The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO) novel Chapter 102

“What do you want to ask me, Emma?” He leans against the wall of the elevator and casually sprawls back, crossing a foot at the ankle over his other and perching his butt against the handrail. His hands are in his pockets and he’s looking at the floor. This is the Prince Carrero pose I’ve seen so many times before, relaxed, in his domain. I eye him up warily and sigh down my rejections to his manhandling.

“Ray Vanquis,” I utter quietly. He looks up, but I’m unable to meet his eyes. When I don’t say anything else, he stands upright and steps toward me.

“Has he contacted you?” his anger evident with each word. “What has he done? Has he hurt you?” His hand grabs my wrist, pulling me to him, harshly. There is a fire in his eyes, an instant rage almost boiling over. His body is hunched into me, as a sort of protective shield and his face is terrifying. Sharp angles and simmering fury.

“No, Jake, no … I promise.” I resist the urge to recoil knowing he’d never hurt me. He relaxes a little, letting me loose so I can move back, agitation over his face.

“I would kill him this time, I swear.” He grits his teeth then runs his hand through his cropped hair, trying to bring some calm to his demeanor, yet only messing up his neatness. I missed protective Jake, seeing him like this makes me ache and tugs at my heart as I watch him. The urge to fix that ruffled hair almost overwhelming me. His stance is rigid as though ready to fight.

“Jake …” I sigh, “I need to know what happened after Chicago?” I gaze at him, imploring his eyes to come to meet mine, frowning.

“Why?” He’s instantly evasive and my suspicions click in place.

“Something happened then?” His question confirms more than he’d have ever told me if I hadn’t brought it up.

“What makes you think that?” He’s trying his smooth, I can talk myself out of anything, routine, moving back to the wall, leaning against it, stiffly this time. I know this side of him. I know when he’s covering.

“Because men like Ray don’t up and run the way he did … He broke it off with my mother and disappeared.” I keep my tone gentle; I don’t want a fight. I just want the truth and going up against Jake with anger never works.

“Did you really think I would just forget it, Emma? Come home and not do anything?” His eyes flame with aggression and the heat rises in my cheeks.

“What did you do?” My voice is quiet and unsure. I’ve never known this side of Jake, and although I’m glad, I’m also scared by what he’s potentially done.

“You want details, Emma, or confirmation?” He moves forward and closer to me, expelling the air from my lungs. I can’t think when he’s so close and moving to almost touch me.

“I don’t know.” My voice cracks, and he sighs, tracing a knuckle down my cheek slowly, my body flinching but I don’t pull away. His touch igniting a million sensations across my skin, making my knees weaken. The urge to close my eyes and savor this is overwhelming, but I resist.

Fight it. Don’t let him affect you. Be strong.

“All you need to know is that it was made clear to him, that you and your mother are out of bounds, that should he ever reappear, there will be consequences, Emma … Worse than what I did to him in Chicago … That’s all.” His voice is low, our faces so close I can breathe him in and it’s heady. The ache to kiss him overwhelming me badly as he pauses so close to my mouth, his eyes stopping on my lips briefly. An odd paused moment runs between us, a tense static crackle I swear ignites in the air and then he steps back and moves away. I almost stop breathing.