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‘It’s a phase’

‘It’s not a phase,’ Miller counters coldly

‘Yes, it is,’ Sophia retorts confidently, waving a conde hand at, Miller Hart You kno to make women scream with pleasure, but you don’t knohat it means to really care’ She smirks ‘You’re the Special One You Only Kno To Fuck’

I wince, resisting ht, but I’ve done enough da self-righteousness, is because ofnext toup into maniac mode ‘You have no idea what I’m capable of I worship Olivia’ His voice quivers under the anger fizzing beneath his cool exterior

Her face screws up in disgust and she steps forward ‘You’re a fool, Miller Hart He’ll never let you walk away’

He explodes

‘I love her!’ he roars, knocking every person back in the roo love her!’ Tears burst frorabsshe stands for and I love how much she loves me It’s more than you love me It’s ht It’s made me feel It’s made me want more If any fucker tries to take her away froathers a long breath ‘Slowly,’ he adds, shaking beside htly, like he’s afraid soht now ‘I don’t care what he says I don’t care what he thinks he can do towith one eye open, Sophia, notrun to him and confir anymore Tell hi ame The Special One has quit!’ He withdraws and takes a few ulp of air, while everyone looks at hi me ‘I love her Go to him Tell him I love her Tell him I’ a hair on her precious head, it’ll be the last thing he ever does’

We’re on our way out before I can gauge e’re leaving behind, although I can iine perfectly well I can’t even process his violent declaration His arm is draped around oes nowhere near the sense of belonging that I feel when he has his signature hold ofhim look down at me, totally perplexed as we keep up our pace, and move his hand to the back on ht waist He breathes a sigh of acknowledgement, returns his focus forward, and h the speakers at every turn, but the elite clientele are far froathered everywhere, huddled close, obviously discussing the earlier scene involving the club owner It‘Do all of these people knoho you are?’ I ask, feeling eyes begin to bore into us froe froht, one-word answer, tellingabout, and it isn’t the fact that he owns this establish instant shivers bolting through le farther into Miller’s side and catch the eye of one of the doorhtens as he watches Miller escort me from the premises and across the road where Miller’s Mercedes is parked As I’lance across to the front of the club, seeing the guy who Miller has just beaten to within an inch of his life being bundled into a taxi by another bouncer I’m suddenly very worried ‘He needs treatment,’ I say ‘The doctors will ask questions’

The door is opened and I’ently pushed to the seat ‘Those types of people don’t want the police involved in their affairs, Olivia’ He pulls my seat belt across and buckles ht kiss on my head and pushes the door shut, then pulls his phone from his pocket and makes a brief call as he rounds the car

Those types of people

This world

It’s very real

And I’m in the centre of it

Chapter 12

The alcohol and exhaustion have caught up with s are like jelly As we’re walking through the lobby of his building, Miller scoops me into his ar his lips to my temple

My arms twine around his neck and , finally relenting to my tiredness My weak request to be taken to Nan’s was refused I didn’t argue He needs cal hiain to

The black shiny door welco the world outside My eyes remain shut as I’s settling me further It’s not the fond scent of Nan’s house, but I’m happy to be here with Miller

‘Can you stand forhis face into ently place me on my feet The concentration of his face holds me rapt as he undresses me slowly and carefully All of the usual habits are here with us – the clothes being folded before he puts them in the laundry basket, his soft lips parted just so, his eyes swih his task, he looks to in to slowly strip hi it in the basket, despite it beingpast the puncture wound and blood to allow e in his perfection is impossible His hands are covered in red stains, his chest, his jaw I’s to Miller and which to the guy who appeared so unexpectedly froh I doubt Miller’s reaction would have been any less violent had he materialised on any other occasion