Two Can Play (Celeste and Dominic) novel Chapter 136

Chapter 136

“But of course,” I responded “After all, I learned from you, Elizabeth. The best in the game.”

The woman lost it. Her face contorted with rage and she charged at me, her hands raised, her nails extended like claws, ready to strike. I caught her hand midair, my fingers wrapping around her wrist with a grip that surprised even me, and I shoved her backward, pushing her hard enough that she lost her balance and landed on the floor with a heavy thud.

She cried out, the sound high and indignant, and both Julian and Riley yelled at the same time. “Celeste!”

Riley ran toward me, her face twisted with fury, her arms raised, ready to avenge her mother. I let my bag fall to the floor, the thud of it hitting the ground. As she got close, I gripped both her hands with mine, holding them still, and then I let go of one of her hands and used my free hand to slap her face so hard the sound echoed off the walls. Before she could recover, I shoved her away from me and she stumbled backward, landing on the ground next to her mother, crying out in pain.

Just because I never fought back in the past out of respect for Julian, did they think I was easy to bully? All those years Pat and I spent learning judo because Pat had a crush on the instructor and was too ashamed to approach him directly, finally paid off. I had never used those skills before, had never needed to, but muscle memory is a powerful thing and my body remembered every stance, every hold, every throw.

I picked up my bag, my hand going inside, preparing for the next attack. Julian’s face had turned red at this point, a deep mottled crimson that extended from his neck to his forehead. He was approaching me, his steps heavy and deliberate, his fists clenched

at his sides.

“If you lay a hand on me, Julian,” I warned, “I will sue your sorry ass for domestic violence. And you know I have Dominic Ford backing me. You will not stand a chance.”

My words only seemed to enrage him further. He charged toward me, his arms reaching out, and I was reaching for the pepper spray in my bag when my fingers brushed against the taser instead.

“That would do,” I thought. But just as Julian got close, just as I was about to pull the taser out and defend myself, two men barged through the front door.

The bodyguards.

They moved with a speed that was almost inhuman, crossing the room in three long strides before Julian could even register what was happening. They caught him by both arms, one on each side, and flung him toward the wall with a force that knocked the air out of his lungs. His back hit the wall with a sickening thud and he landed on his face, groaning, blood already seeping

from his nose.

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