Page 59 of Wanted Beta

My chest takes the hit and I stumble backwards, thrown off-balance, and about to take another hit. That one smacks into my chin, giving me a jolt of pain, but otherwise barely making an impact because I was already about to hit the ground before it connected.

I jump back to my feet quickly, and I see the look of determination on his face.

He’s ready for this to be over, and he thinks he’s going to knock me out.

The smirk he gives shows how superior he thinks he is.

“Last chance to end this without blood,” he offers.

I narrow my eyes at him. “Leave Beth alone, and I won’t have to kick your ass.”

He laughs, and then he launches a punch that I duck and swerve to avoid before I slam my head into his stomach and knock him to the ground.

A flash of light tells me someone’s taking a picture.

Apparently, we’ve got an audience.

I can hear people talking nearby.

A crowd is starting to gather.

This probably isn’t the right look for the restaurant.

I guess that makes it a good thing that we’re kind of invisible right now.

The creep grabs the front of my shirt and yanks me upward.

I don’t know what’s happening until his head smacks into mine, and holy fucking hell, the world starts to spin. I make a grab for his throat, but he’s already won, and I know it.

I just can’t accept it.

Clearly, he’s dangerous.

I have to protect Beth.

“Sweet dreams, asshole.” The creep pushes me into the wall.

I watch as he gets up and walks away, in roughly the same direction that Beth did.

Feeling sick, I fight to drag myself up off the sidewalk while my head is still spinning.

I stumble up onto my knees, ignoring the whoops and flashes from the small crowd nearby.

Getting back to the restaurant door takes a bit of effort, but I make it.

I’m too messed up to go after Beth’s stalker myself, and I can admit that.

But I can at least explain to my mates what’s going on and get one of them to go find her.

I push the door inward and tumble to the reception area floor, dropping the keys at my side.

“Jack!” I hear Arrow’s anxious cry right before I collapse and pass out cold.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Beth

Istart to run, to make sure Rourke can’t catch up with me. There are enough people around to make me hard to find. That’s one of the benefits of being kind of short. It’s pretty easy to hide in a crowd. Makes trying to avoid someone a little easier.

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