"H-how do you know?" I cry, clutching her tight enough to piss off my aches.
She stiffens ever so slightly but teases in my ear, "Call it mother's intuition."
The slamming of a car door punctuates her statement. Then we hear another. My uncle Levi sprints through the living room at the noise.
Six
JAMIE
Idon't know if I'm more terrified to face Violet or her army of a family. Every breath I take feels like a weight keeping me seated in my car.
I have about twenty seconds before Nate and Ellis pull in behind me. I can't let them ruin my one chance to see Violet for the first time since losing her.
That's what happened...I lost her. Somewhere along the way, I fucked up badly enough that she really believed I would be capable of hurting her.I'm not. I'm completely sick to my fucking stomach and so horrified by the scheme I was unknowingly a part of.
I'll do whatever it takes to have my first words to her be alone. She needs to hearme,not Ellis' voicemail. I need to be louder and more insistent than his treacherous words.
My heart pounds in my chest as I throw the car in park in Blue Bennett's driveway. The chill of the winter air doesn't faze me as I jump out and run past Violet's dirty car.
I can't help but breathe a little easier knowing she made it here safely. She may not be in my arms, but she's fucking alive. The rest can come later. I'll spend the rest of my days making her smile and going with her on hiking trips. Fuck knows I won't beable to handle her leaving like that again for a long while once she's back by my side.
I'm feet away from the front door when it swings open and bashes into the side of the house. With one foot on the porch steps, I look up, mouth open, ready to plead my case, but I'm too late.
Honestly, I don't even think I had a fucking chance.
A man I don't recognize with high cheekbones and offensive words coming out of his mouth balls his fists and punches me square in the motherfucking jaw. Not only does my face flare with pain, but the force of his fist destroys my balance, and ice steals my footing.
"Fuck!" I snap, fallinghardon my back. The wind gets knocked out of me, and I swear the early morning birds cackle at me as they fly above. "Jesus." Groaning, I demand my lungs get their fucking shit together. I have a woman to fight for, and I can't do it lying here like a goddamn pussy who's never been punched before.
Beyond the ringing in my ears and shouts of strangers, I hear a car door slamming shut. As quickly as I can, I prop myself up onto an elbow. Before I can evenattemptto stand, I'm being hoisted to my feet by a strong hand on my bicep.
The same man who punched me now drags me across the driveway without a word. He doesn't need to say anything; I can feel the protective fury rolling off him in waves.
"I didn't?—"
I'm cut off the moment I find my voice. Stumbling once again like a man who isn't trying hard enough, I'm shoved into a fucking snowbank.Face. First.
Gasping and sputtering, I wrench myself out of the freezing hill and turn around to see Ellis getting absolutelyyeetedoff his feet by another hulking dude.
Snow flies every which way as Ellis lands on his back beside me. I barely spare the asshole a glance even as he scrambles to look at me.
"Are you okay?" he asks me, hand reaching for my bruising cheek.
I'm quick to slap his unwanted touch away. "Don't fucking touch me," I growl and jump to my feet. I still can't catch a full breath, my damn face is throbbing, and I look like a fucking idiot sitting here with the man who broke my heart.
With as much dignity as I can muster, I rush away from the five seething men surrounding us. One is locked onto Nate, whose hands are up in surrender.
Four sets of eyes follow me as I inch around so I'm no longer trapped between them and a big ass pile of snow. My new position puts me between them and the house just a bit, but it's strategic. If they come at me, I'll just run inside and find Violet.
Except when I glance over my shoulder to see if my sweet woman is on the porch, I'm met with disappointment. Not mine necessarily, but Blue's.
Her eyes are sad as she stares down at me from her position leaning over the railing. She doesn't say a word, but just like that blond guy that tossed me around like I weighed nothing, she doesn't need to.
Blue, Violet's mom, isdisappointedin me. I've lost her vote—her trust—too. She was rooting for me; I know it. I promised to watch over Violet and keep her happy. We may have only talked that one time when I answered V's phone, but it was enough for me to feel like I might be wanted in this family.
"Blue," I croak and clear my throat. "Hi."
She raises a brow at me and doesn't say shit. Again, I don't blame her. Nor do I blame the group of guys behind me for closing ranks once they spot her outside.
