The Crimson Bond Read Online Free Page A

this lazily, as if he had no plans to go anywhere anytime soon. His lips curled into a grim smile. “I see we have our eye on the same prize?”
            I was taken aback by his comment. Prize? Me? How barbarian. What in the world was going on her e?
            Alex stepped around me and walked to stand in front of the guy with the disturbing green eyes. “Ethan, she belongs to me,” he hissed.
            What!? I barely know this guy! Either one of them! I couldn’t decide what I thought about that comment. On one hand it was very presumptuous, on the other hand, despite that, I liked it. In actuality, I hadn’t thought he was really serious about pursuing me. It secretly thrilled me that he would lay claim to me in such a medieval way.             Alex’s whole body tensed drawing my attention to the muscles bulging through his shirt. Clearly this guy worked out.
            Ethan smirked at Alex. “I guess we have a problem then, because I’ve decided I may want to keep her for myself. And as you know, I am not easily dissuaded.”
            Without taking his eyes off of Ethan, Alex spoke to me. “Brooke, go inside.” His voice was tight and full of authority and, oddly enough, I immediately complied. With one last look at the two men facing off, I turned and hurried into the building without a second glance behind me.
            Once I entered the crowded bar, I searched desperately around for Anna. When I saw her dancing with Paul, I hurried over and grabbed her arm.
            “Anna, we have to get out of here. I know this sounds crazy, but I think Alex and some guy are outside fighting over me!”
            Paul, evidently having overheard me, was already heading out the door I had come in.
            Anna was looking at me incredulously. “I am completely lost. What happened?”
            I took a deep breath and tried to fill her in the best I could.
            “I was sitting outside and I looked over and this guy was standing not far away, watching me. He kinda gave me the creeps and I was getting ready to run inside when Alex showed up. They seemed to know each other and …. “, I trailed off afraid I would sound ridiculous. “They were both saying that I belonged to them. I have no idea what they’re talking about because I barely know Alex and I’ve never seen the other guy in my life”.
            I tried to calm myself and make sense of what had just happened. Anna’s face on the other hand had gone from looking confused to a dawning look of understanding. I glared at Anna. “You know something don’t you? What’s going on?”
            Anna, now looking completely composed, grabbed my hand and headed towards the front doors. “Come on. Let’s get out of here. I think I have a good idea what happened.”

 
    CHAPTER 4
            By the time we made it outside, Alex and Paul were just rounding the corner. Strangely, I could have sworn there was a slight glow to their eyes. Confused, I glanced up at the streetlights, thinking they must be casting the strange glow in their eyes, but was surprised to notice that they didn’t seem to have the same effect on Anna’s eyes. Shaking it off to my nerves and fatigue, I pushed the strange observation aside.
                Since we had walked to the bar, Alex and Paul insisted on giving us a ride home. It was a quiet drive with Alex staring broodingly ahead and Anna staring out the window, seemingly lost in thought. Paul filled the silence by asking me questions from the backseat about my life before moving to Charlotte. I answered, trying to sound unbothered, but really I was feeling confused and shaky from the episode out on the patio. I still didn’t know what had happened after I went inside, but Alex and Paul had met us coming out of the bar and