I had to do it because that was the only way to push her away from me. Something inside me broke when I broke her heart yesterday because I know we had begun something special. My infatuation with her has only grown ever since I set eyes on her outside the coffee shop in Mayfair. But I had to stop it because I couldn’t put her in harm’s way.

“Men are all assholes,” she continues with a sigh. “Why did I ever think that you were different?”

A smile breaks out on my face. She is truly adorable and I curse myself for putting her in this position.

Unaware of the conflict in my mind, Aaliya rages on. “I was told you had changed, that you were colder now, more hard. I thought you would be different with me. I thought you’d remember...” She sighs. “Guess I was wrong.”

Now she’s not making any sense. “Aaliya, where are you? I’m coming to get you. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, no, no! I’m out having a great time. I think I need another tequila, maybe two more and then perhaps I’ll forget all about you and the mean and horrible human you’ve become.”

My body tenses with every word she utters. I’m so fucking pissed with the whole situation, with her for getting drunk and with myself for driving her to get drunk.

“Aaliya,” I say in as calm a voice I can muster. “Tell. Me. Where. Are. You.”

“Okay, I’m done talking to you. Jonathan must be wondering where I am. I have to go...”

“Wait Aaliya...”

But she hangs up.

My heart rebels at the thought of her and Jonathan together. The thought of Jonathan’s hands on her, of him touching her, makes me want to cause violence because I’m certain Jonathan has a thing for her. He couldn’t stay away from her during my mother’s gala and this became further obvious when we were at his estate in Scotland.

I blow out a deeply agitated breath. There’s no way I’m letting her remain alone with him in the state she’s in. I call Jonathan’s cell, but he disconnects my call. I call Aaliya and she disconnects too.

Fucking hell! I rush towards the elevator calling Mike, telling him to hurry it with the car while I dial Gabriel.

“Gabe, I need to know where Jonathan is right this fucking moment,” I yell as soon as Gabe picks up.

“What? Why?”

“Aaliya’s with him and she’s drunk. I need to know where they are. I’ll kill him Gabe. If he fucking touches her, friend or not, I swear to God, I’ll kill him.” My mind is running riot and any scenario it paints with her and him together makes me madder than hell.