Page 181 of Checkmate
“She’s okay,” he assured her. “He won’t be, though. I’m going to fucking kill him.”
“Oh, no,” Marcus said, his eyes never leaving Erica’s face. “He’s mine.” Kissing her forehead, he pulled her into a tight but all too brief hug. “Stay right here.”
A smarter man than Alex would have left while he had the chance.
But Alex was not a smart man. Leaning against a wall, he nursed his foot as Marcus approached him. He didn’t have time to dodge the first punch, grabbing his face as blood spilt from his nose. The second punch to his stomach winded him enough that there was no chance of an escape.
Erica had never seen this side of Marcus.
Anger rolled off him in waves as his hand closed around Alex’s throat, pinning him against the wall. For a moment, she worried he’d take things too far. She took a step towards him, only for Josh to pull her back.
“I didn’t hit you when you slept with my wife,” Marcus said, venom lacing his tone. “I left you alone when you came for my business. And when you abandoned your pregnant girlfriend, I didn’t say a word.”
Tightening his grip until his biceps bulged, Marcus narrowed his eyes. “But you made a mistake daring to put your hand on my girl. If you ever, and I mean ever even so much as look in her direction again, I’ll fucking kill you.”
Hearing the distant sound of sirens, and noting the colour of Alex’s skin, Erica cleared her throat. “Marcus… The police.”
She wasn’t sure who called them or when, but the last thing she needed was for them to arrest the wrong person. Glancing at Erica, Marcus nodded, shoving Alex away with a scoff.
Pulling Erica back into his arms, he held her close to his chest, while he buried his head in her hair. She closed her eyes, drowning in the security of him as his scent washed over her.
“Lottie okay?” He asked once again. Erica couldn’t move from his grip as he held on to her. His entire body shook, only making her want to hold him tighter.
“I’m okay,” Lottie said, her tone thick with emotion. Relief flooded Erica’s body just hearing her voice. If anything would have happened…
“This isn’t over...” This time, Marcus released her, moving an arm around her shoulder while Alex, still popped against the wall, stared them down. “I’ve taken a woman from you before. I can do it again.”
Erica scoffed as Marcus kissed her head. “Dream on.”
“And now I’m going to fuck up your entire world,” Marcus said. “I’ve been holding on to that video of you punching the shit out of me. I figured making you work for me on the show was punishment enough. Now I can’t wait to show the guys at the London Group just what kind of man you are.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
Marcus laughed, smirking darkly. “You haven’t been paying attention if you believe that’s true. Face it, I won, Alex.”
“You haven’t won shit.”
“Oh yeah? Let’s take a tally. I got your girl, I took your biggest client, and I got the life you always dreamed of with the woman you never wanted to lose. I’m going to do everything in my power to destroy you. Shagging employees of the London Group? Laying your hands on a woman? God, you don’t see how fucked you are. You’re going to lose everything.
“You’ll be completely broke, stuck with a kid you don’t want, to a woman you don’t love. Even if you had a chance with Erica, you’d be so busy fixing your life that you won’t have time to ‘take her from me’.”
Marcus spread a slow and dangerous smirk as the cop car pulled up, two officers rushing over to them. “And now you’re about to get thrown in jail with absolutely no one on your side. You’re out of moves, mate. I won.”
Erica couldn’t help but grin as Alex took a step towards them, only for an officer to grab him from behind. Marcus was right, he’d won the game without even trying.
“Checkmate, motherfucker,” she said. She gave him a finger wave as handcuffs clasped his wrists. “Checkmate.”
Chapter 54
Alex
“Carr?”
Alex looked up as the officer rapped on the door. “Move your ass, Carr. You’ve made bail.”
“That’s not possible,” he said, sitting up and stretching out the ache in his back. These beds weren’t comfortable. “Who’s here?”
“You don’t get to ask questions. Just do as you’re fucking told.”
