Well, except that pesky key Daniel used to keep me inside at night.
A loud knocking at the front door had Jackson on his feet. All of us turned, looking to see who was rude enough to use their fist to pound on the door. The butler opened the door.
I slowly stood as I heard the familiar sound of an Italian accent. Daniel was watching me, confusion written all over his handsome, wholesome face.
"I demand to see my fiancé!"
I stared at the intruder standing in the open doorway.
Philipe was here.
Chapter Twelve
Daniel
"What the fuck?"
Francesca was frozen in place, a look of shock on her beautiful face. Worse than that, she looked hurt. And humbled. I looked at the man who just pushed his way into my house and sneered.
"Is that him?"
She glanced at me and nodded. I was right. She looked devastated. Did she still love this piece of garbage? Just because he was wearing Armani did not make him less of a shit heel.
Slowly, she walked out of the dining room. I followed her. I noticed that my brothers and Elle all stood around Francesca protectively. Just as they should.
She was already one of us.
"Enough of this petulant nonsense Francesca. You will come home with me now."
I was so proud of her as she lifted her chin to stare down at him.
"No, Philipe I will not. You wasted your time coming here. Now run home with your tail between your legs."
He sneered at her. He didn't look handsome now. He looked enraged. He reached out and grabbed her arm.
"You stupid bitch! You dare to leave me? I am the richest man in Europe! I could have anyone. I chose you."
I stepped in front of her, knocking his manicured hand off of her. It wasn't hard. Just like I thought. The guy was all show. I smirked. I was going to make this guy taste his own blood in about two minutes.
"Yes, she fucking dares. Touch her again and you will draw back a stump. Want to try that?"
I cracked my knuckles. I was ready to tear this fucker limb from limb. Nobody messes with my woman, Nobody.
"Daniel, I will handle this."
"Like hell you will!"
Philipe was staring at me with disdain. The kind that could only be summoned up by the upper, upper class. The kind I'd never once seen on Francesca's face, thank God.
"You come here after what you did to her? You threw away the most incredible woman on Earth for what? A cheap thrill? You are the cheap piece of shit here. And I don't care how much that suit cost. I'm going to take you outside and knock your dick in the dirt."
It was dead silent in the entryway. I looked over my shoulder at Francesca to see what she was making of this. The last thing I wanted to do was make her upset but enough was e-fucking-nough.
Francesca was staring at me with a look of... admiration. And not a small amount of lust. Maybe something else too. Something that might even be love. I winked at her and went back to berating her ex fiancé. EX. She was mine now. And he might as well know it.
Philipe looked surprised as fuck though. I grinned. Obviously he didn't know she had a new man.
I stepped forward. He stepped back. He kept going until he was nearly out the door.
"Francesca! Stop this right now!"
She didn't say a word. Nobody did. Philipe was definitely sweating as he backed out of the house.
Right where I wanted him.
He looked around and then back at me. He knew what was about to happen. He lifted his hands and opened his mouth. To reason with me probably.
He didn't get one word out.
My fist made sure of that.
Mr. Asshole, meet Mr. Fist.
His head snapped back and he staggered, bringing his hand to his now bloody nose. I held my fists up, waiting for him to recover. He looked at me then and I saw it. The crazy, sneaky, lower than low look in his eyes.
The bastard was meaner than a rattlesnake.
And he was going to fight dirty.
He lunged at me sloppily. But he was fast. I was ready. I knew he was going to try something tricky. I dogged out of his way as he landed a punch to my side.
Fuck me that hurt.
I spun to face him again. He came at me and I hit him, hard. But he kept coming, knocking me off my feet. We were on the ground, both of us throwing punches. He hit my face twice before I realized why it fucking hurt so much.
The bastard was wearing a ring. A big one too.
I threw him off of me and we both got to our feet, catching our breath. We circled, staring at each other. A trickle of blood was leaking out his mouth now, adding to the blood from his nose. He looked like shit.
I probably did too. Then he grinned at me.
"She's a good little fuck isn't she? Nice and tight."