Just A Substitute: The Don's Lost Love

ie

bruised purple, hanging heavy

e. The moss Marcus had sworn to have removed months ago still cl

finger tracing the cold

p, jagged pain from last night had settled i

ll

nstead, I turned s

le, as always-a study in tailored wool and arroganc

d irritated, as if my wedding were merely a

my voice steady. "And because

ou're not leaving. You're throwing a tantrum.

rs ago, Marcus. I've been l

nal space with practiced ease. "You

countered. "I am a placeh

haps even guilt. But before he could speak, the heavy t

air tousled by the wind. He didn't look like a killer, nor did he lo

," I b

here yet. He was supposed

oring Marcus completely. He pulled me into his

against my skin. "I tracked you

tension draining from m

s throat-a sound

is

irmly possessive around my wais

down, a sneer curling his

g valuable and is too stupid to realize it

tening step forward, his hand twitching toward his waistba

d, his tone leaving no room for argumen

with her,"

in

ceilings, crisp white tablecloths, and waiter

sat across from us, staring

enu without looking at it. "How do you plan

id, meeting his gaze. "She likes peac

r the table. He was baiting

A notification from the airline fla

he jagged, piercing ringtone cut

en, and his face softe

ble, ignoring us. "Yes, love? What?

y, throwing a stack of cash

ooking past me. "Chloe brok

I asked, incredulous. "You're leavi

said, adjusting his cuf

epeated, the word

ffee. Perhaps he was nervous, or perhaps he stum

ppene

mugs of scalding blac

ading straig

o protect himself. He di

had left on the table-the phone with C

fee mis

hit

ed across my chest and

immediate. It felt like liquid fire e

a pitcher of ice water and threw it over me, d

, his voice cracking.

e-dripping wet, clutching my stomach, gasp

" Marcus stammered.

sto

y skin was blistering, red and angry. My

man who raised me, wa

ed, as if convincing himself. "Da

is eyes murderous. "Ge

id to the air, turning

alked out of the restaur

lef

e glass doors. The pain in my skin was excruc

en nail over my

ace with trembling hands. His eyes were full of panic and

mth that didn't hurt. "David," I whispered, m

d, lifting me up

is lock screen. He had protected

That was the only

ing me out of the wreckage, I closed my