Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 82

Parker decided to drop by unannounced in the suburban club to check on his property. His long strides carried him leisurely down the path, his rnind barely registering the task Ludwik had mentioned earlier.

However, as he passed a certain private lounge, a woman’s cry echoed from within, a sound oddly familiar.

The refined glint behind his rimless glasses sharpened with curiosity.

2 2 2 2 3 2 3

What a coincidence, he mused.

Parker signaled to his men with a smirk that did not quite reach his eyes.

With a forceful kick, the door was flung open.

The dimly lit interior was spacious. Parker sauntered in, pulling back the curtains to reveal a chaotic scene on the bed, his eyes flashing coldly. He glanced at the scantily clad woman screaming for help, then leisurely removed his suit jacket and tossed it down at her.

“Pa–Parker.” Tiana looked up, her small face a mask of terror and confusion.

Parker’s men quickly overpowered the three thugs.

His cigarette dangled from his lips as he strolled over and planted his foot on the waistband of one scoundrel’s jeans. The cultured outline of his face, accentuated by his glasses, contrasted with the sinister aura emanating from beneath those lenses.

Tiana watched as his cigarette slowly lowered, lighting the crotch of the three men on fire, his foot pinning them down as they began to wail in agony.

Meanwhile, he did not even flinch the slightest.

Parker finally lifted his foot only when the smell of singed cloth filled the air.

Tiana was paralyzed with shock, the threat she had faced moments before from almost getting raped paling in comparison to the dread now gripping her.

Staring at the man’s sophisticated profile, she trembled. Was this man a demon?

The thugs, their jeans in tatters, crawled away in terror.

Parker stood up, his hand nonchalantly pocketed, and glanced at the bed. Frowning, he scolded his men, “Turn around.”

that the girl on the bed seemed

she scared? He had not even shown

a mockingly amused look, Parker said, “Kid, how long are you going to stare? I gave you my jacket

snapped back to reality with a shiver.

she suddenly realized her exposed collarbone and quickly covered herself with a scream of indignation. “Parker, you saved me,

her chest swell in

she even realize she was revealing her

would have given him a piece of her mind if she were not

Parker scooped her up with a look of disgust and carried her out to his car.

Chapter 82

in the car, she clung to him like a kitten, inching closer until she shamelessly crawled

The driver chuckled.

scholarly appearance, his muscular build made a comforting cradle for Tiana, and she seemed too comfortable to even care about the blood

“Could

in the face of storms, suddenly

pushed the intrusive woman away, convinced her shamelessness had

“Drive faster!”

Tiana at the

received a

find a nurse by her bedside, probably called in by the

the same hospital as her. Thus,

was already there, his voice filled with sympathy.

burst into the room.

her stupor, Tiana, hooked up to an IV, her medication wearing off, opened her eyes in fear. “No, don’t come any

gone through? She grabbed Tiana’s hand, saying gently,

and a chill fell across her face. She yanked

wrong, Tiana?” Whitney’s eyes began to

I almost fell victim to Gunner and Stella’s scheme. You knew, didn’t you? Stella said you were aware of their affair. Why did you keep it from me? You made me look like a fool! Or do you not care about how

was stunned for a moment. “She

do it on purpose. I was just

purpose! And that’s why I got humiliated today! Do you have any idea how I felt when I saw Gunner and Stelle having sex? My heart shattered into pieces! I even ended

her heart

chiding Tiana for upsetting Whitney. “Stop saying such things. Whitney was beaten in jail, and she’s been searching for you ever since she got out. She

noticing Whitney’s frailty and the bruises peeking

pain collided within her, and