Page 108 of Drown in You

He’s back. Daring to show his face again after the Devils restrained themselves from beating him to a pulp.

I set Sienna on her feet and nudge her behind me. If they think they’re getting anywhere near her, they’re out of their fucking minds.

These are the guys who attacked her back home. Who left bruises all over her body. Who sent her running into my arms.

I’ll be dead before I let these assholes lay a finger on her again.

“You should’ve stayed out of my town.” Sienna’s normally soft soprano voice is hard, echoing back from the brick wall behind us. Even the assholes in front of us are surprised by her defiance. “I was trying to protect my friend. I’m sorry for what happened to you, Marcus. I really am. But I can’t undo what’s been done, and getting revenge on me won’t do that either.”

Silence settles around us. For a few moments, the three of them are too stunned to retort.

My chest swells with pride. That’s my girl.

His mouth twists into a snarl, a pissed-off bear ready to charge. “You’re trying to get me thrown behind bars. But it’s not going to work. You should be the one behind bars.”

“You literally posted revenge porn of us. You’re not innocent in any of this.”

Marcus takes a step forward, and I move between them, concealing Sienna behind me. “You even think about touching her and that limp will be the least of your problems. I’ll rip your eyes from your fucking skull.”

I wish I could’ve saved my pops. I wish I could’ve protected Chloe. Protected Violet.

I didn’t.

But I won’t make the same mistake with Sienna. I told her nothing would happen to her with me around, and that’s a promise I’ll keep until I’m in my grave.

All three of the assholes set their glares on me. “Three against one.” I shrug. “Seems like a fair fight.”

As soon as Marcus swings at me, I bark at Sienna to run and dodge his strike. The dude definitely fights like a fuckin’ football player. Throwing his weight around like a tough guy and never making contact with anything. No one fights like hockey players.

The scrawniest guy with the greasy hair manages to scrape a knuckle across my arm, so I throw him to the ground. All the air leaves his lungs like a gasping fish before he groans.

I’d stomp him for good measure, but the other two are already swinging. I manage to dodge Marcus, but the last guy’s fist connects with my jaw and fuck. My vision blurs for a second, eyes watering.

A terrified scream pierces the air.

Fuck. Sienna. She’s still fucking out here.

I whirl. Marcus is heading right for her, but she’s not running inside. Probably knows she wouldn’t make it far before he’d get ahold of her.

Why the fuck didn’t she run when I told her to?

But I know why. She couldn’t bear to leave me behind.

She screams her head off, and while I’m distracted, the guy on the ground gets his revenge and sweeps my feet out from under me.

I go down. Hard.

The asshole whose fist kissed my jaw is on me in a second, raining his knuckles down like a five-year-old throwing a temper tantrum. I clock him in the side of the head but that only dazes him.

Sienna’s scream is muffled as Marcus grabs her, hand covering her mouth.

My blood boils, vision going black. I’m going to fucking kill him. “Get your fucking hands off her?—”

A strike to my temple makes my skull scream, brain spinning

Fuck.

He fucking has her. He’s going to hurt her and I’m not going to reach her in time?—

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