Chapter 2

Sabrina's POV

Mike dropped to his knees on the carpet. His face went red then white. He gasped like he could not find air.

Tracy screamed. "What the fuck did you do?"

I looked down at him. He was curled on the floor like something broken. The man who had just threatened my family. The man who used my parents' dream as a weapon.

"I will not let you take one cent from them," I said. My voice did not shake. "Not one dollar. You will never touch their farm."

Mike could not answer. He was still fighting for breath.

Tracy knelt beside him. She glared up at me. "You will pay for this. Mike will destroy you and that stupid farm. You just made the biggest mistake of your life."

I did not answer. I turned and walked out of the room. The curtain swung behind me. The sales lady stood at the end of the hallway. Her eyes were huge. She had heard everything. I walked past her without a word.

I pushed the front door open. The bell rang sharp and loud. Hot street air hit my face. People on the sidewalk stopped and stared. A bride in a white lace dress standing alone. The hem was already dirty. The train dragged behind me like a dirty flag.

I turned the first corner I saw and kept going.

Tears hit then. They burned down my cheeks and took the rest of my makeup with them. I wiped my face with the back of my hand. Black streaks came off on my skin.

Stupid. I was so stupid.

Six months with Mike and I said yes to the ring. He talked about the farm like he understood it. Late nights at the clinic, the loans, the way my parents built everything from scratch.

I believed him. I was naive. I thought he cared about the same things I did.

Now I kicked him in the balls in front of a fitting room mirror and ran out in this dress like some crazy woman. What the hell was wrong with me?

My parents. That was the part that made my chest hurt.

They put every cent into the land. The new greenhouse sat half finished. The strawberries were ready to ship farther this year.

Two million from Titan Capitals meant they could finish the build, hire two more people, and finally stop living month to month.

Without it the bank would come knocking. Dad's heart couldn't take that kind of stress. Mom would pretend everything was fine until it wasn't.

All because I walked in on the wrong moment and lost my temper?

But he betrayed me. That was what I couldn't stand.

But now the wedding was gone and the money was at risk and I had no plan. I stopped walking for a second and wiped my face again. My hand came away wet.

I kept walking. The dress dragged on the sidewalk and caught on every crack. I had to keep yanking it up with both hands. My arms shook from the weight. People stared. A crying bride in the middle of the afternoon.

I must have looked insane. I didn't care. I just needed to move.

My phone and wallet were still in the fitting room. I needed them back. But going back meant seeing Mike again. Or Tracy in my dress. The thought made my stomach roll.

I stopped at a crosswalk and leaned against a lamppost for a second. My breath came too fast.

Maybe I could find Titan Capitals without the phone. Walk in and ask for Mr. Hudson. Mike always said his boss was a nightmare. Bad temper. Fired people for breathing wrong. Thought the whole company belonged to him.

But that one time I brought the strawberry tarts to the office he tried one and nodded. Told me to send the proposal. Mike said it was pure luck. Probably was.

A man like that wouldn't remember some farm girl who showed up with dessert.

Still. What else did I have right now? The farm needed that money. I needed a way to stop Mike from killing the deal.

I pushed off the lamppost and started walking again. My eyes still stung. I blinked hard. The light changed and I crossed.

Footsteps came up behind me. Three sets. Not rushing. Just steady. I glanced back. Three guys in hoodies. One had a tattoo crawling up his neck. They smiled like they had already decided something.

"Hey, bride," the one with the tattoo called. "Lost your groom? We can help you forget him real quick."

I walked faster. The dress made every step harder. The train kept twisting around my legs. I turned down a narrower street between two old buildings. My mistake.

They followed. One grabbed my arm from behind. His fingers dug straight through the lace sleeve and pinched skin. "Don't walk away. We're just being friendly."

I yanked hard. "Let go."

He laughed. The sound was low and ugly. "Feisty. I like that. That dress looks like it cost more than you make in a month. Bet it comes off easy though. Are you playing dress-up? Smell like dirt and flowers."

The other two moved in front of me. One reached for the skirt. I kicked at his hand. My shoe connected with his wrist. He cursed. The first one pulled me closer. His chest pressed against my side. I could smell cigarettes and old sweat on him. His free hand slid down to my wrist and squeezed.

"Come on, baby. Give us a smile. Or better."

I didn't think. I turned my head and bit down hard on the arm holding me. My teeth sank in. Skin gave. The taste of salt and dirty sweat filled my mouth. He screamed. "Fuck! She bit me! The little bitch bit me!"

He shoved me with his other hand. Hard. My feet left the ground. The world tilted backward. I saw gray pavement rushing up.

I threw my arms out to break the fall. Braced for the slam.

It never came.

A strong arm wrapped around my waist from behind and caught me mid-fall. It yanked me upright against a solid chest. Warm muscle under a suit jacket.

One big hand spread flat across my stomach, fingers pressing firm through the lace. The other gripped my upper arm to steady me. His body was taller. My back fit against him like it was made to go there.

I felt his breath near my ear for one second. Clean soap. Something sharp and expensive. Nothing like the men who grabbed me.

My heart hammered so hard I couldn't hear anything else. I was still half falling but held tight now. The arm didn't let go. It kept me pinned to him, solid and steady.

I opened my eyes.

And looked straight into a pair of ice blue eyes.

Mr. Dominic Hudson? My fiancé's boss?