Chapter 41 Hold The Line
Courtney's POV
My stomach dropped. No. No, no, no—
Not here. Not now.
“Of all the places in the freaking world!” I breathed under my breath, disbelief bleeding into something darker. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”
The rage came fast. Hot. Violent. Immediate. It surged through my chest so quickly that it almost knocked the breath out of me. Felicia Ardent was here. In Europe. And she was ruining my best friend’s moment.
My hands curled into fists at my sides, my entire body tensing as Felicia’s voice cut through the space like silk wrapped around a blade.
“Well, well, well… isn’t love such a magical thing?”
I didn’t think. I moved. Or tried to. Because Damian’s hand shot out instantly, gripping my good arm—not hard enough to hurt, but firm enough to stop me dead in my tracks.
“Courtney,” he warned, low and controlled.
But I could feel it. The tension in him. The same anger. Just… restrained. Unlike mine.
Peter was already moving, his expression darkening as he stepped forward, placing himself squarely between Felicia and where Anna still stood with Marcus. Protective. Immediate. Unquestioning. And then—
More movement. My eyes flicked outward as four men stepped from the edges of the crowd. Suits. Broad shoulders. Unmistakable presence. They didn’t rush. They didn’t need to. Their posture alone said everything. They were there for one reason. Felicia. And they were ready. My jaw tightened. Of course, she didn’t come alone. Coward.
My gaze snapped back to Felicia, who looked entirely too pleased with herself.
“You have some nerve showing up here,” I bit out, my voice sharp, every word edged with fury.
Felicia’s smile widened.
“I didn’t know Europe was your territory, Miss Bennett,” she replied smoothly.
My irritation flared instantly.
“Last I checked,” Felicia continued, tilting her head ever so slightly, “this was a free country to visit.”
God, I wanted to wipe that smile off her face. I took a step forward despite Damian’s hold, my body practically vibrating with the need to do something—anything.
Behind me, I felt movement. Marcus. Peter. Guiding Anna away from the center, closer—closer to safety. Closer to us.
I didn’t take my eyes off Felicia as Anna was brought beside me, as our group closed ranks instinctively. Together. United. Facing her. Felicia’s gaze flicked between us, taking it all in like she was watching something mildly entertaining. Like, none of this was real. Like we weren’t standing here ready to tear her apart if she pushed too far. She lifted a hand slightly, waving off the tension as if it bore her.
“I’m here for work,” she said lightly. “The fact that I happened upon this scene…” Her lips curved. “Could be fate.”
I almost laughed. A sharp, humorless sound caught in my throat.
Fate?
“You’ve got some twisted definition of fate,” I muttered.
Felicia’s gaze shifted then. Past me. To Damian. And something inside me snapped.
“Don’t you think, Damian?” Felicia added, her tone laced with something that made my skin crawl.
Nope. Absolutely not. I moved without thinking this time, stepping directly into Damian’s line of sight, placing myself between them. A barrier. A warning. My eyes locked onto Felicia’s, all heat and fury and zero hesitation.
“You don’t speak to him, bitch.”
The word hung in the air. Sharp. Unapologetic. For a split second, the world went very still.
Then—
Felicia laughed. Soft. Amused. Like I had just confirmed something for her, rather than challenged her.
“Well,” she murmured, clearly entertained, “that’s new.”
I didn’t flinch. Didn’t back down. Didn’t care how many men in suits stood behind her. I would tear through every single one of them if it meant keeping this woman away from the people I loved.
A flicker of movement caught Felicia’s attention. Her assistant approached quickly, leaning in to whisper something in her ear. I watched closely, my body still coiled tight, ready for whatever came next. Felicia listened.
And then—
"I don't see Miss Ramsey present. Did she not get an invite? Pity. After everything she went through for you."
She waited just a beat before her expression shifted. Not much. Just enough.
“Ah,” she said softly, straightening. “Duty calls.”
Her gaze swept over us again, lingering briefly on Marcus and Anna. Anna still clutched her hand, the ring catching the light. Tears still on her face. Joy and fear colliding all at once. Felicia smiled.
“Congratulations again,” she said, her tone almost pleasant now. “Marcus. Anna.”
Then Felicia shifted her gaze past me and back to Damian once more, the smug smile pulling even wider. My stomach twisted.
It felt wrong hearing her address Anna and Marcus, but the feeling was far worse when she looked at Damian. The way her eyes seemed to see all the way to his soul.
“I look forward to my invitation in the mail,” Felicia said absent-mindedly.
“Over my dead body,” I snapped instantly.
Felicia’s smile didn’t falter. If anything—
It deepened.
“Promises, promises, ” she goaded as she accepted her phone from her assistant.
And just like that—
She turned. Her guards fell into place around her like a moving wall, escorting her away as if she hadn’t just detonated a bomb in the middle of something beautiful. I watched her go, my chest rising and falling too fast, my hands still clenched. Silence lingered in the aftermath. Heavy. Unsettled. The moment was broken. There was no pretending otherwise. I exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through my hair before turning immediately—
“Anna—”
Anna looked at me, eyes wide, and shook her head before launching herself at me for a bear hug, careful with by injured hand.
"I'm so happy you're here," she whispered as she held me tight.
Marcus stood close, his jaw set, his body angled protectively. Peter stood rigid. Damian—
I didn’t need to look to know.
He was already thinking ten steps ahead.
But right now—
Right now—
I forced her expression to soften, holding Anna close despite the storm still raging inside me.
“Hey,” I said gently. "There was no way I was going to miss this."
Anna pulled back slightly, swallowed, nodding faintly.
“I’m okay,” she whispered, though her voice trembled.
I reached out carefully with my good arm, squeezing her hand.
“Don’t let her take this from you,” I said firmly. “Not today.”
Anna looked down at the ring.
Then back up. And slowly—
A small smile broke through again. Marcus wrapped an arm around her waist, and just like that—
They chose not to let Felicia win. I glanced over my shoulder briefly in the direction Felicia had disappeared. My jaw tightened.
This isn’t over.
Not even close. But for now—
I turned back to my people. And held the line.