His condescending smile made my stomach churn. “Take you back.”
“You’re getting married tomorrow.” The disbelief in my tone could’ve been heard three towns over.
“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still see each other. I love you, Juno, but you just weren’t who I needed you to be. But now maybe you could be. Can’t you see what I’m doing here?”
“Talking nonsense?”
He pressed his hands to the brick on either side of my head. My heart leapt into my throat, feeling caged in. Panic filled my veins, making sweat slick the back of my neck, the need for escape clawing at me from the inside.
“I need you to step back,” I rasped. Palms to his chest, I shoved, but he barely shifted.
“I’m giving you another chance.” Inch by inch, he leaned closer. My spine sealed to the wall in my desperate attempt to put more distance between me and his approaching lips. “You should be grateful.”
I froze.
Grateful?
He wanted me to be grateful to be his sidepiece while he was married to my sister?
I’ll give him something to be grateful for.
All those self-defense training sessions had my body moving like it was second nature. Hands to his shoulders, I sidestepped just enough to get the right angle and sent my knee straight to his balls. His eyes went wide, mouth open on a silent yell as he stumbled back, clutching his crushed manhood.
I didn’t give him a second to recover, just like Oliver taught me. I cocked my fist back and swung it straight at his nose. The crunch of bone and gush of blood had an evil smile pulling at my lips before it turned into a wince at the pain.
Damn, that fucking hurt.
Cursing under my breath, I shook out my hand but kept my guard up in case he recovered and came after me. But before that could happen, the metal door swung open, allowing the noise from inside to pour out into the alley.
“What are you two doing out here?” Stephanie’s accusing tone echoed around us.
With a gasp, she rushed to Eric’s side. He was still bent over with one hand clutching his balls and the other around his nose to stop the blood from streaming out. Stroking a comforting hand up and down his spine, Stephanie turned a hateful glare on me. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Me?” I pointed at myself, shocked at the disdain dripping from her tone. “He’s the one who?—”
“I don’t want to hear it, Juno. I don’t want to hear your lies,” she shouted. Face flushed, eyes a little wild, she stepped toward me, making me flinch back. Crazy Stephanie was slightly scary. “I should’ve known that you’d ruin this for me, for me and Eric.” She pushed my shoulder hard, sending me stumbling backward. My back collided with the brick, making me wince from the hard impact. “I cannot believe you.”
“Steph,” I rasped. “It’s not what you think.”
“You want to know what I think? I think you saw how happy I was and just couldn’t take it, so you lured him out here to try to get him back.”
My mouth hung open. “That is 100 percent not the case. I came out here to get some air?—”
“I just wanted to make sure she was okay,” Eric said, words muffled. You know, from his probably broken nose. I smothered a grin knowing I did that. “And then she attacked me.”
“What the fuck?” I screeched. “You lying motherfucker. You offered for me to be your sidepiece.” I raised both brows at Stephanie while pointing at Eric. “He said?—”
“Juno, I know there is no way he said that, because I know what he likes and needs, and you’re not that. He told me what a prude you are, so really, Juno, can you blame him for cheating on you?”
I opened my mouth, but no words came out. Thankfully, the back door swung open once again, and this time it was a face I wanted to see.
Langston took in the scene before stepping to my side and pulling me against him. I buried my face in his chest while his hand cupped the back of my head, holding me gently.
“Did you do that damage, shortcake?”
My lips rubbed against his shirt as my smile grew. “I did.”
“Such a good girl.” His deep voice vibrated in his chest, helping soothe some of the pressure in mine. “If he touched you, I’ll finish the job.” Shifting back, I tilted my face up to his, finding green eyes focused only on me. “You just say the word. It’s why I made sure my knife was in perfect condition today.”
