Page 42 of Bought to Bear Bratva Heir

"Yes. Did anyone see where Daisy went when she left here?"

There was a pause, and then he recited the name of a bar only two blocks away. "Boss, is something wrong? Do you need one of us to fetch her?"

That was probably a good idea with the mood I was in, but nothing but seeing her was going to put my frayed nerves at ease.

"No, it’s fine."

"Boss, what are you going to do?"

I almost laughed but cut the call before I could. Surely it was pretty clear what I was going to do?

I was going to do something stupid.

The bar was packedwhen I approached the window. My eyes took in my surroundings, gauging threats where there weren’t any.

Even if someone were to jump out with a gun, I knew my men were somewhere behind me. Even if they weren’t, the mood I was in, anyone who attacked me now would wish they hadn’t.

Another quick sweep of my eyes across the fancy interior, and I spotted her at the bar. Sitting there, glass of wine to her lips, and laughing so hard that her eyes were glittering.

God, she looked amazing when she was so carefree and happy. I’d forgotten that, and these days any smiles she gave to Alec evaporated when I approached.

It was like I wasn’t allowed to be a part of her happiness.

A man leant forward, and I don’t know how I missed him sitting next to her. Leaning forward, he pressed his hand against her knee.

And she didn’t shake him off or tell him to go to hell. She just sat there and laughed at whatever he was saying.

I had been wrong. There was danger here. He was dangerous to me because he was touching her fucking leg. And if he didn’t take his hands off of what was mine in three seconds, I was going to rip that arm clean off his body and beat him to death with it.

"One, two—" I mumbled under my breath, but before I could get to three, he lifted his hand. "Smart man."

She laughed again, and I bristled. I needed to get closer so I could hear what they were saying, but how could I get inside without drawing any attention to myself? I was already drawing wary glances as people looked at me and recognized my face.

Hands deep in my pockets, I turned to the security. "I need to get inside."

They didn’t even look at me. "Then join the line like everyone else." They went back to flirting with the scantily dressed women at the front of their line.

The place wasn’t even that busy. Which meant the whole line thing was just a ruse to chat up pretty girls.

"You don’t understand." I kept my voice calm and even, but inside I was screaming. "My girl's in there." I placed a firm hand on his arm. "And it would be a giant favor to me if you let me go in and retrieve her before she does something dumb."

"Look, I don’t care what your girl is doing in there. She could be screwing the entire bar. You’re not going in there so—" finally he lifted his eyes to me, and all the blood drained from his face. "Shit." He elbowed his friend. "It’s you. I didn’t recognize you, sir." He was stuttering so much that his words were barely understandable. "Go right on in and—" He unclipped the unnecessary rope, and I walked through without looking back.

I didn’t need to hear them groveling; what I needed was—

Daisy.

My eyes found her straight away. She hadn’t moved; in fact, she still had her oversized wine glass to her lips. The man next to her had moved, though. Leaning into her, with his pawing hand on her knee, only this time higher. So the tips of his fingers brushed the hem of her little dress.

I was going to—

Leaning forward, he brought the other hand to her cheek. Drawing her face towards him. "You’re so beautiful when yousmile, Daisy," he chuckled, and my fists clenched. Daisy? He already had her name? And she was letting him touch her.

"I am one lucky guy."

She tilted her head up to his. Eyes sparkling and lips half open. "Oh, and why is that?"

"Because your asshole ex missed out, and now I get to put that look on your face."