Chapter 40
Chapter 40:
“Done,” Dallas said. “Make it substantial p>
He paused, his hand tightening on the steering wheel.
“Also —” He stopped. The words felt like gravel in his throat.
“Yeah p>
“I need information about protection,” Dallas said, his voice dropping.
“Bodyguards?” Zane asked. “I can double the detail for the Gala p>
“No,” Dallas said through his teeth. “Contraception. Brands. The best ones p>
𝗦𝘁𝘰𝘳і𝘦s у𝘰𝗎 w𝗈𝗇’𝘵 𝘱u𝘵 𝘥𝗈𝘸n 𝘰n ѕ.𝖼𝗈𝘮
Silence filled the car. Then Zane let out a howl of laughter. “The Monk is breaking his vows? The ice king is melting p>
“Shut up,” Dallas snapped, his ears burning. “Just send me the information. And pull me a live feed of the Plaza’s ballroom security for Saturday night — all cameras. I want eyes on her the entire evening p>
He hung up before Zane could say another word.
He stared at the road ahead. He wasn’t letting her walk into that Gala as a single woman. Not in spirit.
If she wouldn’t take him to the party, he would make absolutely certain she belonged to him before she left the house. He would make sure that when Anson looked at her, he saw a woman who was thoroughly, irrevocably taken.
He decided to accelerate the adjustment period.
Back at the penthouse, Eliza was working through the dresses in her wardrobe. Nothing felt right. They were all too soft, too pretty. She needed armor.
She had no idea that Dallas was at that moment standing at a pharmacy counter, ignoring the cashier’s raised eyebrow as he set down three different boxes of condoms. He tucked the bag into his jacket pocket as he rode the elevator back up.
The hunt was on.
It was the night before the Gala. The air in the penthouse hummed with static electricity.
Eliza paced the living room, her steps quick and restless. Dallas stood by the bar cart, drinking scotch. The bottle was noticeably lighter than it had been an hour ago.
He watched her move. Her anxiety was a palpable wave, crashing against his composure.
“You look like a prisoner awaiting execution,” he said, his voice dry.
“It’s just a party,” Eliza lied, turning on her heel.
“Then why won’t you let me drive you?” he asked, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. “Why won’t you let me stand beside you p>
“We discussed this,” she said again. The excuse tasted like ash.
Dallas set down his glass and stood. He crossed the room toward her without hurrying, and didn’t stop until he had backed her against the tall bookshelf lined with first editions.
“Is it my protection you don’t want?” he asked, his voice dropping low. “Or is it me p>
Eliza looked up at him, caught off guard. “What p>
“Are you ashamed that you chose me?” he asked. “The ‘machine’? Do you feel dirty, Eliza p>
“No! Dallas, that’s not it,” she protested, her hands pressing against his chest.
“Then prove it,” he said. “Let me claim you p>