Chapter Forty-Two
The party had barely rolled into the halfway point, but Trenton had no desire to stay another minute.
He flushed and zipped his fly. As he washed his hands, the bathroom door opened. “Enjoying the party?” he asked, merely to be cordial, not bothering to look up from the bowl.
“Oh, most certainly.”
That voice had Trenton’s head popping up. He met Alan’s reflection in the mirror, the man standing before a urinal. “I won’t ask how you stole your way into my event, but I will say this. If you step out of line, I’ll have you removed. In other words, I know why you’re here. We clear?”
Alan flushed and zipped up on his way to the sink, lips curling upward. “Whatever you say, sir.”
Trenton turned away from that smug grin and headed for the door.
“By the way, Shaw, how’s that partnership going with you and Kennedi? Must be tough for her now that she knows the truth about you.” He laughed. “You should’ve seen the look on her face when I spelled out what you’re really about.”
Without stopping to think, Trenton snatched Alan by the lapel of his tux and slammed him against the glossy ecru-tiled wall before landing two solid blows to his face. Blood gushed from the man’s nose onto his pristine starched white dress shirt.
The door flew back on its hinges, and both Silas and Elliot charged in. Silas came at Trenton, putting him in a choke hold before Elliot could act. In a flash of fury, Trenton delivered a double elbow jab center mass between Silas’s ribs, sending the man buckling to his knees. Curling into a fetal sprawl at his feet, Silas lay wheezing for breath.
Trenton grabbed hold of a shocked Alan by the throat, fingers crushing down on his trachea. “Had you kept your hatred directed at me, I might have seen fit to revisit my decision on the Dubai venture. But you involved Kennedi. On second thought, no I wouldn’t have.” His voice went gravel-low. “Big mistake.” Trenton released him and stepped back. “You stay away from Kennedi.”
Chest heaving, Alan wiped his nose with the handkerchief from his jacket pocket. “I don’t think you’re in a position to make that call. Kennedi is a beautiful, sexy, vivacious woman.” His head tilted to the side as he tapped an index finger against his chin. “My gut tells me she just might be single.”
Trenton’s scowl congealing with rage, he charged at Alan again, but Elliott came in between them and held him back by the shoulders. “Get out!” He flung a hand as Silas slowly labored to his feet. “And take that piece of shit with you. See that their asses leave the building,” he told his security.
Elliott grabbed Alan by the suit coat, but Alan aggressively shrugged him off and cut a snide grin on his way out, passing Dom who rushed in.
“An attendant told me there was a fight in progress. The guy was smart…kept it low-key. I tipped him generously.” He moved to the sink where Trenton stood rewashing his hands. Resting back against the counter, Dom smiled. “Bro, you talk about me having a temper. From the looks of it, I think you may have broken Lange’s face.” He laughed. “I’ve wanted to do that myself for a long time.”
Trenton dried his hands. “Mind if I borrow your car? I need to clear my head. Jackson’s parked out front. He can give you a lift when you’re ready.”
“It’s all good.” Dom fished out the key fob and handed it over. “Trent, man, you okay? Quite honestly, this behavior isn’t like you.” Concern edged his tone. “We can cut out and go for a drink if you want.”
Trenton shook his head, feeling like the walls were closing in on him. “I need to get some air.” He gripped his brother’s shoulder on the way out.