Page 50 of Rugged

Clint shoved his way forward. The other ranch guys were all pushing through the growing crowd, too.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” Willow came up to me and eyed me closely.

I shook my head and followed Johnny, also trying to push my way through the close-knit crowd to get to him.

Was there going to be a brawl? The drunk guy’s friends were shouting now, and one of them threw a punch at Johnny. I swear to God, it bounced right off his muscled abs like he hadn’t felt a thing. He just keptstalking toward my attacker. The guy had picked himself up from the floor, but he was staggering, like he didn’t know what had happened.

Johnny leaped through the air–more than five feet–and tackled the guy again. They both went down to the floor, rolling.

Colton and Clint finally caught up. Johnny drew his arm back to punch the guy, but before he could swing, his friends hauled him off.

“Get him back. Get him out of here.” Rob snapped. He was right behind the other guys.

I didn’t like the way they were strong-arming Johnny. I knew they were his friends and were doing it for his own good, but I didn’t like that he had to struggle against their hold.

“He hurt her,” Johnny snarled. “He was going to–”

I threw myself in front of him, my hands on his chiseled chest. “I’m okay.” I tried to catch his eyes. They looked wild, the irises glinting almost yellow instead of brown, and his teeth were clenched.

“Johnny,” I said again, this time more forcefully.

His gaze jerked to mine.

I reached for his face and held it between my palms. His skin was hot. Sweaty. “Johnny, I’m not hurt. You stopped him. It’s okay.”

He went still. “Lyssa?”

I never hated hearing my sister’s name on his lips more. I really wanted it to bemehe was looking at with one part desperation, one part relief.

“You lost it, kid. You just caused a world of problems,” Rob said sharply. “Instead of looking after your m–female, you were out for blood.”

I wanted to tell Rob to shut up. To stop lecturing Johnny.

But it was okay because Johnny only had eyes for me. “Fuck, Lyssa. I’m sorry.”

His buddies released him, no doubt realizing he was back in control. Beyond the tight circle they made, the drunk guy and his friends were still trying to fight, but the Wolf Ranch guys ignored them.

Johnny swung me up into his arms, lifting me into a honeymoon carry.

“Yeah, get her out of here,” Rob said.

Johnny was already moving, like he needed to get me out of there before the place exploded. “Lyssa…I–I lost control again. I left you standing there.”

“You have me now,” I murmured.

The crowd parted for us, whispering and watching. Some slapped Johnny on the back, some called himassholeand other names. He ignored them all and carried me outside and directly to his truck. There, he set me down by the passenger door. “Lyssa…” He stroked his hands down my arms then held the one the guy had grabbed and examined the finger marks he had left.

His face turned murderous again and an eerie growl came from his throat.

“I’m okay,” I said firmly.

Some of the drunk guy’s friends came spilling out the front door, shouting at us. “We’re gonna kill you for that!” one of them yelled.

My heart pounded, but I was careful not to show fear. I didn’t want Johnny to get back in another fight over me. “Take me home,” I pleaded, wanting nothing more than to get the hell away from here.

He glanced over his shoulder at the assholes approaching, his brows down.

Willow had come out, followed by the Wolf Ranch guys, and she was talking the other gang down. “That’s enough, boys. It’s time for everyone to go home,” she said in a calm, authoritative voice.

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