Page 109 of Live for Me

He leaned forward, getting right in my space. It was too dark for me to see his eyes, but oh, I wished I could. A man’s eyes told you everything you needed to know.

“You have until the end of the month to leave him. You understand me?”

Before I could stop it, the question flew out from my mouth. “Who are you?”

The last word wasn’t even off my tongue when the back of his hand connected with my cheek, the sheer force of his hit snapping my head to the side. Pain radiated through my cheek, a sharp sting lingering as I slowly looked back at him. His shoulders moved with every harsh breath he took.

“Fuckin’ told you to stay quiet. You need to listen,” he barked, making me jump.

I nodded again, bringing my hand up to my cheek, praying to God it wouldn’t bruise.

In a flash, the man’s hand was around my throat, holding my head against the rough brick. “You have until the end of the month. Do I make myself crystal clear?”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Abbie

I looked up from our intertwined hands to the table, holding my breath.

I could feel Beau’s eyes on me, his grip tighter than before.

Actually, I could feel everyone’s eyes on me and the air in the dining room was chilling. I didn’t have the stomach to look at them. I caused so much pain. I hurt Beau, his father—-hell, I even think I hurt the Langston brothers.

“He fuckin’ touched you,” Beau said darkly, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

I said nothing, still not ready to face my judgment.

Beau released my hand, shooting up from his seat, sending his chair flying back, crashing onto the floor. I jumped, and suddenly, my chair was ripped back and twisted. Beau’s hands flew down, slamming against the armrests, caging me in. Anger and death painted his face, transforming him from the man I loved into the monster he told me he’d become. His hard features were set in stone, the flame in his eyes untamed now as he leaned down.

“HE FUCKIN’ TOUCHED YOU!”

His roar bounced off the walls and instantly scared NJ. The baby girl started crying and my eyes left him, looking for her.

“Beau,” Denver warned.

Beau blocked my view, and I heard Valerie murmur something, another chair scooting back. My head twisted when she finally came into my view, her crying daughter—clinging to her. Valerie’s worried eyes met mine as I pushed out. “I’m sorry—I’m sorry for all the trouble I caused—I—”

Beau’s hand cupped my jaw and turned my head back to face him. “He fuckin’ touched you,” he repeated.

“Drop your hand.”

Mags’ deep command shot through the air like a bullet, and Beau’s eyes sliced over to his friend.

“He fuckin’ touched her,” my cowboy growled, his body vibrating with rage, his fingers tightening.

It hurt, yes.

But it wasn’t on purpose; I knew that in my soul.

“Know that, Beau, but you need to check your anger before you touch your woman right now,” Mags said calmly, a jagged edge to his voice. “Only going to say it one more time:Drop. Your. Hand.”

The reaction was almost immediate. Beau’s hand disappeared, and he backed away from me, like I was the one who’d burned him. He tore off his hat, rubbing that same hand through his hair. “Fuck,” he rasped, looking at me in a different like now.“Fuck.”

More chairs moved and I didn’t have to look to know Harmony and I were the only ones still sitting. I kept my eyes on Beau. “I’m sorry,” I breathed out, putting my hands to my chest in an effort to ease the ache. I shook my head again. “I’m so sorry, Beau.”

I broke then, shattering into a million pieces, letting all the pain from the last six years free. My head was in my hands next as my body jerked with each sob as I chanted the same words into my palms.

I’m sorry.

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