I bluster at the audacity. “I’m not marrying you, Pierce. You cheated. And you hit me. We’re done.”
“You’remine, Scarlett.” His hand shoots out, wrestling to grab my wrist, like if he gets the diamond on my finger, he’s won.
I jerk my hand away. “Get out!”
He smiles again with that cocky grin like I’m powerless. “I will, but you’re coming home with me.”
“No,” I say loudly, wondering if I should start screaming.
“You’re nothing without me,” he drones, shoving the ring back into his pocket. “You were drowning in grief. I suggested the year off and look how you shined without all that pressure. How happy you were.”
“I was only happy again because of my job as an EMT. I got to help people and not have you look at me like I was a failure.”
“You owe me.”
“I don’t owe you anything.” I clear my throat. “Now get out. I have a lab to finish.”
“Aww, you think your professor cares if you finish. Let’s see who thisprofessoris. Some loser, who failed at being a doctor.” Pierce’s voice lowers as he takes out his phone. Something tickles his self-absorbed brain. He blinks with a cheek twitch. “Dr. Cormac O’Rourke.TheCormac O’Rourke, from the Cascadia scandal?”
The way Pierce says Cormac’s name gives me chills.
“The one and only.”
“Are you fucking him?”
I fold my arms and play Pierce’s truth or dare game. “You just can’t stand that I would actually look up to another doctor more than you.”
“Cormac O’Rourke has secrets that never got reported to your father. If they did, he wouldn’t be here.” Pierce tilts his head like that’s the comeback of the century.
“That means nothing to me. There are a lot of doctors hiding shit.” I start to back up toward the door. “Like ones who bang their brother’s wives and hit their live-in girlfriends.”
Pierce smiles, licking his lips. “Margeaux is a good lay, but I miss you. You’re coming home. Tonight.”
“No.”
“Scarlett, Scarlett, Scarlett. There is no point to this medical degree when you’ll be my wife and have my children.” His fingers softly graze my cheek, like he’s petting a rescue dog he plans to take home and breed.
“My life is not up to you.” My throat tightens, wondering what kind of influence his father Ramses could have over my dad if they went toe to toe on the matter.
It happens so fast, Pierce puts me in a chokehold that instantly cranks up my fear. I try to fight him off, but he presses his thumb directly on the pulse at my throat. I feel my body go numb. Limp.
He’s a brilliant doctor, and he’d also make a brilliant serial killer. In fact, he can drag me out of here through the emergency exit to where his driver is waiting with his Benz.
“Stop, let me go,” I yell, but my voice is an unintelligible squawk.
There is a series of beeps at the door, followed by the hum of the coded lock disengaging. When the door flies open, Pierce’s gaze snaps to the entrance. He goes still but holds me tight in his grip. My arms sag uselessly at my sides.
Unable to move, I practically cry in relief.
Cormac stands there, eyes wild, his control ready tosnap. “She said, let her go.”
Pierce doesn’t budge, but he’s no longer dragging me to the emergency exit. A surge of pinpricks along my limbs alerts me that the numbness is fading.
Holding me, he says, “I’m Dr. Pierce Langston. No one tells me what to do.”
“I don’t care if you’re the fucking surgeon general.” Cormac steps forward, appearing seconds from choosing violence. “Let her go.”
“I’m Scarlett’s boyfriend.”