Page 70 of King of Wrath

“I think I hate you,” Toni spits. Jake keeps moving closer, but I see the telltale signs Toni is losing his cool.

His face turns red, his eyes bulging out as he starts around the bed.

“Don’t mix up the mind-blowing sex for real love. It isn’t. Trust a man who’s made that mistake. That’s what you’ll think it is, and then she’ll give her shit away all over town,” Toni scoffs.

I gasp at the words. But Jake only gives him a cold smile. “If I were a betting man, I’d say Maria cheated because you were a shit husband.”

Toni roars, lunging wildly toward Jake.

But Jake is ready. As Toni leans in, Jake knocks him square in the jaw with a solid punch.

I cry out, my hands twisting into the sheets.

Toni goes down like a wall of brinks hit by a sledgehammer, the noise when he hits the ground deafening. I jump, my head throbbing.

Jake’s free hand comes to my arm, gently touching me. “Be still, love. You’ll hurt yourself.”

“Where were you?” I gasp, gripping his hand in mine. It’s not a fair question. I literally crashed his car trying to run away.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he answers, grimacing. He keeps his eyes on Toni as the door opens again and several officers stream in. “I got called out to the hall by police to file a report on the accident and Toni took advantage of that moment of distraction.”

“What’s this?” One of the officers demands from the open doorway.

“I’ll explain after you’ve got him in cuffs,” Jake narrows his eyes at the office, offering no explanation.

“I already told you,” the officer starts, “we’re not making an arrest?—"

The room, which had been empty moments ago, fills with more people as Roman and another man, who looks a lot like Jake and Roman, walk into the room.

Behind them, an entire team of men in suits.

Another man in a medical coat that I’m sure is my doctor, enters too. “What is happening here?”

He’s quickly pulled from the room by one of the suits as the officers crouch around Toni. “I heard what your lawyer said, but we can’t arrest an unconscious man,” one grumbles.

“Jake?” Roman asks, his brows up. Without his sunglasses, I can see that Roman has the most classically handsome features of the family. He doesn’t look at me, and I grimace at him. I’m not sure I want him here after everything that happened.

The man next to him wears a sardonic grin that makes him look devilish. “Hey, Nia, I’m Luke.”

I give him a quick nod, my eyes wary, as I reach for Jake’s hand. I need to touch him. I have no idea where we stand, what his motives are, but I’m too hurt, too alone not to cling to the lifeline and hope that is what Jake really is. He did just save my life…

“He had a pillow over Nia’s face,” Jake answers the officer, not Roman, as he laced his fingers through mine. “I was being generous by punching him.”

One of the officers stands. “Is this true?” he asks me, and I nod. Because it is and because Toni deserves everything he’s about to get.

Another police officer stands, speaking softly. “Heard the whole thing…multiple charges.”

But I hear the first officer mutter back under his breath. “This is a weird one.”

Tell me about it, buddy.

I lift Jake’s hand and bring it to my cheek. “I’m sorry I took the car.” I don’t know what else to say. I wish I’d stayed and listened. I wouldn’t have been in any more danger than the last several hours have brought.

He leans down, brushing a kiss along my head. From here, I can see the pistol is now tucked into the waistband of his jeans.

I’m not scared, not even a little.

The doctor reenters, looking very annoyed. “We’re discharging you to another doctor’s care,” he says with an irritated frown before he turns and walks back out the door.

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