His Word...Destruction ~ Book Four in the Trusted Saga ~ (excerpt)

Title : His Word...Destruction

Book Four in the Trusted Saga

Release Date : Available now (buy link in "Books" heading)

EXCERPT ...

“Why don’t we all go to that club of yours you’ve been telling me about, Levi?” What? No! I didn’t want to go to Lucifer’s Den. Not with Sebastian. But before I could utter my objections, Levi was already answering.

“Sure – we could all do with a bit of fun tonight.” Fuck! “Why don’t you make some calls, Baby, get everyone together to meet us at Lucifer’s,” Levi turned his wrist over to look at his watch, “in let’s say, two hours?” Stunned, and panicked, I tried to quickly come up with some reason we couldn’t go. “Hey, Toni,” Levi smiled. I turned to see Toni coming through to join us, complete with a towel wrapped around her wet hair as Levi spoke to her. “We decided we’re all going to Lucifer’s.” I sighed when I saw the familiar sparkle in her eye when she started smiling. “You want to come?”

“Is the Pope Catholic?” she retorted with a grin. Just fucking terrific!

*****

The atmosphere in the back of the limo on the way to Lucifer’s Den ratcheted up a couple of notches, mainly due to the exuberance of Toni, but Sebastian was doing his best to amp her up even more when he saw how much it was beginning to annoy me. She was highly excitable at the best of times without added stimulation, or further encouragement from a third party. My night went from bad to worse when we pulled up at the club, and flashes started to pop in a lightning frenzy. I groaned in dismay when I saw the large group of paparazzi hanging around outside the crowded entrance. Levi frowned, and turned aggressively on Sebastian.

“Is this your doing?” Levi angrily demanded an explanation from him. Sebastian held both hands up in defeat, but was noticeably affronted at Levi’s obvious accusation.

“Absolutely, in no way, am I responsible for this!” Levi studied him tensely for a few seconds, before he grunted his agreement.

“Mmm---I believe you may well be telling me the truth.” Sebastian leaned back in the seat again, with a raised brow that conveyed his annoyance at having the blame immediately levelled on him in the first place.

My attention, along with Toni’s, was immediately attracted to the moving mass of people suddenly surrounding a flurry of activity near the front doors of the club. Toni sat forward on the edge of the seat, craning her neck, trying to see what was so appealing to the masses. I couldn’t quite see what all the fuss was about, and didn’t want to make it too obvious I was trying to with Sebastian’s large frame blocking some of my view. But then Toni frowned. She looked like she’d recognized someone. The question was on my lips, ready to tumble out if I just gave it a voice. I opened my mouth to ask who she’d seen, but I didn’t get the opportunity. She turned to Levi instead.

“Levi---um…” The first thing I noticed was her fingers twisting in her lap. Then she began biting at the side of her lip. I narrowed my eyes at her, while Levi leaned forward, and peered around Sebastian’s bulky frame.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” he swore under his breath, and his shoulders tensed up rigidly. Okay---now I want to know.

“What?” I asked. Then I heard Sebastian grunt furiously.

“What in the fuck is that bitch doing here?” What was I? Invisible? It didn’t look like anyone was going to answer me, so I shifted out of my seat, and sat down on the other side next to a nervous Toni to see who the hell they were talking about with my own eyes. Then I wished I hadn’t. Sebastian summed up my sentiments exactly. Fifi Jackson. I didn’t even want to get out of the damned limo. Sebastian, and I, actually have some common ground---He obviously despised her almost as much as I did.

Levi was livid. His jaw was clenched, his eyes were narrowed, and I was so thankful I wasn’t the recipient of that thunderous dark cloud descending over his face. Now I understood the expression if looks could kill. I took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled, then straightened my spine, while I shoved my shoulders back. Plastering on a wide smile that I certainly wasn’t feeling, I reached out, and grasped Levi’s hand, bringing his attention back to focus on me, instead of Fifi.

“You ready?” I asked determinedly. My free hand absently gravitated to where my wedding band was nestled between my breasts on my chain, resting over it protectively. Levi’s gaze dropped down to where my hand rested, before he returned to see the determination in my eyes. He lifted the hand he’d grasped up to his mouth, and brushed his lips lovingly along my knuckles with a bemused grin.

“Are you?” he countered. I nodded with way more confidence than I actually felt, and kept my grin plastered in place. It may have wobbled slightly, but it stayed there. Levi grinned at me as he pulled on the lever, and the door sprung open. Flashbulbs immediately glittered through the darkness, brightly illuminating the inside of the limo, before Levi even managed to get all the way out, dragging me along with him. Fuck, they’re bright! I knew I was squinting against the constant flashes of light. I couldn’t help it. I felt Levi’s bulging bicep as he protectively placed his arm around my shoulders, and gathered me along his side, while the throng of inquisitive patrons tried to get closer to see what all the excitement was about. Before I knew it, Toni was standing at my other side, being shielded by Sebastian as the sea of people began to surge forward, encroaching on our pathway to the entrance, and I hesitated.

“Angelica!” Levi barked out my name, and his fingers dug in on the round of my shoulder, while he tried to guide me through the rapidly closing gap in the throng. I raised my hand up, and tried to shield my eyes from the flashes. How in the fuck does he even see where the hell he’s going with all these bright flashes? The situation we were in was starting to alarm me, and I tried really hard to stop my body from trembling in fear. Simon, and Dave, had alighted from the front of the limo, and they were forging quickly ahead of us, clearing a path for us to at least get through the front doors of the club, and away from the paparazzi. But not away fast enough to escape Fifi.

“Levi, darling…” Even with my body trembling, and my heart rate soaring through the roof, the breathy cooing of his name falling from her lips, quickly followed by her stretched, and emphasized term of endearment, had me seeing red. Levi very astutely read my body language, and stood just in front of me, perfectly blocking me from reaching for her, or perfectly shielding her from me. I was yet to determine which action I thought he was doing.

“What are you doing here, Fifi?” Levi spoke gently so as not to attract any more attention than was already focused on our little group, with his smile still in place, giving the illusion he was involved in a pleasant chat, but the menacing undertone of his voice was unmistakable. I determined he was blocking me from reaching her! She took one step, bringing her just that bit closer to him. He couldn’t back up, because I was standing behind him, but he did lean away from her a little, crowding me, so I had no option but to place my hand in between his shoulder blades, just to remind him I was there. All of sudden three things happened.

Someone staggered against Fifi’s back, propelling her to fall hard against Levi. His arm automatically went around her to steady her, as he placed one foot backwards to steady himself. But by doing that, he almost trampled on top of me, until Sebastian whisked me out of the way, and put his arm around my shoulder to steady me, at the same time trying to keep Toni from being knocked on her ass in the ensuing domino effect.

Dave, and Simon, suddenly materialized out of thin air beside us, and Sebastian relinquished his hold on Toni. Dave escorted her away to safety, while Simon took an authoritarian stand behind Levi’s right shoulder. Sebastian didn’t relinquish his hold on me, but I was too busy fuming at the sight of Fifi’s arm snaking its way around the back of my husband’s neck to notice, or to care for that matter. What in the fuck does she think she’s doing? Sebastian held me firmly when I attempted to lunge, and snap the offending arm in two, whispering hoarsely in my ear.

“Don’t make a scene, Angelica---too many eyes---just let him handle it.” I stopped physically struggling, but I was still absolutely furious, and was strangling her in my mind. My fingers clenched so tight into fists that my nails were almost at the point of drawing blood in my palms. I hadn’t even felt that savage when I was physically trying to throw Kiara out of our house.

She needs to be taken down a peg, or two.

© Copyright Carol Delmornay 2017.

All Rights Reserved.