by Linda Verji
“So we are just going to keep checking doors until he gets here?” Rafe asked as he sipped his wine. He winced slightly before dropping the still full glass on a passing waiter’s tray. “You’re usually hands-on with your projects, but this is getting ridiculous.”
“You can go if you want,” Kian offered.
Rafe ignored it. “No. There’s something else going on here.”
There was something going on here. Tasha had gotten under his skin. He was Kian ‘Shark’ Harper; never fazed, never ruffled and always in charge of his environment! It’d been a long time since he’d felt the urge to lay down the control and let his impulses control the game. There was only woman he’d ever been willing to give up all of him for and she’d landed him in prison.
Some part of him kept begging him to step back because Tasha could be worse than Hanna – already his feelings for her were more intense. But the larger part of him was ready to jump off the cliff and see where he landed.
Where is she?
“I really thought you would give up on Nelson by now.” Rafe shook his head.
“Trying to get your million in advance?”
“It is not even about the million…”
Something at the entrance caught Kian’ attention, the rest of Rafe’s sentence lost to him. It was her. His gaze zeroed in on Tasha. She wasn’t the flashiest woman around. Instead of an elaborate hairstyle touching the ceiling, her hair hung loosely around her, swept to one shoulder and leaving one side of the long slim column of her neck open. She’d eschewed more dramatic make-up for a nude look that lent her an unexplainable innocence.
Her thigh-length royal blue dress would’ve seemed plain if it wasn’t cut so elegantly, if the v-neck didn’t dip so enticingly into her cleavage hinting at hidden secrets or if it didn’t curve over her body so sleekly. Unlike other women she wasn’t dripping in diamonds. Apart from the studs in her ears, there was no other jewelry. In the midst of all these other grandly dressed women, she should’ve disappeared. Instead she stood out like a beacon calling his name.
Polo was posted beside her with a smug smile and his arm around her waist no doubt aware that he had the most beautiful woman in the room on. Watching them, unexplainable anger bit into Kian. He wanted to walk over to them and tear Polo’s hands from around Tasha. Like a peacock Polo strutted around the room introducing her to several other guests.
“She’s married,” Rafe’s low warning interrupted his musing. Kian had even forgotten that his friend was beside him.
“I haven’t done anything.”
“But you’re thinking about it.” Rafe knew him too well.
Kian wanted to lie. He wanted to say that he wasn’t thinking about dragging Tasha out of the room and showing her that he was the best man for him, but the tightly folded fists by his body would’ve sold him out.
Rafe warned, “Don’t do anything stupid.”
“Chill out, Raphael,” Kian said as he started to walk towards their table and Rafe followed at a more relaxed pace. Dahlia had placed both he and Rafe on the same table as Polo; insistent that since they were the ones who’d brought him, it was their job to control him.
By the time Kian got to the table, Polo and Tasha were already seated. Polo was the first to notice him. His eyes narrowed and his lips thinned into a straight line. Kian wasn’t sure whether it was because their previous interaction had always been tense or because he knew that he wanted his wife – he didn’t care. Tasha lifted her head but when she saw that it was Kian, she immediately dropped her gaze.
The brief collision of eyes was however enough for him to see the dark circle under one of hers. She’d tried to cover it up with makeup but Kian was watching her too closely to miss it. Could it be…Had Polo…? No, it wasn’t possible. Anger, confusion and shock warred in Kian as his gaze swung to Polo.
Polo returned his stare with a neutral one of his own. “Harper?”
Kian didn’t answer. He was too busy trying to make sense of Tasha’s black eye. He was probably overreacting. But then little things started to niggle at him. For one there was the surveillance. Of course he’d spotted them on the first day he’d gone to their home. There were some things not even sixteen years of being ‘straight’ could erase including the ability to notice when someone was watching you.
Then there was the way Tasha shut down every time she and Polo were in the same room. If none of that was enough to convince him that something wasn’t right, Kian just had to think about the way she flinched whenever someone touched her. They were all telltale signs of abuse, but he still couldn’t believe it. It couldn’t be possible.
“You must be Tasha.” Dahlia’s excited voice cut into his bemused thoughts. Kian kept his eye on Tasha as everyone exchanged pleasantries and took their seats. Apart from him, she was the quietest on the table. However, she seemed comfortable with Dahlia and now and again an involuntary smile would cross her lips.
Her restrained smile tugged at his heart. Was Polo the reason for her hesitance? Kian had already seen him bully her. He had to consider that there was every possibility his bullying went beyond words. The reality of what might be happening to Tasha was like a knife slashing through him. Anger swirled and the desire to lunge for Polo’s neck was so strong that it was only the thought that he could be jumping to conclusions, kept him seated.
The evening dragged on. Kian was relieved when the fundraising part of the event started. That meant the proceedings would soon be coming to end and he’d finally get a chance to talk to Tasha on her own.
While Rafe bid on a few bits of jewelry for his wife, Polo was more interested in getting an Elvis Guitar and a popular basketball players’ shoes. How could a man be so blind to his woman’s needs? If Tasha was Kian’s he would’ve bought her the whole ballroom if that’s what it cost to make her smile.
When he wasn’t bidding on his man toys, Polo was intent on getting into Rafe’s good graces. He kept on turning the conversation back to his game and his stats. Rafe’s expression went from vaguely amused to narrowed eyes and a ticking jaw. Kian was sure that if Dahlia wasn’t there something would’ve popped off.
“How far along are you?” Tasha asked Dahlia during the intermission.
Dahlia’s surprised gaze flew to her, “Do you know, you’re the first person to notice.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was a secret.” Tasha said, embarrassment evident in her eyes.
“No. No. That’s okay,” Dahlia said. “We were just hoping to keep it to ourselves for a little bit longer. You know how the media can be.”
“They were going to find out eventually anyway.” Rafe kissed his wife’s temple. Kian turned towards Rafe with raised eyebrows; Rafe shrugged. During Gabby’s birth, he’d sworn up and down the hospital that he was never ever going to let Dahlia go through that again. Kian should know. He’d been the unfortunate guy trying to calm the crazy Spanish to-be-dad when the nurses and doctors couldn’t. Italians had nothing on Rafe.
“Congratulations,” Tasha offered. Jaw locked in anger, Polo stared at her. She must’ve noticed because she didn’t say a word after that unless she was spoken to. It was more than obvious that she was terrified of her husband. The more he watched her and Polo, the angrier Kian grew.
A few minutes into the next round of bids, Tasha excused herself and left the table. Kian was about to follow her when Polo abruptly rose from his seat and followed on his wife’s heels. There was something about the look in his eyes that unsettled the already on-edge Kian. He should’ve let them go but instead he stood to follow the couple.
With almost everyone in the ballroom, only a few concierges were out in the lobby. Assuming that Tasha hadn’t exited the building, Kian turned towards the restrooms. He was just turning the corner when he heard them.
“I’m trying to build my career and you’re fucking it up?” Polo barked. “Why’d you tell everyone at the table that she was pregnant?”
There was no answer to his question. Tasha
cowered against the wall almost as if she was trying to squeeze herself into it, while Polo stood in front of her, anger clouding his features. Neither of them noticed Kian.
“What’d I tell you about staying out of my business?”
“I’m so-” Tasha didn’t get a chance to complete her sentence. Polo raised his hand and slapped her hard across the face.
The connecting of skin echoed sharply through the hall and reverberated through Kian’s whole body. It awakened a primitive cyclone of anger so forceful that he lost all thought and all control. No longer aware of his own actions, he hurtled across the hall and sprung at Polo.
CHAPTER 10
When asked later, Kian would say he had no idea what happened because it all happened so fast. Polo had only a split second to look up before Kian attacked him. With strength that had been latent up to now, he shoved Polo so hard that he landed on his ass.
“What the fuck…?” Polo exploded.
In seconds he was back on his feet and charging at Kian with a bull-like roar. Polo drew his arm back to knock him out, but Kian was ready. He sidestepped just as Polo threw the punch, watching the fist that was meant for his jaw whizz past in a blur of knuckles. He whirled around and kicked Polo in the shin hard; harder than he’d slapped Tasha.
There was a telltale cracking of bones as Polo tumbled onto the carpeted floor with a loud scream. Kian was still angry enough to kick him while he was down, but Polo was clutching his injured leg and screaming so loudly that it was obvious the guy was down for the night.
“You broke my fucking leg. You broke my fucking leg.” Polo’s loud wails drew a host of spectators from the ballroom. Amid the sea of speculative faces were Rafe’s and Dahlia’s. Rafe threw Kian a questioning look before retrieving his cell phone and calling for an ambulance. Kian only shrugged. The guy had deserved more than a busted shin. No one should treat a woman like that – least of all Tasha.
Tasha was still standing by the wall with her arms wrapped around her waist and her eyes on the prone Polo. Kian started to walk towards her, but the flash of anger that she met him with stopped him in his tracks.
Why the hell was she angry with him? He wasn’t the one who’d slapped her. He was the good guy here; the one who’d tried to protect her from her psycho husband. If he could just talk to her he’d be able to calm her down and comfort her but a warning look from Dahlia halted him. She was right. This wasn’t the place. Dahlia moved to Tasha’s side, taking her hand in a gesture of comfort.
In the ensuing commotion that followed the paramedic’s arrival, Kian kept an eye on her. Any woman in her situation would’ve been emotional, but Tasha’s face was a blank mask. She silently watched as the paramedics quieted Polo down with a morphine shot. Rafe had already cleared the hallway of curious onlookers making it easier for the team to work on their patient.
“I’m gonna fuck you up,” Polo mumbled sluggishly as they heaved him onto the stretcher. Kian’s fists balled at his side just imagining Tasha anywhere near that madman. He’d kill him if he touched her again.
“Can I come with you?” Tasha asked the paramedics.
“Don’t fucking leave my car-” Polo muttered before they could answer.
After a quick search of his pockets, the paramedics handed Tasha his car keys so she could follow them to the hospital. Within minutes they carted Polo into the first elevator. It was too small for everyone to go down in one go so Tasha waited for the other.
“You don’t need to come with me,” Tasha said when Dahlia stayed by her side. “You’ve got an auction.”
Dahlia’s expression was grim. “It can wait.”
“I’ll be fine.” Tasha was insistent. “You can’t leave your guests just like that.”
“She’s right Dahlia. You stay here and finish up. I’ll go with her,” Kian added onto the exchange just as the elevator opened up. Tasha opened her mouth as if to protest but he spoke before she could, “She’ll be fine.”
“You’re sure this is a good idea?” Rafe asked. Even though they both knew that tonight’s events had officially ended Kian and Polo’s business relationship, and Rafe had just won their million dollar bet, there was no ‘I told you so’ only genuine concern from his friend.
“I’m sure,” Kian assured him as he followed Tasha into the elevator.
Tasha shifted further away from him as the doors closed. The obvious tension in her posture, the hands gripping her arms and the way she was staring at the doors as if willing them to open even though the elevator had just started moving said she was not happy with him.
Kian pressed the emergency button bringing the elevator to an abrupt stop. Tasha’s eyes shifted towards him in surprise, then quickly back to the door as her lush lips straightened into an uncompromising line. He took in her profile. Even angry and stiff Tasha was still a sight for sore eyes. The blue of her dress brought out the dark richness of her skin and the curvy fullness of her body. Her stiff stance only heightened his protective instincts. It hurt to even think that someone could hurt her as Polo had done.
“Are you okay?” He edged closer to her, wrapping his arms around her waist as he pressed his chest to her shoulder. She was stiff and unyielding, studiously staring at the elevator doors like they were a Math test. He coerced, “I was only trying to help.”
“Nobody asked for your help.” Her tone was curt but her body began to yield to the proximity of his.
Kian pushed her hair away from her cheek. “Let me see that.”
She was too dark for any imprints to show but to Kian, Polo’s hand was as visible as neon words on a blackboard. The thought of Polo having marked Tasha caused an alarming anger in him. Sighing deeply, she relaxed in his arms. “You shouldn’t have done that.”
“He shouldn’t have hit you,” Kian returned, turning her to face him but instead of meeting his eyes, she bent her head. “What the f-what was I supposed to do? Just stand there and watch him beat you up?”
“You’ve only made things worse,” she mumbled.
“What does that mean?” he asked. Only silence met his question. He tipped her chin up, but Tasha refused to meet his eyes. It suddenly struck him. She was embarrassed. He tagged her closer till she was so close to him, he could feel her breasts pressed against his chest and her thighs pressed against his. Soothing his hands over her back, he said, “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
She didn’t say anything, only leant her forehead against his suited shoulder.
He repeated, “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
It was only when he felt a hot tear drop on his neck that he realized she was crying. Her shoulders heaving with the quiet sobs only cut a track of pain through Kian’s heart. He offered soft, soothing, empty words as he caressed her back but inside he was seething. He should’ve done more to Polo than just bust up his shin. He should’ve strung him up by his balls.
“Sorry. I ruined your tux.” Tasha sniffed as she tried to wipe the moisture for the midnight black fabric.
Kian didn’t care about the tuxedo. She could douse him in a bucket of water if that was what it took to make her feel better. He tilted her chin up until her still teary gaze met his. “I’m sorry he hurt you.”
She didn’t respond, but the air of vulnerability in her gaze that touched him. The pain that they reflected was so real, he could almost feel it. His head lowered before he could stop himself and he touched his lips to hers. “You deserve so much better.” She stiffened in his arms, but didn’t pull back, or stop him when he pressed another small kiss to her mouth. “I’m sorry.”
This time when their lips met, he deepened the kiss instead of releasing her. He nibbled on her lower lip urging her to let him in and when her lips parted on an indrawn breath, he took it as a sign of acquiescence and dove in. He captured her lips, tasted her tears and soothed them with his mouth.
Her tongue met his tentatively almost as if she was scared of this new frontier he was urging her to explore. Kian set out to convince her, letting he
r taste his passion and desire. He ached to make the kiss harder and unleash his hunger, but cautious of scaring her, he kept it soft somehow knowing that tenderness was what Tasha needed right now.
She wove her arms around his waist beneath his jacket to fit her warm curves into his hard planes. She was so soft and so tempting. Kian ached for nothing more than to lower his hands from the small of her back to her ass, lift her against the elevator wall and fuck her but something told him that if he did that Tasha would run faster than his next breath. Instead he eased the kiss back into soft pecks on her lips before separating their lips.
“Don’t go back to him.”
Stepping away from him she said, “I have to.”
Mentally smacking himself for not remembering that she had more than just herself to think of, Kian started, “We can pick up the kids and then-”
“I’m not leaving him,” Tasha interrupted him.
Why would she want to go back to a man like Polo? Tasha didn’t seem like the kind of woman who would take abuse lying down. Despite her reserve and occasional flinching, Tasha came off as someone of quiet strength. Had he misjudged her? “Why? Why do you stay with him? Do you love him that much?”
There was a long pause during which she met his eyes. There was no emotion as she stated firmly, “He’s my husband.”
“That’s no a reason to take his bullshit.”
“I have to go.” She moved to press the emergency button but Kian stopped her with a hand on her arm.
“You think I’m just going to let you go back to him after what I witnessed tonight?” He arched his eyebrow. “What do you think he’ll do to you when he gets back to the house?”
Kian had seen enough violent men in his lifetime and he knew how hot-headed temper-driven cowards reacted to being bested – they looked for weaker prey. The moment Polo was well enough to move around, Tasha and the kids would be in his sights. The idea of them in such a vulnerable position made Kian sick.
