Their friend picked up speed when he saw them, and the look on his face spoke of nothing good.
He slowed to a stop in front of them, barely winded, and shot her a wary glance.
“What’s wrong?” Violet probed, scared to know the answer.
“Your boyfriend almost died today.” He attempted to keep his words light and teasing but failed spectacularly.
The air whooshed out of Violet’s lungs.
“What do you mean?” Slayton demanded as Violet’s brain caught up.
Griff swiped at the sweat on his forehead. “Roman beat Dominic within an inch of his life.” That jerked Violet back to reality. He scratched his jaw and avoided her gaze.
“Why would he hurt Dominic?” Violet wondered aloud. It didn’t make sense. “Roman never fights.” She spoke more to herself than her friends, trying to work out what had happened.
“It wasn’t a fight.” Griff grimaced. “Dominic never stood a chance. I thought Roman would kill him.”
“Stop with the fanfare and tell us exactly what happened,” Slayton said, losing patience. The two men were best friends, but they annoyed each other like brothers.
Griff looked apologetically at Violet, and she knew whatever he had to say was going to make her sick. He tried to gentle his words, but loathing seeped into them with each syllable. “I’m sorry, Vi. He had a large group of warriors around him, and he—” he hesitated. “He told them how good your pu—how good you were in bed.”
A large group of warriors. How good you were in bed.“He told everyone?” Did her voice sound weak to them or just her? Had she spoken aloud at all? Why would Dom do that to her? Her ears rang, and she stared at nothing as she tried hard to rationalize the funny and sweet Dominic she knew from the Dominic Griff presented now.
“That fucking prick.” Slayton pounded his fist into the palm of his hand. “I don’t like the prince,” Violet glared at him, and he held his hands up, “but I’m glad he stood up for you.” He reached over and ruffled her hair, and she swatted his hand away. She knew he wanted to make her laugh, but her body wouldn’t allow her, even if she wanted to.
Griff rubbed a hand down his face. “That’s not what set him off.” Slayton and Violet stopped their bickering and waited expectantly. “Dominic made a comment afterward about wishing he’d slept with Vivian when he had the chance, and Rome lost it.”
Violet took the words like a physical blow.He wished he’d slept with Vivian?Am I not good enough?For Dominic to brag about their intimacy was one thing, but for him to wish it’d been Vivian instead of her was unforgivable. She and Dom had sex last week for the first time and one other time since. When he’d taken her home after their first time, he’d asked her to be his girlfriend.
If Violet had known she was runner up, she’d have told him to go kick rocks barefoot. A knot formed in her throat, and she fought to swallow.
Griff reached out and tugged on a piece of Violet’s hair. “If it’s any consolation, he said you were the best he’s had.”
Slayton punched Griff in the shoulder. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“She’s about to cry!” Griff protested. “Knowing I was the best someone ever had would make me feel better.”
“You are a jackass,” Slayton muttered.
“If you two will excuse me, I’m going to shut my head in a door so I don’t have to face anyone tomorrow,” she joked weakly and stepped back.Maybe War will bite my head off for me.
Slayton wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in. “Don’t let that asshole get to you.”
As if summoned, War came barreling toward them. Knowing the drill, Slayton and Griff moved out of the way, and Violet squatted down. War poked and prodded her with his nose, purring loudly to soothe her.
“How does he always know when you’re upset?” Griff asked, staring thoughtfully at War. “Can he read minds?”
Violet kissed the top of War’s giant head. “I don’t know. Maybe he can smell it. I’m alright,” she cooed against the cat’s fur, “but you need to go to Roman and try to calm him down.” War shook his head.Stubborn beast.Trying to convince him to leave her alone was pointless and she didn’t bother further.
Griff looked torn. “I have to return to training. The distraction from the fight gave me time to slip away to give you a heads up, but if they realize I’m gone, I’ll have to run sprints.” He turned to War and Slayton. “You two stay with her until I’m done.”
“I planned on it,” Slayton assured him.
“I don’t need a babysitter.” Violet planted her hands on her hips. “Dom and I only dated a handful of weeks.”Five to be exact.War sat next to her feet looking as stubborn as Slayton. “Slay, I really need to be alone right now.”
His nostrils flared. “I don’t want you wandering through the forest when you’re upset. Anything could happen.”
“No,” Violet replied sharply and adjusted her satchel. “Dominic isn’t important enough to upset me that much, and War will be there.”
