Satin Princess(79)

Anton takes a step forward and I feel the air turn cold between them. “Rest assured, I’ve got this handled.”

“Doesn’t seem like it,” Chris retorts, refusing to back down like he should. “Because Jessa almost walked into a building that was set to explode.”

“Except she didn’t.” Anton is almost shaking with rage. He’s controlling it, but just barely.

“But—”

“Chris,” I say, getting in between both men before something bad can happen, “stop it.”

He turns to me with an incredulous expression. “Jessa, this is getting out of hand. You can’t stay with him. It’s too dangerous.”

“Staying with me is what will keep her alive,” Anton growls. Then he reaches out and pulls me out of Chris’s grasp. “I will protect her.”

Chris looks at him for a short second before turning back to me. “Jessa, please… Come with me.”

“I… I can’t do that,” I say.

“Why the hell not? I’ll keep you safe. We’ll book two tickets out of here and go.”

“Where would we even go?”

“Somewhere far away where she won’t be able to find you,” he says. “I doubt she’d even follow you.”

“Of course she would.”

“No,” Chris says confidently. “Let’s face it, the only reason she’s after you at all is because you caught his interest. Once you’re gone, she’s not going to care where you are—as long as it’s not with him.”

I glance at Anton’s face. I’m surprised to see his brow pinched in uncertainty. As though Chris’s conclusion makes too much sense to bat aside.

“I love you for coming here, Chris. I love you for worrying about me. But—”

“For fuck’s sake, Jessa!” he says, shouting so loud that a few people actually look our way in alarm. “You’re throwing your life away for the wrong man. Again.”

“That’s enough,” Anton snarls. “She’s made her decision. Take it like a man and walk away. Now.”

Chris looks between the two of us, then decides to stand his ground. He draws himself up to his full height, looks Anton in the eye, and says, “Do you really think you can make her happy? Is her happiness even a priority for you?”

“Would you believe me if I said yes?”

“No.”

“Then why even ask?”

“Chris, please,” I gasp, grabbing both his arms to try and make him see reason. “Anton will keep me and the baby safe.”

“You’re blinded by your feelings for him, Jessa. He’s not going to give a shit about you next year. Maybe not even next week.”

I gasp as Anton brushes past me. He grabs Chris by the collar of his shirt and then the next thing I know, Chris’s legs are dangling a foot from the ground.

“Anton!” I gasp. “Let him go.”

But he ignores me. “You don’t seem very good at listening, so maybe this will help. I understand you care for Jessa. I will not begrudge her this friendship. But you’re treading on thin ice, little man. I advise you to stop talking. If you value your life.”

Chris looks terrified, and my heart feels like it’s about to jump out of my chest. I put my hand on Anton’s arm.

“Anton, please!” I beg. “Please let him down.”

He doesn’t.

“For me?”

Anton’s eyes find mine. Slowly, he lowers Chris back to the ground and lets go of him. Chris stumbles back, gasping for breath.

“Go home, Chris,” I tell him gently. “I’ll call you later, okay?”

“You know what, Jessa?” he says, looking more disappointed than I’ve ever seen him. “Don’t bother calling me at all.”

“Chris—”

“No, we’re done.”

I bite my bottom lip, trying to hold back the emotions threatening to spill over. “Don’t do this.”

“I didn’t do a goddamn thing,” he barks at me. “You did.”

He turns away. I want to stop him. I want to grab him and force him to listen to me, to work this out.

But it’s no use.

Because if I’m going to walk into the underworld with Anton, I can’t take Chris with me.





27





ANTON





Lev paces back and forth. I’ve never seen him look so agitated. If I were the type to worry, I’d be knee deep in doubts right now.

“She’s getting bolder,” he spits in disgust. “I should have been there with you.”

“There’s nothing you or anyone could have done. And she isn’t any bolder. She was always a ballsy bitch with no regard for other people’s lives. The only difference between then and now is motivation.”

“You think she’ll make another attempt?” Lev asks, stopping his pacing long enough to look at me.

“She’s going to keep trying until she gets it right.”

Lev groans. “She got too fucking close today.”

“We would have been inside if it weren’t for Jessa’s nausea.”