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See, or soaze from her face to over her shoulder His entire body suddenly stiffened against hers, and a aze flashed with animosity before he deliberately subdued the eht around Arabella’s ar her away from Maddux

Mohter to Maddux, except the fingers around her upper arainst her skin in a way that she i at her, even before she turned her head to look at him

His expression was furious, his voice dripping with reproach as he berated her “Didn’t I tell you to stay close and not to wander off?”

She opened herback since the limo ride, but Maddux spoke first

“I would advise you to take your hands off her, Gavin,” he said, his words a low, deliberate co “Now”

Gavin sneered at Maddux,it clear that the two men knew one another on so a soft whimper of pain to escape Arabella’s lips

“I can put ly, openly defying Maddux’s order “This wo”

A frightening rage flashed across Maddux’s expression, and lightning quick, his hand shot out and clamped around Gavin’s wrist A battle of wills ensued as Maddux exerted enough pressure and strength that Gavin was forced to release her ar tenacity of Maddux’s unrelenting grip

As soon as Gavin finally, begrudgingly let her go, Maddux stepped back from Arabella but pinned Gavin with a hard, ruthless stare “If this woht to payto steal her right out from under you”

With Raevynn having finished her predinner set of songs, people had now started to glance their way, and much to Arabella’s relief, Gavin ca a scene at a private venue Whatever nasty reply he’d wanted to issue in response he wisely held back, but there was nooff of Gavin

Maddux turned back to her, the anger he’d just displayed with Gavin replaced by a surprising warmth and kindness as he picked up her hand, lifted it to his lips, and placed a gallant kiss on the backs of her fingers that made her heart flutter fancifully in her chest

“It was a pleasurewith you, Bella,” he said, his sratified “I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening”

With that, he turned around and walked away, blending into the crowd until Arabella could no longer see him

“Fucking asshole,” Gavin said, bitterness coating his derogatory words

“Don’t vilify hi the otherbut scorn and contempt, which was exactly how she felt about hi me, while you’re the one who put a handprint on my arm that will most likely bruise by toht to claim me like some caveht to me at all”