Page 102 of Left in the Dark

He draws his fist back, and I close my eyes.

Before he can connect, he’s yanked away from me. I slump against my car, opening my eyes, expecting to see my masked man.

Instead, his friend in the purge mask is there, beating the shit out of Tim.

Thundering footsteps come from behind me, and I whirl around, afraid it’s Daniel or one of my father’s men.

But it’s my masked man.

He rushes over to me, his hands cupping my face. Concern shoots from his eyes as they roam over me. “Are you okay, baby?”

I nod. “Yeah. Your friend intervened before Tim could hit me.”

“Hit you?”

“Yeah, he had his fist drawn back, ready to punch me.”

“Goddamn it.” He pulls me against his chest, hugging me tightly. “I’m sorry. He shouldn’t have gotten that close.”

He releases me before whirling around. My Myer’s mask wearing guy stomps over to his friend, barking, “Stryker.”

His neon mask jerks up. He stares at my masked man before shoving Tim toward him.

My masked man snarls like a beast as he catches Tim and starts beating the hell out of him.

The neon mask-wearing man comes over. “Are you okay?”

“Yes. You intervened before he could hurt me.”

His head bows, shame rolling off him. “He got to you, though. I shouldn’t have let that happen.”

“Stryker. Is that your name?”

His head jerks up, and he nods.

I step closer, my hand on his arm. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You stopped him from hurting me.” I glance over Stryker’s shoulder and immediately step around him, positioning myself between my masked man and Stryker’s body.

“Stop.” My hands plant on my masked man’s chest, fisting his hoodie. “He saved me.”

“He shouldn’t have let him get that close to you,” he snarls like a protective beast.

“Don’t. He feels bad enough.”

“He fucking should. When I get my hands on him, he will feel worse.”

“Stop it, please. You can’t hurt him without hurting me.”

My masked man’s eyes lower to mine, his rage blanketing me, making me shiver.

“I’ve had enough violence in my life because someone made a simple mistake.”

Some of the anger fades in my masked man’s eyes.

I step closer, my hands sliding around his neck as I press my body against his. “Please let this go.”

He cups my face, his thumb stroking over my cheek. “Okay. But only because you begged.”

I roll my eyes. “Thank you. Let’s talk to him.Calmly and rationally.”

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