The girl in the gilded cage *Completed*

Confronting Ioan

*Malina*

"Ioan, I want to talk to you," I call out as I see him the next morning. I have a really big bone to pick with him for what he did to Josh yesterday because I am a hundred percent sure he meant to hit Josh with that knife.

He stops in his tracks, glaring at me. "What do you want, Malina? How is your lover boy this morning? Hopefully, I didn't hit any sensitive areas."

"What the heck, Ioan? What was that about?" I push him so hard in the chest he stumbles, which is quite impressive considering how buff he is. "You did that on purpose. You nearly castrated him. You could have killed him."

"Oh, and would you have been sorry if he lost his manhood, however little it might be?" he hisses. "Yeah, Malina, I saw you. I can't believe you are that easy. I have tried getting something from you for years without any luck."

Shit, he saw us. So that was why he was after Josh even more than normal; it had been a trap to make Josh lash out, giving Ioan an excuse to challenge him. "I am sure he is twice the man you are in that area as well."

"Oh, so he isn't even man enough to have popped that sweet little cherry yet. Are you sure he isn't gay? I mean, any sane man would have taken you the second he got the chance," he says, smirking.

I feel nauseated that this sorry excuse for a man is even thinking about me in that way. "You are a disgusting excuse for a human being, Ioan, and I am starting to think Josh used the right word last night. What was it he called you? Oh yeah, impotent."

"I'll show you I ain't impotent, you stuck-up bitch." He grabs my arm hard, and the look on his face tells me that I went too far.

When he pulls me into him, I get scared. He wouldn't touch me, would he? I have no chance against him; he is much stronger than me.

"Let her go right now, Ioan." I am happy to hear Joe's voice. He sounds really angry.

Ioan just glares at him. "Stay out of this, old man. The b***h needs to learn a lesson about being nice to her husband-to-be and not to dish up her goodies to that outsider."

"I said, let her go, Ioan. What do you think her father will say if you touch her before you are married? And how do you think that outsider will react?" he says, walking calmly closer.

I know Joe is talking to the little bit of brain Ioan has. Joe is a smart man; he knows what will work on a daft caveman like Ioan. "Come on, Ioan, you don't want to deal with all those problems before you are even married to her."

Ioan huffs angrily, but he lets go of me and stalks off. I throw my arms around Joe's neck, sobbing into his neck. He gently pats my back. "There, there, lassie. He is gone now."

"Do my father really want me to marry that pig?" I ask, feeling my heart sink down into my stomach. That would be my worst nightmare.

Joe sighs. "I am afraid he does. Not that I get him; Ioan is a jerk and a pig. Your father should try thinking with his heart for once. Had I been your father, I would have told you to go for Josh. There is a good man if I ever saw one."

"Yeah, he is." I smile softly. Comparing Ioan to Josh would be like comparing a half-rotten pile of garbage to a beautiful sunset, the most delicate flower, or the cutest puppy.

Joe releases me and gives me a sad smile. "I truly hope your future turns out a lot brighter than to be his wife."

"Me too, Joe, me too," I say softly. But honestly, I don't have much hope. "I think I will go take a shower."

*Josh*

I hurry down to Malina's trailer. I have just talked to Joe, and he told me that Malina had confronted Ioan and that he had put himself between them. I need to see that she is okay. If he has hurt her in any way, he will have to answer to me.

My leg actually hurt less than expected, and I am able to walk with only a slight limp. I really had been lucky.

There is no answer when I knock softly on the door. I don't want too many people to see me there. So I open the door, sliding inside.

Just as I close the door, I hear another door click and turn to see her come out of the small bathroom only wearing a towel. She gasps. "Josh! What are you doing here?"

"s**t, sorry, darling. I heard from Joe that you had a run-in with Ioan. I wanted to make sure you are okay," I tell her. I try my hardest not to look at her small body wrapped in that towel, knowing that she is naked underneath.

She pulls the towel a bit tighter around her. "I did. But Joe was there, and I am fine. Nothing to worry about."

I am about to turn and go outside to let her get dressed, but then I spot something on her arm. "What is that, baby?" I step over to her, gently grabbing her arm and turning it over. She has five dark blue marks on her arm, clearly fingers. "I am so gonna wring his neck."

"Josh, please don't. He already hates you. You will just make it worse, and Ioan isn't a man who will stand back from much," she tells me, placing a hand on my chest.

I look into her eyes. I know she is right, but I don't like it. "I just feel like I should defend you. Defend your honor. Show him that he is wrong about me."

"Josh, don't let him get to you. You don't need to prove yourself. I know he isn't right. Isn't that enough?" She tells me softly and reaches up on her toes, one hand around my neck to pull me down to kiss her.

I let out a low moan as her tongue slide between my lips, searching for mine. Her hands run into my hair. My arms slide around her, pulling her close to me.