Mr. Delgado put his hands up defensively.
“Mr. Ferrano, please, I’m very sorry. I only…”
“Is she yours?” Dare clipped.
“Pardon?”
“Is. She. Yours?” Dare was so condescending that Rafe looked like he wanted to shrink into himself.
“No, Sir.”
“So, she’s mine?”
“Absolutely. I just---”
“Baby,” Dare ignored him and addressed me.
I met his eyes, “Yes, Dare?”
“Come over here,” he demanded.
I got to my feet and moved to him and he put his arm around me.
“Come.” He led me out of the room and back to our room.
He was emitting serious angry alpha male vibes.
He slammed our door. I was trembling. And aroused.
“What did he say to you?”
“He told me I’d been missed, that girls were aspiring to be like me so they could be rewarded like me. He said Cleo was jealous and that Mr. Chen would recommend to you that I punish her so that she would know I was above her in status.”
His eyes lit with something unpleasant.
I didn’t know how to respond to that so I just stood there.
“Let’s go.”
I was about to inquire, ‘Where?’ but I didn’t. Not only might we be being watched but he was exuding this authority, this dominance that put me into absolute obedience mode.
I followed him. I followed him down the hall to Rafe’s office. Rafe was sitting at his desk with his head in his hands, looking stressed. Mr. Chen was standing there with him but was on his phone. He ended his call and looked at Dare.
“Ruiz.”
“Mr. Ferrano.” Rafe stood.
“I’d like you to have us taken to Cleo, please.”
“Absolutely. And I overstepped, I apologize. I only…”
“My wife has told me what you said. I’m protective, possessive. She’s mine. I have her because I’m extremely protective and possessive and having her enables me to be…me. You get me?”
“One hundred per cent. I won’t make that mistake again. My truest apologies.”
“See that you don’t. If you find me abrasive and disagreeable, this is just who I am. When it comes to my wife, I will lose my mind if anyone lays a hand on her. She’s mine. Just mine.”
“No explanation required, Mr. Ferrano.” Ruiz had gotten to his feet and fetched a key from a peg board behind a cupboard on the door near the entrance to his office.