The dust swirled in the harsh light spilling from the hallway.

A massive, broad-shouldered silhouette stepped through the ruined doorway. He looked like the grim reaper stepping into a graveyard.

The club music was still pounding. Julian Hawthorne stepped over the shattered wooden door, his face completely devoid of human emotion.

Behind him, Gus walked in, calmly slipping a GPS tracking tablet back into his jacket pocket. He had locked onto Evelyn's phone signal the moment she entered the building. Gus stepped forward and kicked the massive corner speaker with a heavy combat boot. The music died with a violent screech of static. The silence that followed was terrifying.

The rich kids in the room stared at the doorway. All the color drained from their faces. They looked like they were choking on their own tongues.

"Mr... Mr. Hawthorne!" one of the men stuttered, backing up so fast he knocked over a table of drinks.

Preston's hand, still holding the check in the air, froze. His victorious smile melted into absolute horror. His knees started knocking together so hard they made a sound.

Julian's eyes swept the room like a physical blade. They locked onto Evelyn.

She was still half-bent toward the floor, her eyes wide, her lips bitten raw.

When Julian saw her in that submissive, humiliating position, the veins on his forehead bulged. A violent, uncontrollable rage exploded in his dark eyes.

He took long, heavy strides across the room. His leather shoes hit the floor with a heavy thud that sounded like a war drum.

Evelyn stared at him, her brain completely paralyzed.

Julian reached her. His large, hot hand clamped around her upper arm. He yanked her up from her crouch with brutal force.

"Who gave you permission to kneel?" Julian's voice was a low, terrifying growl. His fingers dug painfully into her flesh.

Evelyn gasped in pain. She bit her lip and turned her head away, refusing to let him see the wet tears gathering in her eyes.

Julian pulled her hard behind his broad back, completely shielding her from the dirty stares of the men in the room. Then he slowly turned his head to look at Preston.

Preston looked like he was about to vomit. "Uncle... Uncle Julian. What are you doing here? I was just... we were just playing a joke on Eve..."

Before Preston could finish his sentence, Julian moved.

He was terrifyingly fast. Julian's hand shot out and grabbed the collar of Preston's shirt. He lifted the younger man completely off the floor.

Julian pulled his right arm back and drove his fist directly into the center of Preston's face.

A loud, wet crack echoed in the silent room.

Preston screamed. Blood exploded from his nose, spraying all over his expensive white shirt. Julian let go, and Preston flew backward, crashing hard into the glass coffee table. The glass shattered into a thousand pieces.

Kenzie shrieked in pure terror. She scrambled backward on her hands and knees and hid behind the sofa, shaking uncontrollably.

Julian did not stop. He walked over to where Preston was groaning in the broken glass. Julian lifted his heavy leather shoe and pressed it down hard on the center of Preston's chest, pinning him to the floor.

"A joke?" Julian sneered. He leaned down, grabbed a handful of Preston's blood-soaked hair, and yanked his head back.

"You use Hawthorne family money to play your disgusting little games, and you dare tell her to kneel?" Julian's voice was a lethal hiss. Every word was coated in venom.

"I'm sorry! Uncle, I'm sorry! I'll never do it again!" Preston sobbed hysterically. Blood bubbled from his mouth.

Julian looked at him with absolute disgust. He let go of Preston's hair, letting his head drop back onto the carpet. Julian stood up straight. He reached into his tailored suit jacket and pulled out a dark silk handkerchief.

He slowly wiped the blood off his knuckles. His voice was as cold as ice.

"Your trust fund is revoked. Get out of New York by tomorrow morning."

Preston's eyes rolled back into his head. He looked like he was going to pass out. His life was officially over.

No one in the room dared to breathe. They were paralyzed by the sheer violence of the tyrant.

Julian tossed the bloody handkerchief directly onto Preston's face. He turned around and walked back to Evelyn.

Evelyn was still frozen in shock.

Julian didn't say a single word. He suddenly bent down, wrapped his thick arm around the back of her knees, and hoisted her up into the air. He threw her over his broad shoulder like a sack of flour.

Evelyn gasped loudly. The sudden movement knocked the wind out of her. She started kicking her legs. "Julian! Put me down! What are you doing!"

Julian raised his large hand and slapped her hard on the backside. It was a sharp, stinging warning to stay still.

He adjusted his grip on her thighs and walked out of the destroyed VIP room, carrying her away while the rest of the room watched in absolute terror.

Julian carried Evelyn down the long, luxurious hallway of the club.

Waiters and guests stopped and stared in shock, but the dark, murderous aura radiating from Julian made them press their backs against the walls to get out of his way.

Evelyn's stomach bounced painfully against his hard shoulder bone with every step he took. She kicked her legs wildly in the air.

"Put me down! You psychopath, everyone is looking at us!"

Julian ignored her completely. He reached the private VIP elevator and kicked the call button. The doors slid open. He walked in and hit the button for the underground parking garage.

The doors slid shut. The enclosed space was dead silent except for their heavy breathing.

Julian suddenly grabbed her waist and slid her down his body. Before her feet could even balance on the floor, he shoved her hard against the cold steel wall of the elevator.

"You're embarrassed?" Julian slammed both his hands against the wall on either side of her head. His chest heaved. The dark fire in his eyes was completely out of control. "You were about to get on your knees for that piece of trash for a piece of paper, and you're embarrassed now?"

Evelyn's face burned. He had hit her deepest nerve. She glared up at him, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

"That is my business! I didn't ask you to play the hero!"

The elevator chimed. The doors opened to the dark, damp underground garage.

Julian didn't argue. He grabbed her wrist and dragged her out. The sound of his heavy footsteps echoed off the concrete walls. Gus was already standing next to the Rolls Royce. He immediately pulled the rear door open.

Julian practically threw Evelyn into the back seat. He climbed in right after her and slammed the door shut.

Evelyn tried to scramble to the other side of the seat, but Julian's massive body lunged forward. He pressed her deep into the leather cushions, his heavy torso pinning her down completely.

The heat of his body and the sheer humiliation of being tossed around snapped the last string of Evelyn's sanity.

She raised her right hand and slapped him directly across the face.

The sharp smack echoed loudly in the cabin.

In the driver's seat, Gus sucked in a sharp breath. He immediately hit the button. The soundproof partition rolled up fast, sealing the back seat off.

Julian's head was turned to the side from the force of the blow. A red handprint slowly bloomed across his sharp cheekbone. The air in the car turned to ice.

He didn't yell. He didn't hit her back.

Instead, Julian slowly pushed his tongue against the inside of his cheek where she had struck him. He turned his head back to look at her.

His eyes were completely black. A sick, twisted thrill danced in his pupils.

"Are you done?" His voice was a low, raspy whisper. He leaned in closer. His nose brushed against hers.

Evelyn shrank back into the leather. The pure madness in his eyes terrified her. Her voice shook. "What do you want from me, Julian? He is your nephew! You just ruined your nephew for his fiancée. Are you insane?"

"Nephew?" Julian let out a dark, vibrating laugh. "The second he put his hands on you, he stopped existing to me."

Julian's brutal grip on her chin loosened for a fraction of a second. A flicker of raw, unadulterated pain crossed his dark eyes before being instantly swallowed by the familiar, violent fury.

"As for being insane? I went insane the night you threw me away three years ago."

The words hit Evelyn's chest like a sledgehammer. Her throat burned. The truth about her father's betrayal clawed at her throat, begging to be let out. She bit her tongue so hard she tasted blood. She couldn't tell him. She couldn't drag him into her family's mess again.

"Break the engagement," Julian ordered. His thumb pressed hard into her jawline. "I will not let you wear another man's label."

Evelyn let out a bitter, exhausted laugh. "And if I say no? Are you going to kill him? Are you going to kill me?"

Julian's eyes turned lethal. His long fingers slid down her neck, resting dangerously over her racing pulse. "I won't kill you. But I will destroy every single person you care about."

Evelyn shivered violently. She knew he wasn't bluffing. She took a deep breath and surrendered.

"Fine. I will break it off." She stared into his eyes. "Because he cheated. Because he is garbage."

A flash of intense, predatory triumph exploded in Julian's eyes. His breathing hitched.

But Evelyn immediately poured ice water over his victory. "But I am never coming back to you, Julian. We died three years ago."

The triumph in Julian's eyes froze. He stared at her pale, determined face. A cruel smirk twisted his lips.

"You don't get to decide when we are done."

Julian suddenly dipped his head. He opened his mouth and bit down hard on her exposed collarbone.

Evelyn gasped sharply at the sudden pain.

Julian pulled back. He licked a tiny drop of blood off his bottom lip. He pressed the intercom button.

"Drive. Take her to Brooklyn."

The Rolls Royce glided smoothly through the heavy Manhattan traffic.

The interior of the car was dead silent. The only sound was the soft hiss of the air conditioning.

Evelyn sat pressed as far against the passenger door as physically possible. She held her hand over her collarbone, where the skin still burned from his teeth. She stared blankly out the window at the passing neon lights.

Julian sat on the opposite side. He had loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top of his shirt. His long legs were crossed. He didn't look out the window. His dark eyes were locked onto Evelyn, tracking her every breath like a radar.

The silence was suffocating him. He needed to assert his control again.

"Be at the Hawthorne Group headquarters tomorrow at ten in the morning. Top floor," Julian commanded. His tone was absolute.

Evelyn slowly turned her head. Her eyes were exhausted but cold. "I will be going to HR to hand in my resignation. I am not working for you."

Julian scoffed. A mocking smile touched his lips. "Resign? Do you think the non-compete clause you signed is toilet paper? Without my signature, you will never work in this industry again."

Evelyn's jaw clenched tight. Her body shook with silent rage. She was trapped in a spider web, and every time she moved, the silk just wrapped tighter around her throat.

The tension in the car was stretched so tight it was about to snap.

Suddenly, the large digital screen on the center console lit up.

The name Finn O'Connell flashed in bright white letters. A second later, the Bluetooth system automatically answered the FaceTime audio call. The sound blasted through the premium surround-sound speakers.

"Hey! Julian! You miserable bastard, you finally picked up!" Finn's loud, obnoxious voice filled the entire cabin.

Julian frowned deeply. He reached his hand out to hit the red end-call button.

But Finn talked incredibly fast.

"Jesus Christ, man, how much did you drink last night? Gus told me you almost drank the entire bar dry before you finally passed out in your penthouse!"

Julian's hand froze in mid-air. All the blood drained from his face. He barked at the screen. "Finn. Shut your mouth. I am in the car."

Finn completely ignored the warning. He laughed loudly.

"So what if you're in the car? You didn't care about your image last night when you were hugging a whiskey bottle, crying and screaming Evelyn's name!"

The air in the cabin vanished.

Evelyn's head snapped toward Julian. Her eyes were wide with absolute shock.

Julian Hawthorne, the terrifying tyrant who had just beaten a man half to death and threatened to destroy her life, was currently turning bright red. The dark flush started at his neck and burned all the way to the tips of his ears.

Finn delivered the final, fatal blow.

"Brother, listen to me. Stop playing the cold, ruthless CEO. Last night you looked like a pathetic, desperate dog begging for its ex-girlfriend to come back!"

Smack!

Julian slammed his large palm down on the center console with lightning speed. The screen went black. The call disconnected.

But Finn's words-desperate dog begging for its ex-girlfriend-seemed to echo off the leather walls of the car.

The silence that followed was heavy, awkward, and completely paralyzing.

Evelyn stared at Julian. She tried to match the image of the crying drunk with the monster sitting next to her. She couldn't do it.

Julian sat completely rigid. His hands were curled into tight fists on his lap. His knuckles were bone white. He stared straight ahead, trying desperately to maintain his terrifying aura, but his bright red ears completely ruined the illusion.

Evelyn watched his chest rise and fall in panicked, shallow breaths.

The extreme contrast broke something inside her. The heavy terror in her chest suddenly evaporated.

Evelyn pressed her lips together, but she couldn't stop it. A soft, muffled snort of laughter escaped her mouth.

The sound was like a gunshot in the quiet car.

Julian's head snapped toward her. He glared at her. He tried to look furious, but there was deep panic in his eyes. "Is something funny?"

Evelyn immediately bit her lip to stop smiling, but the coldness in her eyes had melted. She cleared her throat and looked back out the window. "No. Not funny at all, Mr. Hawthorne."

Julian groaned. He dropped his head back against the headrest and dragged his large hand down his face. His carefully constructed mask of the ruthless avenger had just been shattered into a million pieces.

In the front seat, Gus drove the car as smoothly as a hearse, pretending he was completely deaf.

The Rolls Royce pulled into Brooklyn. As it parked in front of Evelyn's rundown apartment building, the suffocating terror in the car had been replaced by a strange, tense, almost sweet awkwardness.