Drive Me Wild

Chapter 33 - Duke

"Duke!" My name is screamed in the distance. 

I wanted to ignore the plea for help, but the voice sounded familiar. I struggled to put a name to it. 

"Duke!" The voice pleads again, the desperation more present this time. 

Eventually, something in my head clicks, Abbie is desperately calling for me. 

"Abbie!" I scream back, trying to locate her. 

Darkness surrounded me like a claustrophobic blanket. My hands grabbed through the darkness, attempting to find my bearings. To my misfortune, I couldn't find anything. 

Panic clawed at my chest and my movements went feral. A high pitched scream could be heard in the distance, causing my panic to bloom further. I feel my hand connect with something firm, stinging my palm and making more screams erupt in the distance.

"Duke!" Wake up!" Abbie sobs. 

I wake with a start, covered in a fine sheen of sweat. It takes a long moment for me to gather my surroundings and when I do I see that I'm in Abbie's bedroom. I gaze over to Abbie to see her nursing her left cheek, tears streaming down her face. 

Gazing at my stinging palm, I realise that I had hit her. 

"I'm so sorry Abbie." 

"It's okay, you were asleep." She gently reasons, giving me more of a reason to feel terrible about it. 

"No, that doesn't make it okay!" I yell, getting out of bed and heading over to my bedroom. I lock the door behind me, refusing to let Abbie in or go near her. 

I had just done something I promised myself I would never do. 

I lay my hand on a woman. 

I'm just like my dad. 

The scolding hot water of the shower does nothing to ease my anger. Things had drastically changed since Abbie started living in my house. I couldn't keep living like this anymore.

She had to go. 

It would break my heart. 

Real men don't show emotions. 

The least I could do was set her up in a new town and buy her a house. She deserved to live the life she wanted to before I came and ruined it all. 

The rest of the night was spent searching for houses. It took a long time as I wanted to make sure it was perfect for Abbie. Something that would make her happy. Begrudgingly, I found a house with three bedrooms and plenty of space. It angered me to think that Mason or another man could move into her house. I would forbid it if she was still mine. 

In the early hours of the morning, I contacted the bank as soon as it opened to set up an account for Abbie. As much as she had her own, I needed to know that she was financially stable and had plenty of money. If anything, I didn't want her to work but I know that wouldn't happen. Abbie hated being bored with a passion. 

I had to keep reminding myself that this was a good idea and was better for both of us. The Bratva could easily. get into my house and take Abbie, or worse, kill her. I couldn't bear for that to happen; she was too precious. 

Dante's funeral was today, a day I hoped and prayed would never come. One of my loyal men was killed by the Bratva. I despised the fact that it meant war, but I had no other choice. This could kill us all, a perfect reason to why Abbie should stay away. 

Abbie: