“Step away from her,” I say, loud and firm.
His head swivels and his eyes run over me. They’re glassy and the ill-advised smirk he gives me tells me it’s both—stupidanddrunk.
“Can I help you?” Irritation is rife in his voice.
“Yeah. Start by not touching her and then leave some room for her to breathe between the two of you.”
“We’re having a discussion.”
“Fairly fucking certain you can have it without putting your hands on her.”
His smug little grin grows tighter.
“You of all people should know when someone wants our help, they’re happy to be hands-on about it.”
The idea that he thinks he can fucking do this because she’s advocating for her job makes me lose every ounce of patience I’d been maintaining tonight. After the week I’ve had, that’s frankly not fucking much. Even less when it comes to anyone touching her. And lumping me in with this bullshit like I’d do the same?Hell fucking no.
I snap.
She makes a little gasping noise, and a second later I feel pain in my fist. He stumbles and then regains his footing. His eyes raise to mine, fury coloring his muddy blue irises. He pulls his arm back to throw a counterpunch and catches her on the corner of her mouth with his elbow. The sound she makes and the way she crumples against the wall are the last fucking straw. I go for his fucking throat to slam him against the wall, taking another swing at his face. I miss his neck when he dodges but get in another solid punch to his jaw on the upswing. He tumbles back against the wall, sliding down it, and I’m ready to pummel him into the fucking ground.
But she’s up and on me, her hands on my arm, pleading with me at my side.
“Alex! It’s fine. I’m fine. It’s enough. Stop!” I hear her yell over the sound of the blood in my ears, but it’s too late.
He’s up again wildly throwing his fists and I’m blocking them just waiting for the moment I can haymaker his ass to the fucking floor. One of his punches comes hard, and I grab his wrist when he misses, twisting it as he cries out in pain.
“Holy fuck!” I hear Tobias call out, and I hear the steady beat of shoes on the floor coming our way before I’m pulled back from the fucker in front of me. It pisses me off that they got here a second too soon for me to drop him.
“What the fuck is going on?” Ben’s voice is just behind Tobias even though I can’t see him, and I hear him groan when he sees the state of things.
“This guy was… cornering me. Alex was trying to help.” I hear Harper at my back, but Tobias still hasn’t released his grip on me. I’ve got pounds and inches on him, but he has a vice-like grip on me as he holds me back.
“She’s being fucking polite. This fucker thought he could put his hands on her. Should call the cops for assault.”
“Assault? She’s out here sweet talking me asking me to help her cause and batting her fucking eyelashes. She was asking for me to fucking touch her!” Daniels yells out, cradling his arm as one of his friends has appeared and is holding him back from charging me again. It’s wise because, in his state, I’d only need one more shot to level him.
“Asking for it?” I snarl. “I’m gonna fucking kill him. Just let me do it. I don’t give a fuck.” I try to rip free from Tobias’s grip, but he digs in, and Ben steps between us.
“First, you don’t fucking treat women like that anywhere, but especially in my fucking home. And second, you’re at a fucking fundraiser. She’s one of the curators.” Ben’s tone is icy, and if he’s this pissed, I feel justified.
Daniels swipes at his lip and it’s bleeding heavily. I’m at least satisfied that I’ve fucked him up a little, but I’d be happier if he was unconscious.
“Fuck you, Lawton. You assholes think you fucking run things. I’ll show you who runs things. I should call the fucking cops on your ass. Have them arrestyoufor fucking assault, Xavier. See how much you run your pussy-whipped mouth then.”
“You do that and you’re gonna have to explain how he’s in the wrong after you gave his girlfriend here a fat fucking lip,” Tobias shouts over my shoulder, and I can hear the anger rising in his tone.
“His girlfriend?” Daniels’s brow furrows.
I glance at Tobias out of the corner of my eye, and he gives me a meaningful look.
“Which is exactly how I fucking know there was nothing but fucking politeness on her end. Not a fucking chance on earth she wants anything to do with you when I’m the one she comes home to.”
I see Saint’s eyes flick to mine, but she doesn’t say anything.
“I think it’s time for you to go.” Ben looks at Daniels and nods to the door.
“We’ll see what the fucking coaches think it’s time for when I tell them about this. Some fucking welcome to my new team.”
