Think again, motherfucker.
Rome noticed my gaze and emitted a quiet gasp when she realized who was on the receiving end. “Calloway, don’t—”
I already left the table. I slowly walked around groups of people and other tables as I made my way toward him.
His eyes nearly popped out of his head, and he turned around and darted the other way.
Pussy shit.
I walked at a normal pace and smiled when I saw colleagues do the same to me. But I never took my eyes off my target. I watched him move through people until he reached the mayor. He stood beside him and struck up a random conversation, his drink still in hand. He’d spilled a few drops on his suit during his attempt to flee.
Like the goddamn mayor would stop me. He could be the president of the United States, and I still wouldn’t give a shit.
I walked up to the group, right beside Hank, and stared him down.
Michael Rosenberg turned to me once I joined the group. “Mr. Owens, how are you this fine evening?” The mayor stuck out his hand to shake mine.
I took it with a firm grip. “I’m wonderful, sir. How are you?”
“Great. I’m always in a good mood when there’s an open bar.”
Hank continued to stand there, sweat forming on his forehead.
I stared him down, enjoying every single second of his terror. That was exactly how Rome felt when she looked over her shoulder every day. I wanted him to suffer worse than she ever had. He needed broken bones and hideous scars. “How’s Lydia?”
Michael didn’t seem to care that I was staring at Hank instead of him. “She’s good. She’s mingling with the girls. You know how women get. I probably won’t see her until the end of the night.”
“I do,” I said in agreement.
“You brought someone?” the mayor asked. “That’s wonderful, Calloway. May I meet her?”
I turned back to Michael, so grateful he asked that question. “Of course.” I turned to where Rome sat at the table, her eyes trained on my conversation with alarm in her eyes. I held up my hand and beckoned her with my fingers.
Rome’s eyes doubled in size.
I gave her a hard look, telling she better get her ass over here or I’d drag her.
She eventually rose out of the chair and walked around the edge of the tables toward us.
I eyed Hank, seeing his clammy skin and the anxiety in his eyes.
Rome finally came to my side, stiff and obviously terrified of the man who stood right beside me. She wore a fake smile, but her eyes were filled with dread.
My arm immediately circled her waist, and I pulled her into my side, reminding her nothing could happen to her when she was in my possession. “Michael, this is Rome. Rome, this is Michael Rosenberg, the major of New York.”
Rome did her best to be herself, but she came off as nervous. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.” She shook his hand before she squeezed back into my side. “You’ve done a lot for the people of New York, and I appreciate it.”
“Thank you,” Michael said. “Calloway, she’s lovely.”
“Thank you, sir.” I eyed Hank again, challenging him with just my silence. He thought he was safe when he was next to powerful men of this city. But he didn’t realize I knew these same people—and I was more powerful than all of them.
I suspected Rome had never been this close to Hank unless they were in the middle of a brawl. She did her best to appear calm, but I could feel the slight tremor in her frame. The woman I knew wasn’t afraid of anything, and if she was afraid, she didn’t show it. So this reaction just made me want to break Hank’s neck even more. No woman should ever have to feel like prey like this.
“Well, I need to talk with a few friends,” Michael said. “But maybe we can hit the links together next week.”
“I’d love to, sir.” I shook his hand again. “I’ll have my assistant call your assistant.”
“Sounds good.” Michael turned around, his back to us.
Hank had been silent for the entire conversation. I thought it was odd that the mayor didn’t find that abnormal. Hank immediately darted away so he could get away from us.
I snatched him by the arm and yanked him back, forcing more of his wine to hit the front of his suit. I didn’t give a damn if anyone saw what I did. It happened so quickly that people probably weren’t sure what they saw.
Rome held her breath beside me, petrified of what would happen next.
I looked Hank in the eye, doing my best not to crush my massive fist against his face. “You picked the wrong woman to fuck with, Hank.”
We finished dinner as the speeches began. Awards were given out, and outstanding contributors to society were recognized. The ceremony seemed to stretch on interminably with no end in sight.