Page 91 of Love Collided

Fear crept through me, and I tried not to panic as I swung again. He went to step back, his hold still around my throat, but an arm snaked around his neck from behind.

Kye ripped him back and Jesse’s legs were kicked out from under him. All the guys were protective, all of them fighters, but something changed in Kye when he fought, and there was never much hope for someone to be on the other end of it. Good luck to Jesse, because I don’t think the guys had ever seen someone physically hurt me like this. Fox, Ransom, and Jax filled the room, blocking the door.

Kye’s arm stayed around his neck as he flipped Jesse, his face slamming into the coffee table as he threw him down. Jesse yelled out something, but it was the next scream that came from the girl in the corner that grabbed all of our attention as Jax swore. Apparently, she didn’t like seeing Jesse get hurt. She had been sitting there yelling before the guys came in, but quieted down enough that we all forgot about her.

“Go,” he said. “Get out now.” They stepped aside, giving her a clear path to run out.

Kye wasn’t paying attention. Instead, he jumped up, two heavy boots landing on Jesse’s back like he was no more than a bed to jump up onto. The coffee table gave out, the wooden legs falling over, making Jesse yell again.

“What’s wrong Jesse? Don’t like an unfair fight?” Kye asked. “That’s so weird, because Chase mentioned you had a few friends, then here we come and find you beating Scout up. Which is funny because that doesn’t seem like a fair fight either.”

“Come on, Scout. The girls are out front. Go wait with them,” Fox said, reaching out for me.

“No,” I said, stepping back. “No, I’m not leaving.”

“We can handle it, Scout. There’s no need for you to possibly get hurt again.”

“I’m not leaving yet. It was my fault that he went after Chase. It was my fault I even let him into our lives. I’m not waiting outside. I need to know what happens, and I need to know he will never bother me again.”

“Oh, I can for sure make that happen,” Kye said, finally getting off Jesse’s back and kicking him in the side. “Get up.”

Jesse rolled over, groaning, but Kye kicked again. “Get. Up. Come on. I thought you were a bigger man than Chase. How many times did he get back up? I’m guessing once at least, and here you are, flat on your back still,” Kye said, kicking him again.

“Easy,” Ransom said, stepping closer to them.

Kye looked up, the wild rage there making me step back. He would never turn on us, but the feral look to him still sent panic through me.

“Easy? Did you see what he did to Chase and then we walk in and he’s doing the same fucking thing to her? Should we goeasyso he can come back and put her in the hospital? I’d rather kill him.”

Ransom only nodded, looking over at me. “Yes, I get that, but it’s Scout’s call.”

Tears spilled down my face as I looked at each one of them. Each one of them would do anything I asked right now. Four big protective brothers who chose me to protect all my life, and I let this guy into their lives. All of them worried and not even a hint of being mad that I made a mess of everything. They only asked how I wanted it cleaned up.

“I’m so sorry,” I said, the words hiccuped with my tears. “I should have listened. I shouldn’t have brought him into our lives.”

Fox shook his head. “His actions are not your fault.”

“But they were this time because I let it continue.” I looked at Kye. “Don’t kill him,” I said, only half joking because Kye looked like he would, “but please make sure this is clear that he can’t bother us again.Anyof us.”

They all nodded, Kye’s boot setting on Jesse’s chest so he wouldn’t move.

“Go outside, Scout. The girls will want to know what’s going on,” I nodded, walking past them without a second glance at Jesse.

“Scout,” Jesse yelled. “You aren’t serious, are you?”

I ignored him as I made it to the porch, the girls all standing at the bottom of the steps, waiting.

The tears came harder now, my face hot and tear-stained as I cried, heading right to them.

“What happened?” Ash asked. “Did he hurt you?”

“Not much. The guys got there,” I said, trying to suck down the sobs. Quinn opened her arms, and I stepped into them, crying against her as Ash and Carly circled around my back.

“It’s okay, Scout,” Quinn said, holding me tight.

“It’s not. I screwed up. I screwed up so bad that Chase ended up in the hospital. I screwed up so bad that I feel terrible about myself because I let Jesse walk all over me for so long. I screwed up and now the guys are having to go in there and do whatever they are going to do to make him never come near us again.” I cried harder. “How did I mess up so bad? How did I not realize how big of an asshole he is? And what do I do if Chase doesn’t forgive me?”

Quinn grabbed my face, making me look at her. “Chase is smart. He won’t be mad at you. If you think there’s anything to forgive, I’m assuming he already has based on how much he was yelling for us to stop you.”

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