“I also remember you telling her something about slamming her head into a wall. I don’t have one of those out here, but there is this tree.”
I loosen up his ropes just enough to slam his head into the trunk of the tree. Blood spurts from the point of impact. He roars in pain, his eyes widening in panic.
“Please, please, I’ll do anything you want. Anything!”
I grab my rope, ready to silence him forever so he can’t talk about her like that ever again. I wrap it around his head and pull it tight. I take the other end and tie it to the tree nearby.
I’m overheated with rage. When I feel a hand on my shoulder, I flinch. Holden squeezes it, tugging me back.
“Not tonight.”
I release a heavy exhale and turn around.
I bend down and whisper in Matt’s ear. “Don’t ever speak to her again. Leave the state. You don’t have an ex-wife or any kids. If I ever see you again, I’ll kill you on sight.”
I want him to think he’ll be worm food if he ever comes near her again.
That’s all a sick fuck like him is good for anyway.
After a long, steamy shower, my muscles ache from the events of the night. My knuckles are raw from punching bone.
I place a hand on the cold shower tiles and watch the dirt, mixed with dried blood, swirl down the drain.
What if Dallas doesn’t forgive me for this?
I want her to be free and clear of any chance of being affiliated with what I did to her ex-husband, so I’m not telling her what happened. She might break it off with me if she knew.
Who am I kidding? I know she would.
I told her I’d killed men in the past, and by the look on her face, I knew she was mortified.
I’m trying to come to grips with what I did to her ex and the fact that I’ve destroyed my chance at love and a happy relationship.
I had to threaten him to keep her safe, to protect her boys.
I couldn’t let them continue to be hurt. I couldn’t watch her live in constant fear and anxiety about whether or not they were safe and okay when they were with their sperm donor.
I slam my fist against the wall, groaning deeply.
I’m going to lose her for this.
“Duke?” A soft voice echoes through the bathroom.
I turn to face her. She must have woken up when I turned the light on in here.
“Hey, baby. Sorry if I woke you.”
She steps up to the shower glass, chewing her bottom lip. One of my cutoff T-shirts is falling off her shoulder, the faded Blue Moon logo on the front molded over her nipples.
“Are you coming to bed? I’m cold.” Her voice sounds small, like she’s worried I might say no.
I reach for the shower knob and twist it off. I step out onto the rug and grab a towel to dry off.
“Yes, darlin’, I’m coming to bed.”
When I finally look back up at her, she’s peering up at me with wide, worried eyes. A part of my heart splinters when I think about how I just potentially ruined this while attempting to save her.
I dry the rest of my body before hanging up the towel and pulling her into a tight hug. She sighs against my shoulder.
