Page 76 of Synced to Us

Dennis is scrawny, yellow-bellied, and uses strategy as his weapon more often than not. Alcohol gives him some bravery, but not nearly enough clout. Wyn easily overpowers him, rolling Dennis to his back, and landing a solid punch to his face.

Wyn’s expression grows cold. Hewn with frustration, hatred, venom. His glare is so pointed, it’s impossible to believe he’s still seeing Dennis at the end of his gaze. Wyn, blinded by fury, holds Dennis by the lapels as he pummels him again.

I scream and fall to the edges of the fight, because I know what Wyn’s seeing. It’s not Dennis underneath him anymore. His brother has taken the fall, and Wyn hits him for every wrong: stealing money, leaving their mother bereft, neglecting his children, trying to hit me, being selfish, driven, stuck, angry…

And Wyn’s not stopping.

“Wyn!” I yell once more but can’t get around his swinging arm.

Tears of relief pool in my eyes when three guests push through the crowd and attempt to grab Wyn. Security barrels a path soon after, separating Wyn and Dennis like they’re two puppets on a string.

One security guard pushes Wyn back by the chest. The other pulls Dennis’s arms behind his back and keeps him still.

“Don’t make me tase you, big guy,” the guard says to Wyn.

Buttons have popped on Wyn’s shirt, leaving his chest exposed. His tie’s askew and blood leaks from his lips. He breathes like he’s just lost a boxing match, and his eyes are on fire and fixed on Dennis.

I race to Wyn’s side, cupping his face, and forcing him to look at me. “It’s over. Okay? I’m all right.”

Wyn’s nostrils flare. He won’t tear his gaze from Dennis, like he’s still in the fight.

“Wyn. Look at me. I’m right here. I’m fine.”

His lips part, and it takes some doing, but at last he meets my gaze.

My heart breaks at our connection, because in that stare I see the fractures, the broken man he keeps hidden, the failure he feels with his family, bankrupting himself, becoming the loser he’d always feared he was destined for.

“Breathe, baby,” I whisper. “Just breathe.”

“I can’t—he had his—you don’t deserve—”

I tangle my fingers behind his neck and pull his lips to mine.

It’s not our usual passionate kiss we share. There is no lust, just desperation. This is me calling him back, coaxing him close, promising with sweet kisses that I’m here for him. And in that simple vow, I give more of myself than I ever did having sex. Or to anyone else.

Wyn’s shoulders relax, his hands coming around my waist. When we break apart, he rests his forehead on mine. “Thank you,” he says on a sigh.

“What in the world…?” Larry sidles out of the fray, his rheumy stare taking in the scene.

It gives Wyn enough time to look up, sweep his gaze over to Dennis, and his eyes flare with hate.

Larry’s face turns crimson. “Dennis…Dee…I demand an explanation.”

“It was a disagreement between—” I start, but Dennis explodes forward, despite his arms wrenched back.

“My colleague and your most trusted employee over there just had her fiancé attack me, Larry. I simply voiced my concern over their involvement, considering our growing relationship with Emerald Spin Records, and Dee told Wyn Riley to punch me for my insubordination.”

Larry twists to me. “Dee? Is this true?”

“Not in the least.” My voice is calm, while my blood is boiling. “Dennis is trying to exploit his position and climb the corporate ladder by threatening me and my fiancé rather than work hard and deserve the title.”

“Bullshit, Dee,” Dennis spits. “Don’t try and take the higher ground when you’ve been lying to your boss—to all of us—for the length of your employment. You want to talk about exploitation? Yeah, how about we talk about it?”

His smile grows arrogant. Wyn goes rigid beside me.

“I’ve been quiet throughout this exchange,” he says, “until the moment I’m needed again. Which seems to be now.” His hands curl into fists.

“Wyn,” I murmur, clutching his arm that’s become rock hard. “Don’t.”

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