Page 73 of Four Times Taken

The nerve! I'm seconds away from ignoring my stance on violence and flying at him myself.

Chapter 46

Eric

"This ain't your fucking house, you delusional piece of shit. You can't stay here!" Lily screamed at the actual, living and breathing, piece of shit.

"You better watch who you're talking to. You may not be a kid no more, but I can still..." He raised his hand.

"Still what?" I stepped forward, between them, shielding her with my body.

"Eric..." Lily started, her hot breath steaming my back, and I pressed my lips together, tempted to ignore her wishes this once and beg for forgiveness later. Right now, she didn't know what's in her best interest. Her best interest involved Terri Thornbread's face plastered on the knuckles of my fist.

There's always that one person who will bring out parts of yourself you didn't know existed. I didn't know what true hate meant until I met Terri Thornbread. I've felt this blind rage twice in my life, that day on her doorstep when I threatened him with the Army's wrath all those years ago and today, staring into his hellish face.

He squared up, and I clenched my fist, burning with the need to connect a punch with his spleen. My chest tightened, and adrenaline rushed through me. A smile turned up on his lips as he tilted his head ever so slightly. He stepped back a little.

"You're that kid, ain't you?" he spat.

"I'm not a kid anymore," I panted, stepping closer to him. The shadows of the other guys closed in around me. "All Lily has to do is say the word 'Go,' and I'll rip you to shreds."

"Why?" He laughed. "Because you're her bitch. You can't think for yourself?" he taunted, goading me into disrespecting my woman, trying to turn me into him. My nails dug into my palm, but I stood firm in who I am, unthreatened by his attack on my masculinity and my identity. I knew who the fuck I am, and wanting to honor Lily didn't make me any less of a man.

"Go on, Lily. Sick your bitches on me," he taunted, still yet to throw a punch. Smarter than he looked.

I shared a mirthless grin with the guys.

"You really are a dumb old fuck, aren't you?" Ethan swiped at his nose. "You really want to take on four men?"

We closed in on him. "You heard Lily. You need to leave." Matt cocked his head toward the door. Ryan was silent but deadly, staring him down, ready to snap at a command.

"I may be old, but I can still knock your asses into tomorrow," the delusional fart uttered.

I shook my head, my patience wearing thin. Startled by a gentle hand on my arm, I found Lily stepping in between us. The guys surrounded her, keeping that maggot on the outside. Her soothing touch quelled the roaring fire within me as she stroked my face.

"Thank you for trying to defend me. I love you." She kissed me, before turning to each guy and thanking them too. "I appreciate what you're trying to do. I understand it. Trust me. But please. Let me take it from here," she pleaded.

"I don't know how you can stand it," Ryan breathed through her touch. She stroked his chest, and some of his tension fell away from him, and apology filled his eyes.

"I love that you all want to protect me. But I can't watch you hurt yourselves over this. Mom's in the other room. If a fight breaks out, I'll be triggered. She'll be triggered. Please, just understand," she said.

Terri scoffed behind us. "Bunch o' pussies."

But with Lily in our midst, her peace was tantamount. Our focus was on her, even if his words sparked a glitch within me. In all of us.

"I'm sorry," I whispered. "I just..."

"I know." She nodded.

"This is fucking ridiculous. Look at them. Bitches on a fucking leash. Must got some kinda fucking spell on them," he spat again, and I shut my eyes against the urge to slap the teeth out of his mouth.

With her back to him and Lily's hand on my shoulders, trying to calm me down, she spoke to him, "Leave now. Or I'll call the police."

"Pfft. Call them. Let me tell them you're running a brothel, and your pimps are threatening me in my own house," he scoffed, sinking himself on the sofa as he lit up a cigarette.

"For the last fucking time, this ain't your house." She gritted her teeth and spun around, before taking a deep breath. "Please go into the other room, let me handle this." She swung her attention between us and him.

Okay, that's fucking pushing it now. All of us guys looked at her like she'd lost her damn mind. It's one thing, respecting her wishes, opting away from violence for her benefit and her mom's, but it's a whole other thing to ignore all logic and encourage recklessness.

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