Page 261 of The Protective Gryphen

Ian tried to think about being a Fed. He tried to think about protecting himself, but he couldn’t figure out how to pull that off. It was as if everything he’d ever learned had disappeared in his head.

It was like his fears stole that memory away. Now he understood why Elizabeth had him doing paperwork.

This.

Right.

Here.

“Oh, look at him. He’s deaf, dumb, and mute. Let’s just have our fun,” he said, grabbing his arm.

In that moment, Ian knew one thing.

He needed to fight.

He pulled his arm away to protect himself, and the other man shoved him back against the wall, putting his forearm across Ian’s throat.

“Oh, I think we’re going to like this one,” he said, pointing the knife at his chest.

Only, before he could say another word, he was ripped away from Ian, and went crashing into some trash bins.

Ian gasped, and he saw what had saved him.

Not what.

Who.

Gryphen had found him.

When he grabbed the other man, and slammed him against the wall so hard his head rattled, he stared into his eyes.

“You touched what’s mine?” he hissed. “Well, now, let’s play.”

He picked him up, and dumped him headfirst into the bin, and his legs stuck out of the top as he screamed for help.

As for the guy on the ground, he picked up his knife and tried to shank Gryphen in the side.

Only, a Marine knew how to fight, and he did just that. He grabbed his wrist, squeezing so hard the knife fell to the cobblestone walkway.

Then, he shoved him back against the wall.

“You think you’re going to fucking put your hands on what is MINE?” he questioned, his voice deep, dark, and deadly.

If there was ever a Lord Carter moment, it was then and there. That possessiveness was out for the world to see, and he wasn’t playing around.

He.

Was.

Pissed.

Staying back at a safe distance, Ian watched as the man swung at Gryphen, and he got under his arm. Only, he missed.

“You fight like a fucking toddler,” Gryphen said.

That pissed the man off, and he came at him, and when he went to kick Gryphen in the leg, he instead, ended up hurting himself.

That kick hit the metal of his prosthetic.

---