After the Storm

26. The madness within

The corners of my lips twitched at her temerity. I quickly wiped the beginnings if a smile off my face. I should be indifferent, not amused.

"Your wish is my command, milady." A sinister promise resided in his pleasant words.

I knew that I had to remain dispassionate so as to not give him the satisfaction of getting to me. And even if he did hurt her, why should I care?

But you do care. That's the problem.

There was no denying the cold fury that swirled in my belly upon seeing what he intended to do to her.

"What do you think of Rikkard?" Eugene asked softly as he dug the tip of the dagger into her soft skin. She stared at him head on.

"To be honest, I thought that he was the biggest dick in the world, until I met you."

The knife trailed down her arm anddrew blood, but she didn't even flinch. "Really? What about his looks? What do you think of them?"

The worst thing that could occur happened. A blush infused into her cheeks. It wasn't conspicuous due to her skin being a rich hazel shade but as expected, he didn't miss it.

Damn it.

"He's hideous. Absolutely disgusting!"

Even a lowly ant could tell that she was bluffing. After all, I was not only the wealthiest man in London, but also the best looking one.

"You're lying."

"No I'm not!"

"You're enamoured with him and him with you."

She spluttered in outrage. "What are you? A pin head? There is nothing between us. Nothing! I'm a staunch feminist, not some giggling pansy!" She struggled, murder evident in the most fiery brown eyes I had ever seen.

I had sworn to never feel for a female, for after all, they were fickle and weak creatures that had done nothing to gain my respect. Then why did I want to protect the young woman opposite me so badly? That unanswered question was enough to shove a hoarse word out of my usually closed mouth.

"Don't."

Beads of blood bloomed on her cheek and something in my chest clenched. I labelled it a simply a strained muscle -- unimportant.

Eugene didn't look at me. "Don't what?"

Red stained the sleek metal and at that moment, something dark and violent within me reared its head.

"Don't hurt her."

Stop! Silence! Remember that you can't display any sign of weakness.

"And why would I do that?"

"It's me that you want. Not her."

I clenched my fist. That had done it. He had won, and I hated losing.

"Interesting." Eugene turned slowly to look at me. "Out of plain curiousity, what is it about Miss Linton that attracted you? So much so that you'll risk your reputation to hire her?"

Silence.

"It couldn't be her intellect, could it?"

"Blimey! And I thought men couldn't get any more chauvanistic." Lillian scorned. "You're the epitome of a cowardly worm with no balls!"

I reminded myself to keep a straight face. Even in the face of torture, she had the guts to speak out.

She's really something else.