My fist connects with his nose. The crack is clean, loud, satisfying. He ricochets off the wall,eyes wild.
He swings back, but it’s sloppy and desperate. I duck under it.
I hit him again. My knuckles split. His head snaps back.
Again. Blood on his teeth.
Again. Someone’s yelling, but I can’t hear them over the roar in my ears.
Hands grab at me—Dalton, maybe someone else—but I can’t stop.
“You fucking drugged her,” I snarl, slamming him into the wall. “You were planning to rape her.”
“No—” His voice cracks. “She was—she was already into you, I was just—just helping?—”
“Helping?” I hit him again, hot blood slicking my knuckles. “You call that helping?”
He scrabbles at my wrists, eyes rolling. “You’ve been talking about this bet for weeks. Isabelle said you weren’t closing. I thought you’d thank me?—”
“Thank you?” The world tilts. “You thought I’d thank you for drugging her? You thought I’d rape her?”
“It was just something to loosen her up. Everyone does it?—”
My fist pulls back for another hit?—
“Kieran, enough!” Dalton’s grip clamps around my arm, dragging me back.
Riley’s voice cuts through from downstairs. “Go! Take her home! We’ll handle this!”
The world snaps back into focus.
Wren.
I sprint.
Aubrey’s holding her at the bottom of the stairs. Wren’s head lolls, eyes barely cracked, breath shallow.
Fear floods my chest, coldand sharp.
I cup her face, hands shaking. “Rules. Hey. Open your eyes, baby. Look at me.”
Her lashes flutter. “Kie...”
“I’m here.” My voice breaks. “I’ve got you.”
Her pupils are blown wide. Words slurred. She can’t stand.
I scoop her into my arms. She folds into me, weight limp, cold.
She tries to say something, barely audible.
“I know, sweetheart.” My throat clenches. “I know. I’m taking you somewhere safe.”
Dalton appears with her jacket. Riley forces a path through the hall. Aubrey’s crying but already pulling out her phone.
I look up the stairs. Reed sits slumped on the step, blood leaking from his nose.
He meets my eyes.
