He rushed over in a few quick strides and pushed the man's hand down.
"No need, buddy. I already called them. Just rough her up a little, that'll do."
I jerked my head up to stare at him.
"Alex, have you lost your mind? You're the one who—"
Before I could finish, a stinging slap cracked across my face.
My ears rang, a sharp buzzing that drowned out everything except Alex's voice, deliberately low so only I could hear.
"That's for shoving Layla earlier. Consider it your punishment."
"If you want me to marry you, then shut up and take what's coming to you."
I stared at that smug, self-satisfied face, so sure of its own power, and I almost laughed.
The Felicia who once loved him down to the marrow of her bones had died the day he threw her away.
"Back off, all of you! Don't you touch her!"
Irene Lambert raised her broom, trying to drive back the crowd pressing in around me, but Alex kicked her square in the chest.
"What are you yelling about?" he sneered. "Felicia and I were never married. She was never the lady of the Delgado house."
Irene's back slammed into the corner of a glass display case. The pain buckled her instantly.