Claimed by My Husband's Enemy

Forbidden

I summon the only domestic staff member still awake, leave the kids in her care, and storm out of the bedroom.

The thought of having to tell Mel that her son nearly strangled himself while his father was being a big boy just down the hallway, is insufferable.

I squeeze the rope in my fist as I come up to the door. But for the second time tonight, my feet halt at the voices.

“I warned you that nothing serious can happen between us until you introduce me to Mel, and get her to accept me as her co-wife.”

“I did, I endured. You can't just jerk me off and leave me like this. It's time to collect my prize!” comes Dany's response.

I frown. This is a far cry from how they were just minutes ago.

“Prize?”

“Baby, I introduced you to Mel today. I gave her the agreement as agreed. She loves her precious company, so I'm certain she will sign it before dawn, except she wants to rot in jail.”

I creep closer, shrugging off the indignity of being reduced to this… an eavesdropper.

“Then we revisit this issue at dawn.”

“Lavina. She’s going to. Trust me on this.”

“That's a tall order, Dany. I've had to do all the work so far. When Mel pushed me down the stairs, I took the initiative and pretended to pass out.”

I hastily fish my phone out to record.

“It was my ploy that got Mel exactly where she is now, cornered,” the woman continues. “You did nothing! My attorney drafted that agreement, all you had to do was make her sign it, and even that…”

“I would have helped if you let me.” He speaks over her.

But she goes on as if she didn’t hear him, “The only reason I hadn't whispered for you to ‘play along’ while I pretended to be half dead was because you cannot act to save your life!”

My brows jump. Even the new woman has come to the realization that he is useless.

“What do you ever do for me that you think you deserve a prize?” She continues yelling. “Everything was my f*****g effort!!”

Finally, I hear her inhale deeply only to let out an echoing scream of rage, and then there is the sound of something smashing against the wall.

I back away, as stunned as I am disgusted.

A young, blonde girl storms out of the room, looking disheveled.

She doesn't even look in my direction as she makes her way downstairs and into the elevator.

I stare after her with a growing feeling of unease in my bones. As much as I might hate Dany Spencer, he's not a complete i***t.

Why is he throwing his life away for a woman who will only jerk him off?

MELANIE

The sudden grating sound of iron bars pierce the still night. I turn away from the tiny window where I'd been gazing at the night sky.

Malcolm stands quietly behind the officer who had cuffed me earlier.

“Ma’am, you're free to go.”

My gaze shifts back to Malcolm, who has a transparent bag with all my seized personal items. He gives me an imperceptible nod.

The plan worked.

I step out of the holding cell, and Malcolm leads me out of the police station. Outside, I'm met with the familiar sight of my security motorcade.

Malcolm turns to me, and holds a hand out. I hesitate.

In the past, I would have gladly tucked my hand in the crook of his elbow, because he’s my best friend despite our history.

But now, something has shifted between us.

Running that silk handkerchief over my palm the way he did, punching my husband, it had ripped the veil that separated us from the past.

Crossed a line we had an unspoken agreement never to cross in the last ten years.

“Thank you,” I say now, but do not give him my hand. I take my first step down the many stairs when Captain Leeds runs up the stairs and offers his arm.

I take it.

Malcolm steps up to me and throws his jacket over my shoulder. I shiver but do not glance at him.

“You will not fail me again, captain,” I say calmly to the man who’s avoiding my gaze just as seriously as I avoid Malcolm’s.

“You must run every order in the tower through me before execution. Mr. Spencer no longer has the right to give you orders, is that clear?”

He nods. “Yes, ma'am. I will make sure all staff are informed of the new rules.”

“See that you do.”

It was odd enough that he would let a stranger into my home without my permission, whether she had Dany by her side or not. But then, letting Dany gain access to the surveillance footage when he was aware that we were both in the middle of an altercation?

That’s unacceptable.

The Captain pulls the back door open and tips his head. I return his nod and sink into the backseat as Malcolm gets in from the other side.

“How are my children?” I finally ask my one burning question as the chauffeur pulls away from the station.

Malcolm's face is dark and neutral as always, body relaxed, thick thighs spread out. But there’s a new tension in his shoulders that makes my heart drop all the way to my toes.

I gasp.

“Did something happen, did that b***h do something to my children?”

His head whips sideways at the alarm in my voice, and he reaches for me. He rushes through his words to assure me they are well.

And I let him hold my hand in his as he tells me about the jute rope and the curtain rod.

My belly is in a knot, and I feel nauseous as he paints the scene, evidently trying not to be particularly detailed.

“I did promise them I'll convince you to lighten whatever punishment you decide to give them,” There's a conspiratorial glint in those hazel eyes now. But then his face falls at whatever emotion is on my face now.

“Mel,”

I choke on a sob, pulling my hand away. “It’s my fault.” I turn toward the window. “I… I would never have forgiven myself if…”

“Shh.” And his spicy lavender scent fills my senses, his warmth trapping me in the corner as he closes the distance between us. I turn my face slowly to meet his eyes. “That’s why I’m here.” He says gently.

I try to speak, but he shakes his head and places his index finger flat on my lips.

“No what-ifs, Mel. I was there, it did not happen. That’s all that matters.” The edge of his lips lifts in a smirk. “Now, breathe.”

And as if hypnotized, I take in my first deep breath.

My cheeks flush with shame, as if I had just done something more intimate than follow his command with our eyes locked.

“Malcolm,” I whisper softly.

Silence stretches between us. And then he gets my meaning and moves away, putting solid inches of space between us in the backseat.

I jerk my head to the window, catching the dusting of red on my cheeks in the glass reflections.

“I don't know how I can ever repay you.” I speak at last, wincing at the memory from over a decade ago. The boy who kept me company throughout the darkness that was my life when Mom died all of a sudden that bitter winter.

I turn around now to find him watching me, his eyes dark.

“I'll do anything for you, Mel. You know it.” His baritone threads the car.

A shiver trails down my spine at his words, and goosebumps feather my arms.

“Malcolm,” I look around the car helplessly. What is this sudden sizzle between us? How are we going to beat the allegations if he continues acting this way, saying these things?

Our friendship, until last night, has been respectable. That dark look in his eyes now, he has not looked at me that way in the last ten years.

Not that I would have allowed it. Because I truly was devoted to Dany. I had eyes for no other man and never once felt these… sensations at Malcolm's presence, his eyes, his scent.

It was that damn handkerchief!

He is still watching me. Pulling away from the backrest suddenly, he leans in till our faces are just an inch apart.

My chest rises and falls as he holds my gaze. His breath, nicely warm, fans my cheek.

“Do you want me to stop?” his deep voice rolls out, dark. So, so dark.