Draft version - Russian Roulette - Family secrets

Ch. 18: You can respect my wishes

Gareth kissed Mackenzie's temple like what he had just said was a promise.

Then he dragged her away from there through the crowd which parted for them assisted by Dimitri and Piotr who were on them like the bodyguards they were.

"I want those three mingers banned from all my clubs for a month, get names and pictures and send it out," Gareth barked at Dimitri who nodded in acceptance.

Some of the spectators gave Gareth small accepting pats on his shoulder as he walked, a few applauded, mainly people were smiling in proud acknowledgement of his actions.

Usually he would not have liked that people touched him, he appreciated their sentiments this time.

"Gareth," she said trying to turn to face him.
"Not now, Mackenzie."
"Yes, now, Gareth. Please. It's important!"

He kept her locked in his arm and guided her back to the lobby and outside. He held up his hand to let the guys know he wanted privacy and then took her back to the alley from last time.

"Ok, what's so important?"
"Thank you for what you did in there," she said with sweetness and genuine gratitude.

Gareth was a proud man and he deserved recognition for what he had done.

"But I could have bitch slapped those tramps by myself."

He just tapped her chin with his finger, letting her know he was not pleased with her language, even if he was not going to do anything about it.

"And?" He easily sensed there was something she wanted to tell him.
"You can't go around telling people we're a couple."
"It's just words?" Her tone made him defensive instinctively. There was something he was missing. He had felt rather valiant coming to her aid, and it had felt gratifying seeing those stupid hags crumble.

"I know, but you can't. We're not and I don't want our connection to be commonly known."
"What?"

Their Connection?

She was making no sense to him. How did he end up the bad guy in all that had happened?

"I mean it Gareth, any association with you can land me in trouble."
"You mean your father? I know the Russians and the Italians won't exactly rejoice, but it's not like we're getting married, we're just friends. At least I hope we'll be again."
"Just friends? So, you don't want to fuck me into submission anymore?" she said coldly letting him know she knew exactly what he was after.

His eyes flared with anger and desire. "You know I do. Hell, Mackenzie. I want to fuck you seven ways 'til Sunday. I want to hurt you, make you scream, and I want to make you mine. I can't deny that."

Gareth breathed heavily to calm himself. Fuck she was annoying him making his attempt to help her become something he felt bad about.

"But that's between you and I. Friendship shouldn't be something we can't show the public."
"I can't be your friend, Gareth."
"Why?"
"It's complicated," she desperately cried out hoping he would let it go.
"Why, do you have a boyfriend?" He said it as a joke to lighten the conversation, but when he saw how she hesitated, he tensed up in jealous anger.

Like a storm cloud of pure havoc, he backed her up against the wall and held her pinned with his body. "Do. You. Have. A. Boyfriend?"

Mackenzie felt the wall against her back, and it felt a lot softer than the man pushing her against it. He was hard and unyielding, his eyes were screaming bloody murder and held her in a relentless grip. He wanted an answer and he would know if she lied to him. She was sure if she said yes, he would pull away from her and leave her right then and there, knowing she had lied to him, and then he would make her pay. But if she said no, he would want to know the reason why she could not be his friend or lover for that matter.