog.
Suddenly, I heard an amused chuckle from behind me.
It was Logan. "Elara, babe, seriously? You picked him?
"The guy got his heart ripped out by his first love ages ago. And now he swears off women. He hasn't touched one in years."
Sworn off women?
I let those words echo in my mind.
A storm of emotions raged inside me as I stared intently at the man in front of me.
This was the face that had haunted my dreams, the reason I'd spent so many nights tossing and turning.
It had been so long since we last saw each other. But tonight, with the liquid courage burning in my veins, I finally dared to look him in the eye again.
My stomach twisted into knots. I dug my nails into my palms so hard it hurt. I had no idea which version of him I was dealing with anymore.
Suddenly, the cold, hard toe of a leather dress shoe nudged my chin up.
He gave me a look down his nose, his expression freezing over.
It was terrifying. "You sure about this?" he rumbled, his voice low and dangerous.
Terror spiked in my chest, but I refused to back down. Instead, I leaned into the touch, pressing my throat further against the leather of his shoe.
"I'm sure," I breathed.
He stood up so abruptly that the motion made me flinch. The whole room went dead silent. They probably thought I had just signed my death warrant.
They expected him to toss me aside like garbage.
After all, everyone knew the stories. A while back, some B-list actress had tried to cozy up to him at a party.
He decided she was in his way and shoved her straight into the pool without breaking stride.
While she thrashed around screaming for help, he didn't even glance back.
Logan obviously remembered that story, too. Panic flashed across his face, and he rushed over, throwing his arms out to block him.
"Whoa, man, chill," Logan stammered. "This is Elara. She's my fiancé. Do me a favor and don't lose it on her.
"She doesn't know how you are. If she pissed you off, just let it slide for me, okay?"
Then he barked at me, "Elara, get up. Now!
"This is the one guy you don't mess with. He's not into women. I told you, didn't I?
"And I know you aren't actually looking for a hookup, so stop bluffing. Just go home with your girls."
Something in that rambling speech snapped the man's patience. He shoved Logan hard enough to send him stumbling back.
His eyes were lethal.
"Who said I'm not into women?" he shot back, his voice icy.
Suddenly, my world spun upside down. He scooped me up and threw me over his shoulder like a sack of flour.
His deep voice vibrated against my thigh, heavy with the promise of settling an old score.
"You started this, Elara Reed," he murmured, low enough that only I could hear. "Remember that."
The room went dead silent as he marched toward the exit with me dangling over his back.
Logan scrambled after us, shouting, "Orion, what the hell are you doing?"
Right, his name was Orion Grant. The name used to make my heart race was now the name of the man kidnapping me.
Orion stopped dead. He turned his head just enough to be heard. "Exactly what it looks like."
"Are you crazy? She's my wife!" Logan yelled, his voice shrill.
He had been throwing around the word "wife" all night. Suddenly, it sounded like nails on a chalkboard to me.
Orion shot Logan a look of pure disgust, like he wasn't even worth the oxygen it took to speak to him.
Then he turned back around and kept walking.
Desperate, Logan lunged forward and grabbed Orion's free arm. "Orion, stop. We've been friends since we were kids. And..."
He pointed a shaking finger at me. "You know the code, man. You don't touch a friend's wife."
Orion didn't put me down. He ripped his arm free and shoved Logan hard by the shoulder.
Logan stumbled back, losing his balance and crashing right into Bella, who had been trailing behind. They collided face-to-face, bodies pressed tight, looking like they were about to kiss.
Orion's voice was ice cold. "Glad you know the code.
"Don't let me ruin your big night. Have fun, Logan."