Tortured Duchess (Adair Legacy)

Hadley’s head whips around to face me, and I can see blood on the side of her lip and a bruise forming on her cheek. “Did she fucking hit you?”

“Duh,” my girl snaps. I can tell there’s more bothering her, though. “Do you have money on you?” she asks. I hand her my wallet. She can have whatever she wants. Standing, she walks to the counter, and I hear her ask for three black coffees, a bottle of water, and two of everything in the display case. She hands them a hundred-dollar bill as a tip. Give them two if you want.

Coming back over with the drinks, she places two cups of coffee on the table, hands me my wallet, heads outside to give Ryan a steaming cup, and drops the water in Denise’s lap.

I can’t fucking believe that woman is here. My meeting this morning was about her and Edward. There was no indication they were even in this part of the state.

Hadley comes back in and sits down, sipping her hot brew before leveling me with a hard stare. “Two years,” she says, and I nod. Knowing exactly what she’s referring to. “My brother called me a slut this morning.” I think today is whiplash day because…holy fuck.

“Need me to kick his ass?” I’m not kidding. I’ll beat him for saying that to her.

“I’ll do it myself,” she responds.

Looking out the window, I say, “I bet you will,” and I know she can.

“She called me a homewrecking whore.”

“I’m sorry, sweet lamb.” I reach across the table, and she allows me to grasp her hands in mine. Bringing them to my lips, I kiss each knuckle. “You are the furthest thing from it. You, especially, don’t deserve to be called such a vile name.”

She nods, and we’re once again interrupted by the wait staff. “Here you are, two of everything.” A serving cart sits beside our table, and the older woman has a brilliant smile on her face.

Grabbing a business card from my inner coat pocket, I hand it to her. “You’ll call me if there are any damages?”

“Nonsense.” She waves her hand away. “This sweet girl was in here admiring everything when she was accosted. I hope they throw the book at that beastly woman for causing such a stir and bruising such a delicate face.” She turns and leaves before I can insist.

Hadley’s smile intensifies as she reaches for something covered in chocolate. Snatching it from her hand, I intend to feed it to her. Even upset, she doesn’t allow it to affect her love of the confections I’m providing her with.

She licks tiny flakes of pastry off my finger while sucking the chocolate clean, and I swear it’s like the digit has a direct line to my dick because I don’t think I’ve ever been harder.

It doesn’t take long for her to polish off a couple of pastries and wave her napkin in surrender. “We have to come here more.” I nod for the server, which I think is the owner, to come collect what's left over from the three of us and pack it up to go.

Ryan dealt with the police before returning inside and having food thrust upon him by Hadley. With her, he’s a little brighter in the eyes. His guard isn’t fully down, but I think he might like her. Which is good because I made the decision to appoint him as her head of security. I only need to convince her of that now.

Explaining how busy my day will be with financial meetings and bank deposits, I offer to drive her home. It isn’t until we’re at her front door that I sense her unease, in turn, making me uneasy.

“You are welcome to stay at my penthouse,” I offer. I’d honestly prefer it. Then I wouldn't have to keep coming and going in between. If I thought she’d move in with me, I’d present the idea to her. But I know she’s not ready yet.

“It’s fine.” Clearly, it isn’t, but I take her lead as she exits the car. Ryan and I follow her up the steps. I know before she opens the door that we’re about to be greeted by her parents, brother, and probably two or three cousins or uncles.

“Hadley.” Her mom smiles. The woman is the only one who seems happy for us.

“Hi, Mom.” She hugs the woman. I was right. Her father, brother, two uncles, and two cousins, I assume, are here waiting. Fucking lovely.

Even in a room filled with men who love and care about Hads, they don’t scare me. Nothing will in regard to her. She’s mine, and nobody is about to change my mind. Or hers.

Ryan has been with me for ten years. He was an Army Ranger before that. Taught me a lot about self-defense and presenting myself in a world filled with unscrupulous characters. I don’t believe these men are bad per se, but they are hardened and jaded.

Standing the same height as her brother, Hendrix, I don’t hesitate to storm over to him and deliver the exact same blow as Hadley gave Denise. “Call her a fucking slut again, and I won’t hold back,” I growl.

Everyone gets their hackles up over my move, but I don’t back down as he straightens, cracking his jaw from side to side. “You think you can take me, pretty boy?”

“I know I can.”

“Stop it,” Talia shouts, her amiable demeanor gone. “Is that true, Hendrix? You called your sister a slut?”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” he growls, his gaze slipping from his mom to his sister and back to me. I back off as the woman who gave him life comes forward.

“Why in the world would you say it to her at all?”

“It slipped out. I wasn’t trying to hurt her.” Fuck. I can see the agony on his face that he caused her any pain.

Eyeing Hadley over my shoulder, I notice she’s unmoved by his explanation or guilt.

“Why do you have a bruise on your cheek?” one of her uncles asks. A knife from his pocket appears in his hand, and I know immediately this is Carver.

Hadley waves one hand while lifting the other to her cheek. “Some bitch thought she could get nasty with me this morning.”

“She look as bad?” asks one of the cousins.

“She dislocated her jaw,” Ryan answers, a prideful grin on his face. They high-five each other.

“Mr. DeMarco, can we have a word in my office?” Castiel speaks, and I follow behind him. Now I’m going to get the fatherly talking to, I suppose.

I nod, already accepting that every man in this room is going to trail along. I have no problem with it. It’s an intimidation tactic to test if I can withstand their scrutiny. What they don’t realize is that I can, and I will.

“You’ll stay with her,” I tell Ryan. He knows it’s not a question but confirms anyway. Striding to Hadley first, I lean forward to kiss her lightly on her worried lips. She sighs against me, and I know all will be well. “Be right back, little lamb.”

“Be nice, Daddy.” She glares at the man, then to her other family members.