Page 149 of Dark Love

Max takes the opportunity to sucker punch Vex in the gut. Vex doesn’t even grunt.

“What did you say?” Vex lets go of Max and stands up.

Like I’m going to repeat it.

“What did you say?” Vex stalks towards me.

“Don’t irritate me.” There’s no way I’m repeating the words.

“What did you say?”

“We have company.” It’s embarrassing enough that I said it once.

“Not for long.” Vex gives Talon and Max a look.

“Prue!” Hope runs into the backyard. “Prue, are you alright?”

And just when I thought the night couldn’t get any worse.

Hope flings her arms around me. “What happened? Is that the man that hurt you?”

Somehow, she’s now standing between Vex and I.

“Is that why my dad didn’t want me to see you? Are you a bad man?”

Vex freezes, staring at the little girl like she’s an obstacle in his way. One that he has no idea how to get around. “Max, handle your child.”

Max managed to get up while all this was happening. Even with what looks like it will end up being a massive shiner, he’s smiling.

Nothing about this is funny. Not one little thing.

“Hope.” I reach for the little girl’s arm before she hauls back and punches Vex. “Vex didn’t hurt me. He’s a good man—”

Max snorts.

Irritating man. “—that would never hurt anyone.”

“That’s not precisely true.” Talon steps into the conversation.

I turn to Vex to get a little support.

“I would never hurt an innocent woman.”

Close enough.

“Then why were you yelling, and why was he fighting with my dad?”

“Because they are two little boys solving their problems with their fists.”

“What problem?”

Hope is way too curious. How do I answer that?

“Hope Vincenti, how did you get here?”

Max’s angry dad tone scares me, and I didn’t do anything?

“I…um…”

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