Chapter 7

Julian carried Evelyn down the long, luxurious hallway of the club.

Waiters and guests stopped and stared in shock, but the dark, murderous aura radiating from Julian made them press their backs against the walls to get out of his way.

Evelyn's stomach bounced painfully against his hard shoulder bone with every step he took. She kicked her legs wildly in the air.

"Put me down! You psychopath, everyone is looking at us!"

Julian ignored her completely. He reached the private VIP elevator and kicked the call button. The doors slid open. He walked in and hit the button for the underground parking garage.

The doors slid shut. The enclosed space was dead silent except for their heavy breathing.

Julian suddenly grabbed her waist and slid her down his body. Before her feet could even balance on the floor, he shoved her hard against the cold steel wall of the elevator.

"You're embarrassed?" Julian slammed both his hands against the wall on either side of her head. His chest heaved. The dark fire in his eyes was completely out of control. "You were about to get on your knees for that piece of trash for a piece of paper, and you're embarrassed now?"

Evelyn's face burned. He had hit her deepest nerve. She glared up at him, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

"That is my business! I didn't ask you to play the hero!"

The elevator chimed. The doors opened to the dark, damp underground garage.

Julian didn't argue. He grabbed her wrist and dragged her out. The sound of his heavy footsteps echoed off the concrete walls. Gus was already standing next to the Rolls Royce. He immediately pulled the rear door open.

Julian practically threw Evelyn into the back seat. He climbed in right after her and slammed the door shut.

Evelyn tried to scramble to the other side of the seat, but Julian's massive body lunged forward. He pressed her deep into the leather cushions, his heavy torso pinning her down completely.

The heat of his body and the sheer humiliation of being tossed around snapped the last string of Evelyn's sanity.

She raised her right hand and slapped him directly across the face.

The sharp smack echoed loudly in the cabin.

In the driver's seat, Gus sucked in a sharp breath. He immediately hit the button. The soundproof partition rolled up fast, sealing the back seat off.

Julian's head was turned to the side from the force of the blow. A red handprint slowly bloomed across his sharp cheekbone. The air in the car turned to ice.

He didn't yell. He didn't hit her back.

Instead, Julian slowly pushed his tongue against the inside of his cheek where she had struck him. He turned his head back to look at her.

His eyes were completely black. A sick, twisted thrill danced in his pupils.

"Are you done?" His voice was a low, raspy whisper. He leaned in closer. His nose brushed against hers.

Evelyn shrank back into the leather. The pure madness in his eyes terrified her. Her voice shook. "What do you want from me, Julian? He is your nephew! You just ruined your nephew for his fiancée. Are you insane?"

"Nephew?" Julian let out a dark, vibrating laugh. "The second he put his hands on you, he stopped existing to me."

Julian's brutal grip on her chin loosened for a fraction of a second. A flicker of raw, unadulterated pain crossed his dark eyes before being instantly swallowed by the familiar, violent fury.

"As for being insane? I went insane the night you threw me away three years ago."

The words hit Evelyn's chest like a sledgehammer. Her throat burned. The truth about her father's betrayal clawed at her throat, begging to be let out. She bit her tongue so hard she tasted blood. She couldn't tell him. She couldn't drag him into her family's mess again.

"Break the engagement," Julian ordered. His thumb pressed hard into her jawline. "I will not let you wear another man's label."

Evelyn let out a bitter, exhausted laugh. "And if I say no? Are you going to kill him? Are you going to kill me?"

Julian's eyes turned lethal. His long fingers slid down her neck, resting dangerously over her racing pulse. "I won't kill you. But I will destroy every single person you care about."

Evelyn shivered violently. She knew he wasn't bluffing. She took a deep breath and surrendered.

"Fine. I will break it off." She stared into his eyes. "Because he cheated. Because he is garbage."

A flash of intense, predatory triumph exploded in Julian's eyes. His breathing hitched.

But Evelyn immediately poured ice water over his victory. "But I am never coming back to you, Julian. We died three years ago."

The triumph in Julian's eyes froze. He stared at her pale, determined face. A cruel smirk twisted his lips.

"You don't get to decide when we are done."

Julian suddenly dipped his head. He opened his mouth and bit down hard on her exposed collarbone.

Evelyn gasped sharply at the sudden pain.

Julian pulled back. He licked a tiny drop of blood off his bottom lip. He pressed the intercom button.

"Drive. Take her to Brooklyn."