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He had his arm aroundhershoulder.

She was clinging tohim.

Wantinghis touch.

The pain in my head was nothing compared to the pain in my chest, and suddenly, I didn’t give a shit about my recovery.

I didn’t feel the need totry.

I was empty.

I watched Hope watch me; her guilt-ridden blue eyes waiting for my reaction.

Waiting for my response to herbetrayal.

"Jordan, I'm so sorry," Hope began to say, but I couldn’thearit.

Not with a goddamn audience around us.

Not withhim.

She had the good grace to separate herself from him and hurry towards me. "I never meant for this to happen…" Tears were spilling down her cheeks, making me aware of the horrific looking scar on her face. I wasn’t surprised by the black eye she was sporting either.

Screwing around with a man as violent as him was going to get her a lot worse than a cut on her face.

"Leave," was the only word that came from my mouth, and it was directed entirely at the piece of shit trying to take my wife from me.

I had plans for him.

No amount of whiskey could distract me from what I had witnessed last night.

And no amount of hatred I felt for Hope could sway me from the need I had inside my heart to protect her.

From him.

When he made no move to leave, I roared, "Get the fuck out of my house!"

"Hunter," Hope whispered, turning her back to me. "It's okay…I've got this."

I watched him stare atmywife.

"You sure?" he finally bit out, jaw clenched.

When Hope nodded her head, he released a low growl before stalking past us.

"Hurt her and I'll end you," he snarled before throwing my front door open and stalking out of the house.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Annie standing in the kitchen. "I need you to not be here right now," I bit out.

Hurt etched across her face. "Jay, " she choked out. "I want to su–"

"I need to be alone with my wife," I cut her off by saying. "Please."

Not waiting to hear my best friend's response, I placed my hand on the banister and walked up the staircase, not stopping until I was safe inside the confines of my own room. The sound of an extra pair of footsteps told me that Hope was following me.

I wasn’t sure if I was happy about that or not.

Fuck, my head was splitting in two.

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