A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 48

Starla met his gaze for a second before looking away. She glanced at Garret, who also averted his eyes from Fairfax. "Let's go, Miss."

She nodded, and they walked toward the car where Fairfax was leaning against the passenger door, the rain soaking his hair and dripping down his face.

Starla walked right up to him. Garret opened the car door for her, and she prepared to get in, pointedly ignoring Fairfax's presence. But just as she ducked her head, his hand shot out and clamped around her arm.

The humid air grew thick with tension. The moment Fairfax grabbed Starla, Garret's hand was on his wrist.

An unspoken war of dominance crackled between them. Fairfax glared at Garret with raw hostility. Garret met his gaze with equal, sharpened intensity.

"Are you sure you want to make an even bigger scene here, Fairfax?" Garret's voice was a low, dangerous warning.

Fairfax's eyes narrowed, hearing his own name spoken so clearly by this stranger. "You think you can just walk away with my wife right under my nose? Do you take me for a joke?"

"Whether you're a joke or not is none of my concern," Garret replied coolly.

"You're asking for it."

Fairfax's temper, which had been tested all day, finally snapped. He drew back his free hand, his fist aimed squarely at Garret's face.

Garret's eyes went cold. In a flash, the cold, black muzzle of a gun was pressed firmly against Fairfax's chin.

The world seemed to freeze. Fairfax's furious eyes dropped to the weapon at his throat, and the dangerous aura around him intensified.

Seeing the standoff from a distance, Gabriel instantly drew his own weapon, striding forward and pressing it to Garret's temple. "Drop it," he growled.

Fairfax shot a dismissive glance at Garret, then turned his burning gaze back to Starla. "You've got some real nerve, don't you, Starla?"

Fairfax wasted no time, dragging Starla toward his car. When she resisted, he shoved her inside.

Garret moved to intervene again, but Starla stopped him. "Don't follow."

…

The car tore through the rain-soaked streets. Starla sat rigidly in the passenger seat, her knuckles white as she gripped the handle.

Fairfax didn't stop until they were on the bridge spanning the river.

Outside, the rain beat against the windows. Inside, the air was thick with fury.

Fairfax grabbed the back of her head, pulling her face to his, and crushed his lips against hers. His kiss was a brutal assertion of ownership. The more she struggled, the harder he kissed her. It felt like an eternity before he finally released her, leaving her gasping for air.