Title: Fallen Angel, Part 3
Author: Tracie Podger
Publication Date: December 28, 2014
Tour Sponsor: Passionate Promotions
Being married to the dark and dangerous Robert Stone doesn't come without its problems - trust being one of them.
Trusting your average husband means you believe he won't cheat on you. Trusting a man like Robert is accepting that he will kill to protect his family.
Brooke loves her husband - mind, body and soul - she will do whatever is necessary to protect that love.
But what happens when Robert discovers he wants something Brooke can't give him?
This is a story of an extraordinary couple who find the strength to become the people they want to be.
But can they have it all?
I caught Gary’s eye in the rear view mirror and gave him a sly wink and a smile.
“Don’t mind Robert, he’s being grumpy” I said without thinking.
I saw Gary quickly look towards Robert before starting the car and pulling out into the traffic. A minute later Robert placed his hand around my chin, turning my face towards him. His mouth was millimetres from mine, I could feel his breath on my lips.
“Don’t ever undermine me,” he whispered.
I opened my mouth to speak as Robert sat back in the seat and stared stonily ahead. I snapped my mouth shut and we drove home in silence. I didn’t wait for either Gary or Robert to open the car door, opting to do it myself. As Gary drove the car back down the drive, I turned to him.
“What was that all about?” I asked.
“Gary fucking falls asleep while he’s on duty, I don’t like it and you give him a wink and a smile. Then tell him, what was it, don’t mind Robert. That is undermining me, Brooke.” He unlocked the front door and we climbed the stairs to the lounge where he threw his suit jacket over the back of the sofa.
“I’m not undermining you,” I said, totally confused by this change in him.
“You apologised for me snapping at him. He fucked up, he knows it and you apologise.”
He was really angry and now so was I.
“I was embarrassed, I wasn’t apologising on your behalf. It wasn’t the worst offence in the world, Robert.” As soon as the words left my lips I knew I’d said wrong.
He spun around.
“He falls asleep, Brooke. What if someone took that fucking moment to attack you or me? That’s his fucking job, to stay awake and protect you. He nearly got you killed once and now he’s not on the fucking ball,” he shouted.
“Don’t swear at me, Robert. If you think I undermined you, then I’m sorry and I sure as hell don’t like you shouting at me.” My voice rose on every word until I was shouting back.
“I’m not swearing at you, for fucks sake. I’m pissed, big time. How do I keep control of those guys if you do that, because you’re embarrassed?” he spat the word embarrassed. “And to tell him ‘not to mind me’. I’m his fucking boss, he better fucking mind me. He’s not your friend, he’s here to protect you, drive you around, nothing more.”
Robert paced, running his hand through his hair, a sure sign he was really mad. I shouldn’t have said what I did, I realised that, but I was not happy with being sworn or shouted at in that way. Robert’s temper could be turned on as quick as a light switch and I wanted to find a way to flick that switch to off again. I wasn’t scared, I wasn’t being a feeble wife whose husband could walk all over them, but I was someone who would rather talk than stand and shout. I took a couple of calming breaths.
“Will you stop pacing and calm down? I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said what I did,” I told him.
“Calm down? You made me look a fucking idiot.”
“You’re acting like one now,” I shouted, all attempt at being reasonable gone.
I stood facing him, he stood facing me, both of us breathing hard. Shit, this was our first argument. We had sniped at each other in the past, I had shouted that day after being shot at, but we had never had a full-blown row. A silence followed. As he stood before me, pumped with his fists clenched and his eyes black, a hard hitting punch of wanting, of arousal hit me square in the stomach. As I took a step towards him, he did the same.
