Page 454 of Dark Love

Talon laughs. “Max needs the practice. He hasn’t been challenged in a while.”

“So, we’re just supposed to stand here and watch while they tear each other apart?”

Talon nods.

“Men make no sense.”

“I won’t fight that comment, but just saying, you need to figure out your mind. Two men are fighting over you.”

Figure out my mind?!? “What do you even mean by that? I have never been anything but a friend to your son. And I clearly told him that, even before I fell for Vex.”

“Then why is my son on the ground fighting?”

He expects me to know the answer to that question. “I don’t know. I love Vex.”

“What did you say?” Vex freezes with his fist cocked back, ready to meet with Max’s face.

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.

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