Page 66 of The Naughty Elf

The feral noise that growls out of Sawyer’s mouth is terrifying but sweet at the same time.

I step forward and put my hand on his forearm, watching his fingers clamp around Kaleb’s throat.

The gurgle is concerning.

“Stop it. He’s not worth it.” I give his arm a little tug. It wouldn’t matter how hard I pulled; I wouldn’t be able to move him if he didn’t want me to, but his grip loosens.

Kaleb sucks in a breath, struggling to get adequate air.

29

SAWYER

Dark rage consumes me. My hand squeezes around this young punk’s throat, and I want to crush his windpipe. I just might do it, too.

The way his eyes pop gives me some semblance of satisfaction, but a soft touch on my arm draws me back. Ginger says my name, but the rush of seeing this animal pawing at her has me growling. My fingers convulse with the promise to eliminate such a worthless piece of shit.

“Stop it.” Her voice again brings me back. “He’s not worth it.”

It takes a second for me to acknowledge the truth of that. Finally, I release our new hire and feel the corner of my mouth lift as he hacks and wheezes to catch his breath.

Kaleb cannot deny that I could kill him with my bare hands. The flare of wanting to has my hands clenching into fists at my side.

“Get your shit and get out,” I say loud enough that he can hear me through his struggling coughs. “You’re fired.”

Kaleb glances at Ginger with his water eyes, hishand covering his throat with another cough.

“Don’t look at her.” My voice lowers, and I must sound menacing because he flinches and nods. I tower over him until he scampers away.

Firing people is not usually part of my job, but I will not stand for that kind of violent disrespect of anyone here. Especially not Ginger.

I turn, following him with my gaze until he disappears from sight, then I catch the tears overflowing in Ginger’s eyes, and my heart seizes.

Reaching for her only has her taking a step back and shaking her head.

Jackson marches through the front door with all of the authority he typically has on the job. “What just happened in here? Why is our new hire running away with his tail tucked between his legs?”

He stops, just as I did when his gaze lands on Ginger and her tears. My brother is fighting the same instinct I am—the one that screams to hold her. But that won’t soothe her just now.

I hold my hand up to him, and he gets it.

“What happened?” His question is softer this time.

Ginger wipes under her eyes, takes a deep breath, and shakes her head before she marches up the stairs.

Everything inside of me screams to follow her. To not let her out of my sight. But if she needs a moment, I can give it to her. Even if it kills me.

Once she’s out of earshot, I meet Jackson’s gaze. “That punk assaulted Ginger.”

The deadly emotions I felt upon seeing it flash over my brother’s face. His hands clench at his sides, and his jaw clenches.

“She kept me from killing him right here.” I suck in a breath through my nose because I still want to kill him. Albeit slower now that I’ve had time to think about it.

“Tell me exactly what you saw.” He grinds out the words between his teeth, starting at where Ginger disappeared upstairs.

Jackson’s face gets redder and redder as I slow down to offer every detail. Best to get things straight now for when I have to make a statement to the police.

Because I will. The moment she is safe and feeling less vulnerable, I will nail that bastard to the wall.

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