Page 8 of Animal Instincts

Hayden looked at the asshole again, cursed low, and grabbed her arm to haul her out of the bathroom. She thought they wouldjust leave, but Hayden went into the room, slammed his fist into the other guy’s face over and over again until he fell into the bathtub, and only then did he back up.

Her best friend breathed hard, acting like he wanted to go after the guy again, but she grabbed his hand and pulled him back.

“Hayden, let’s just go.”

Hayden spit on the ground by the asshole’s feet. The guy was now half in the bathtub, drunker than hell, bleeding from his nose and mouth, and groaning.

“You fucker. I should kick your ass until you aren’t breathing anymore for thinking you could put your hands on Danika like that, or any woman for that matter.” He cursed out again, turned and faced Danika, and said in a low voice, “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

They moved out of the house, and she stared at all the people that were watching them with surprised and interested expressions. The music still pumped through the house, but she just wanted to get the hell out of here and put this experience behind her.

Once they were outside and by her car Hayden breathed out and ran a hand over his hair. “I am so fucking sorry, Danika.”

“It’s not your fault, Hayden.” She wiped the blood from her lip, winced at the soreness of it, and watched as he continued to pace in front of her for a few more seconds.

He stopped, stared at her, and the defeated look he gave her broke her heart. “I brought you to this damn party, and should have never left you alone.”

She placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled softly at him. “Hayden, guys like that motherfucker—” She chuckled, and he did the same. She tried to make this situation a little lighter even though she was feeling anything but. “Guys like him try shit likethat no matter what. You are not responsible for that, I am not responsible for that, and we can’t blame ourselves.”

But that was a lie, because she did feel responsible, felt like if she hadn’t started shit with him, threatened to kick in his balls, maybe he would have backed off.

Stop thinking like that.

She pushed her thoughts away, knowing she needed to be strong, to get through this, and that dwelling on it wouldn’t help.

“God, Danika.” He pulled her in for a hug, rested his hand on the back of her head, and stroked her hair. “Your dad will kill me when he sees your lip.”

She shook her head, but closed her eyes and stayed right where she was. “No, this wasn’t your fault, and he knows you’d never put me in harm’s way on purpose.” She pulled back. “You can’t help how an asshole will act.”

He smiled, but it was forced. She pulled away, patted him on the chest, and tipped her chin toward her car. “I have to go anyway. I’m meeting up with my dad and his friend for dinner.”

“You sure you’re okay to drive home?”

She nodded. “Of course.”

“Because I’d feel better driving you there. We can pick up

your car tomorrow, Danika.”

She shook her head before he even finished. “No, it’s okay,

really. I’m okay.” She pushed him gently toward his car parked a few feet away. “You’re okay to drive?”

He nodded. “I’m good. Just text me when you get home so I know you got there okay.”

“I will, and you do the same if you get there before me.”

He smiled, and this time it was genuine. She watched him get in his car. And then she went over to the driver’s side and climbed in. After starting the engine she watched in her rearview mirror as Hayden pulled out of the driveway.

But he didn’t drive away, and she knew he was waiting for her to leave as well.

Once she was on the road, driving away from the party and the situation, she felt herself crumble, felt herself break inside. The tears flowed down her cheeks despite her trying to stop them.

When Hayden went in another direction and was no longer behind her, she pulled off to the side of the road, let her tears consume her, and didn’t know how in the hell she was going to keep it together when she got to her father’s house.

4

Damien had stayed away for four years ... four fucking long years. To say that was one of the hardest things he has ever done was an understatement.

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