“You listen to me, motherfucker,” Gavin growled, his eyes alight with murderous venom. “I don’t give a fuck about your rules. I’ll gut you open with my fucking teeth if you talk to her again.”
Apparently unaffected by Gavin’s threat, Dillon’s mouth twitched into a smirk. His eyes never left Emily. Crossing his arms, his words came out unrushed, his tone almost a whisper. “Oh no, my friend. We’re all going to play by my rules, and I’ll tell you why.” He brought his gaze from Emily to Gavin, narrowing it like a hungry wolf. “I come from a long line of men who’ve served on the NYPD. Those men are extremely close with our local judges. Maximum sentence for assault in the third degree by means of strangulation is seven years. I can go ahead and push for attempted murder as well. I don’t know how many times you… fucked my ex while we were together, but considering you have a small chance at being the bastard’s father, I’m pretty fucking sure you’d hate spending almost a decade, or possibly longer, of its life upstate. Orange isn’t your color.”
Wild, panicked ringing pierced Emily’s ears. Mouth parting in a silent gasp and body a twisted pile of nerves, her wide, tear-filled eyes honed in on Gavin. His brows angled down, deepening the sharp crevices splintering his face. His lips curled over his teeth as though he was fighting a poisonous taste. His eyes, those hypnotizing, beautiful eyes, turned a shade of blue so deep, dark, and vengeful, she swore he’d become possessed. She gulped as she prepared for his fury.
Gavin sprung to his feet, his hand darting forward. Clutching the collar of Dillon’s red polo shirt, Gavin dragged him up, their bodies inclined over the table. Faces as close as lovers about to share a passionate kiss, Gavin’s knuckles turned white. “Don’t throw your fucking threats at me, *,” he snarled. “I’ll kill you right here in this diner.”
Palms resting on the table, Dillon’s eyes flashed like brushfire. His words came out in a loud, barking laugh. “Did you hear that, everyone? This man said he’s about to kill me in front of all of you. Who wants to watch?”
With her chest heaving fast in quick, shallow breaths, Emily whipped around, taking in the curious onlookers. Every pair of eyes in the diner was focused on the display. A mother with two young children gasped in stupefied horror, shooting a scrutinizing glare at Emily. Seconds before the manger reached the table, Emily grabbed Gavin’s elbow in an attempt to diffuse the situation. “Gavin,” she choked out, blinking rapidly in mounting panic. “Gavin, sit down. There’s a manager coming.”
“Yes, Gavin,” Dillon said in a low sneer, his face inches from Gavin’s. “You might want to be careful. He might’ve already called the cops. Maybe your bid upstate will begin tonight?”
“Excuse me,” said the middle-aged manager standing in front of their table. Clearly flabbergasted by the scene, he dug his hands in his hips, his voice firm. “I need to ask you gentleman to calm down, or I’m going to have to throw you both out.”
Eyes aflame with black fury, Gavin slowly released Dillon. Head jarred and body shaking with unleashed hunger for Dillon’s blood, Gavin pulled in a deep breath and cleared his throat. “We’re actors.” Gavin stared at Dillon, his tone so calm, it sent a shiver screaming through Emily’s bones. “We were just acting out a scene.” Taking his seat again, Gavin looked at the manager. “Please accept my apologies. The rest of our stay will be uneventful.”
“Actors?” the manager asked, skepticism heavy in his question.
“Yes. Actors,” Gavin answered coolly, watching Dillon sit again.
The man nodded. “Okay, actors, don’t let it happen again. If you do, you’re both out of here.” On that note, he turned and walked away.
“What do you want?” Gavin asked. His eyes were murdering Dillon from across the table, but his tone held sickening composure.
Dillon lifted his shoulder in a casual shrug, an evil grin bleeding over his mouth. “I want in. I want access to each and every single doctor’s appointment. I also want to be present during the birth.” He paused, slid a hand though his slicked back, dirty blond hair, and aimed his gaze at Emily. “I’ve always wondered what the screams of a woman sounded like when she’s being split in two from the pain that comes with pushing another human being from her body. Especially the women who deserves every minute of that pain.”