Chapter 2

The look on its face was pure gloating, the smugness of a small man who'd finally gotten his way.

A male dog urinating in a corner is marking territory by scent.

This was how it announced to me that even though Sophie Gilbert and I had held our wedding, this woman still belonged to him.

I didn't say a word. I took a stun baton from the cabinet and walked straight at it.

The instant the baton landed on the mastiff, Sophie came rushing in.

She hadn't even dried her hair. Wrapped in nothing but a bath towel, she threw herself around the mastiff, shielding it against her chest.

"Keith Harding! What are you doing!"

"What's the point of fighting with a dog!"

Her eyes were rimmed red, and she looked at me like I was an enemy.

I stared coldly at the two of them, woman and dog.

"It pissed on my suit."

"An animal with no manners gets disciplined the primitive way."

Sophie didn't even think. The words just spilled out.

"It's just a piece of clothing! I'll pay you back!"

"Tell me, how much! I'll transfer it to you right now!"

She said it like she had every right to.

But she hadn't worked a day since she'd been with me. Every expense came out of my money.

Paying me back with my own money.

Ridiculous.

Sophie clutched the mastiff, not even noticing the towel had slipped off, her other hand already reaching for her phone to send the transfer.

"If you can't stand Iron Fist, then you can't stand me!"

"You look down on me for coming from the country, don't you!"

"Then divorce me! Iron Fist and I will get out of this house together!"

She cried as she said it, as if she'd suffered some enormous wrong.

In my past life, every time I tried to discipline this dog, Sophie would say the exact same thing.

Back then I loved her, so I swallowed the anger and apologized.

But now I saw through it.

The coyness, the softness, the tears, every emotion she performed was just a tool Sophie used to keep me in line.

When I didn't coax her the way I always had, Sophie panicked.

She wrapped her arms around my waist and pleaded, all softness.

"Iron Fist won't do it again, I promise."

"It's our wedding night. On the happiest day of all, could you really bear to make me sad?"

I laughed.

"Fine. We'll train him slowly from now on."

There really was no rush. The good part was only just beginning.

Sophie and that dog still had plenty of regret coming their way.

Before we went to sleep, she tied the dog beside the bed again.

"Iron Fist always slept with me back home. I'm used to it."

"You don't mind, do you, honey?"

I lay down calmly.

"I don't mind. Whatever makes you happy."

Sophie was delighted, and coiled around me like a snake.

Her cold, slick thigh hooked over my waist.

In the low light she was beautiful beyond words.

But facing that face now, all I felt was a physical disgust.

I pushed Sophie away and shoved the blanket all onto her side.

"I'm tired tonight. We'll see about it tomorrow."

Sophie went silent.

In the cool of the night,

she and that mastiff, two pairs of eyes fixed straight on me.

Like they were sizing up food on a plate.

Several seconds passed before she finally let out a resentful murmur.

"Fine. Get some sleep, then."

Then she turned over and wrapped her arms around the mastiff.

I closed my eyes.

Until I heard the even breathing beside me.

Sophie and the dog had both fallen asleep.

I opened my eyes and shifted slightly.

A thin chill crept along the back of my neck and my shoulders.

Like someone was breathing greedily against my shoulder.

I knew it was the vegetative body under the bed, drinking in my life force.

But I didn't make a sound. I only turned over.

It didn't matter. Tomorrow he wouldn't get the chance.