Leo ran, reaching for Beth, lifting her to her feet. He pushed her to one side, and grabbed Lloyd’s hand that held the gun, smashing it into the ground. Lloyd dropped it with an anguished cry, and Leo kicked it away.
“You are the lowest form of man,” he snarled, gripping the collar of his shirt. Planting his fist in the man’s face, he felt the crack of his nose.
“Leo, stop!”
He didn’t, wanting vengeance. He wanted this man to know the fear and pain he had inflicted on Beth.
“Stop now, Leo!”
Hands pulled at him, dragging him off Lloyd. He was then put behind a wall of men.
“No more, you are not killing him here,” Nick said. “See to Beth.”
Shaking his head did little to clear the lust for Lloyd’s blood, but looking left did. Beth stood there, tears streaking down her face.
“Beth.” He held out his arms, and she ran into them. “Thank God.” He pressed her head to his chest briefly. Her hands gripped his jacket, body shaking. “Did he hurt you?”
She shook her head but said nothing, and Leo simply held her until they both found a measure of calm.
“Are you all right, cousin?”
She eased out of his arms when Nick spoke, let him hold her briefly too.
“I am now, thanks to you all.”
She walked to where Lloyd lay curled in a moaning ball in pain. Leo joined her, taking her hand in his.
“He can’t hurt you now, love. It’s done.”
“He looks so pathetic.”
“He will never hurt anyone again, I promise you that.”
He watched as she drew back her foot and kicked the prone man, hard. Turning, she walked away, towing Leo behind her.
