“My mother doesn’t get to choose anything for me,” Eve snaps.“And neither do you.I broke up with you months ago.Get that through your thick skull.”
“You don’t mean that.You’re just being stubborn because I asked you to quit that ridiculous job.”
“Ridiculous?”Her voice climbs an octave.“I worked my ass off for that job!”
“To do what?Play dress-up in an office?You could be home, taking care of our children, instead of chasing this fantasy—” I hear the sharp crack of skin against skin, followed by Eve’s cry of pain.
I push through the back door to see Luis grabbing Eve by the hair, blood trickling from her split lip where his ring caught her.She’s struggling against his grip as he starts dragging her toward a dark car parked at the mouth of the alley.
“You clearly haven’t learned your lesson from when I made you walk home in the cold,” Luis says through gritted teeth as she claws at his hands.“You keep flaunting other men in front of me.”
“Let go of me!”Eve shouts, trying to dig her heels into the ground.
“I know how to make you obedient, Eve,” he continues, his voice turning dangerous.“Sometimes a woman has to be taught her place.I didn’t want to do this, but you forced my hand.”
That’s when Eve’s hand flies up and connects with his face in a vicious slap.Luis’s head snaps to the side, but his grip on her hair doesn’t loosen.If anything, it tightens.
“You little bitch?—”
That’s when I see red.
I’m moving before I can think, but Eve is faster.She locks her leg around his ankle, and he stumbles forward bent over, using his arms to stabilize himself.The moment his grip releases, she’s on him like a wildcat, driving her knee into his stomach with a fury that’s beautiful and terrifying.
“You.Piece.Of.Shit!”Each word is punctuated by another kick to his ribs.“Don’t ever put your hands on me again!”
Luis recovers and swings back at her, trying to punch her in the face.I throw myself between them, taking the hit meant for her.Pain explodes across my jaw, but the satisfaction of protecting her is worth it.
Then it’s my turn.
The first punch lands square in his solar plexus, doubling him over.The second catches him in the kidney.The third breaks his nose with a wet crunch that sends blood spattering across the alley wall.
“You like hitting women?”I grab him by his shirt collar, hauling him back up.“Let’s see how you do against someone your own size.”
“Caleb!”Eve’s voice cuts through my rage.“Caleb, stop!”
But I can’t stop.The image of his hands in her hair, of the blood on her lip, of him dragging her toward that car.It’s playing on repeat in my head, and each replay makes me hit harder.His eye socket cracks under my knuckles.He’s not fighting back anymore, just trying to protect his face, but I can’t make myself care.This bastard just split her lip open and tried to drag her away.
“You ever come near her again,” I pant, driving my fist into his ribs, “and I’ll kill you.Do you understand me?”He’s barely conscious, blood running from his nose, his mouth, a cut above his eye, but he nods frantically.“I can’t hear you.”
“I-I understand,” he gasps.I pull back for another punch, and that’s when I hear the sirens.
“Caleb, stop!”Eve’s hands are on my arms, trying to pull me away.“Enough!Someone called the cops!”The red haze starts to clear, and I look down at Luis.He’s barely conscious, his face a mess of blood and swelling.His breathing is shallow but steady.
Christ.What did I do?
“Sir, step away from him!”The authoritative voice cuts through my thoughts.I look up to see two police officers approaching, hands on their weapons but not drawn yet.“Hands where I can see them!”I raise my hands slowly, blood from my split knuckles dripping onto the asphalt.
“He was attacking her,” I say fiercely.
“Save it for the station,” the first cop interrupts.“You’re under arrest.”
The handcuffs are cold against my wrists.They’re hauling Luis to his feet, and he’s conscious enough to glare at me with the one eye that isn’t swollen shut.
“You, too,” the second officer says to Luis.“Assault charges all around.Take this one to the hospital first.”
“I’m going with him,” Eve says firmly, looking towards me, when the officers try to direct her toward a separate patrol car.
“Ma’am, you’ll need to give a statement?—”
