Enemy Beloved

7 | kidnapping Claire

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V A U G H N

The sight before me gave me a headache the moment I saw it. I have zero tolerance for guys like Mason Holiday. His trapping Claire between his arms and manhandling her like that is an absolute no-go.

No one touches my girl.

I walk towards them, striding casually, while Claire looks at me with bewilderment. Mason has her pressed against his car and has his head turned towards me, watching me with curious eyes.

"Mason Holiday," I say when I reach them, and the kid flinches unnecessarily. "I think you have something of mine. May I please have her back?"

My politeness is sarcastic and Mason releases Claire, trailing his eyes over my body from head to toe. He is shorter than me but not that short as to not look me in the eyes.

"Are you marrying him?" Mason turns to ask Claire but she has already moved from her place and is standing behind me.

He jerks his head towards her and I feel her hands grip my arm.

Claire Hill isn't the kind of woman who hides behind men. She is the kind who pretends to be afraid when she doesn't have the solution to a problem knowing that someone will be bound to step in. Her Dad calls it cowardice; I call it smartness. She only uses her energy when necessary. Her act of holding me now means that Mason is the kind of problem I need to take care of.

"You remember me, Mason?" I question him, taking a step closer.

There is a sickly look upon him, something very disgusting that makes my skin crawl. I can smell the booze coming off him and it is just after twelve.

Claire makes questionable choices when it comes to men. I have to teach her what a real man is like someday. Very soon, hopefully.

"Everyone remembers you, Jackson," Mason fumes. "You and Christopher Hill were always spying on me."

"Occasional spying," I correct him. "And do avoid taking Chris's name. Doesn't suit your lowly tongue."

"You're shit!" Mason curses. "That guy has been dead for years now. He's probably rolling in his grave seeing you with his sister—"

He doesn't get to complete his sentence before I grab him by the collar and shove him against his car with one hand. His face instantly turns red, cheeks swelling up as I press hard around his throat.

"Don't you fucking dare insult Chris again."

"Vaughn, let him go." Claire tugs at my arm, trying to pull me away but my attention is fixed on her disgusting ex-boyfriend.

"Listen, you fucking piece of shit!" I slam him against his car again. "The next time I even see you looking at Claire, I'll pull your eyeballs out and put them in your hands. Do you understand?"

Mason gulps, fear distinctly visible in his green pupils. Slowly, after moments have passed, he nods. I let him go, dropping him to the ground and he coughs. I could have continued with his lesson for a little longer but since this is a college campus, I have no intention of causing a scene.

I gather my wits as I turn around only to find myself surrounded by a crowd of students, looking at the scene and clicking pictures of me. Claire has her jaw set and she throws me a look of disappointment. She has moved away and mixed herself among the students to escape embarrassment.

"Get away!" I growl at the crowd. "Show's over."

The students instantly part and Mason Holiday pushes past me to follow them. I look back at Claire and find her leaving too. I quickly grab her by her elbow and pull her towards me.