Page 72 of The Fallen Ones

Get her away from him.

Without a word, I reached out and grabbed her arm, yanking her away.

“Caleb?” she sputtered out at me, her eyes wide with surprise. “What’s wrong? What are you doing?”

I didn’t say a word. Instead, I led her away, really hoping Brandon wasn’t stupid enough to follow because I’d pound his ass into the dirt.

When I got us to a spot where it was quiet enough, I stared her down. She fidgeted beneath my gaze, looking absolutely breathtaking. She twisted her fingers together and licked her lips.

“Caleb?” she ventured softly.

“Not him, Lily. Anyone but him. That guy is a fucking douche,” I finally said.

She crinkled her brows as she stared up at me. “He’s not.”

I clenched my jaw at her words. Brandon was a ladies’ man. He fucked girls constantly and sometimes he wasn’t so niceabout it. Rumors spread, but I knew there was weight to them because I’d heard how bad he could get, especially with women who told him no. It was one thing for Lily to want the fight when the man behind it loved her and was doing it for her, it was quite another for it to be a vicious attack.

And that’s what she’d get with Brandon. He was nice upfront, but he was a fucking elite monster.

“He is. Stay away from him,” I said vehemently. “I don’t want to see you around him again.”

“You don’t get to tell me what to do, Caleb,” she shot back, her body corded with her anger and tension. “You’re not my boss. As of late, you’re barely my friend.” She made to push past me, her words hurting, but I grabbed her arm to stop her. I’d kept my distance the past week because I had my own feelings to work through. I figured she did too. She considered me gross, and I’d accepted that and her feelings on any potential relationship we could have, but I’d be damned if I sat back and watched her get hurt. I was still her friend, despite my distance.

“I said no.” I gave her arm a squeeze. “Don’t let me catch you with him again tonight, Lil. He’s a bad guy. He rapes some of the girls he’s with. Is that what you want? To be one of his victims?”

She jerked out of my hold, her eyes narrowed at me. “I want someone man enough to force me.”

“Right. Got it. You’re not into gross, but you’re into felonies,” I said sourly. “I understand.”

“You’re being a dick. Why do you even care? You stopped talking to me a week ago because I kissed you!”

“I stopped talking to you a week ago not because you kissed me. It’s because you fucking insulted me and hurt my feelings,” I snarled back at her.

She stared at me, breathing hard.

“Well, you hurt me too. Guess we’re even.” And with those words, she shoved past me and went back to Brandon.

I stood watching her, fury unlike anything I’d even known coursing through my veins. Murderous rage.

Not for her, but for him.

I knew what a piece of shit he was.

Money bought him happiness and freedom. I didn’t want Lily to be a victim of his. She was just starting to come out of her shell and feel things. The last thing I wanted her to feel was the pain he’d inflict on her.

“I assume you have a plan,” Damien’s smooth voice cut through my dark thoughts as an idea took form.

“I always have a plan,” I said, turning to look at him as he leaned against the doorframe to the hall.

“Good. I hope it’s the same plan as I have.”

“Does it involve fucking her until she screams so she knows exactly what it’s like to feel terror?” I ground my teeth as I stared out at her still talking to Brandon.

Damien shoved off the doorframe and let out a soft, wicked chuckle.

“I really am starting to like the way you think, Watts. Come, Fallen One. Jace is going to be happy to see you, and I think I have the rest of your plan already formed.”

I glared in the direction of Lily and Brandon again before following Damien out of the party.

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