Page 105 of Edge of Unbroken

“I’d never do anything like that. I really think I could make you happy if you gave me a chance. Please, Cat, just give me a chance,” Drew says, stoking my anger.

He moves in for another kiss, propping his hands against the wall on either side of my head. For a moment, I’m back at Murphy’s, and it’s Adam blocking my path. He’s trying to take advantage of my vulnerability, of the fact that no one is around. But I won’t let this happen again. Fuck that. Fuck every guy who has ever felt he could take what he wanted without regard for anyone around him, not giving a shit how his words and actions affected the person he was taking advantage of.

At this exact moment, Drew might as well be Adam. They’re the same person for all I care.

“Don’t fucking touch me!” I yell, tears—whether of despair or anger, I can’t tell—bursting from my eyes. I instinctively jerk my knee up and into Drew’s groin just as both Steve and Shane appear in the door to the bathroom.

Drew hunches over with a loud groan, his hands between his legs, cupping his prized manhood.

I jerk my knee up and into Drew’s nose, then shove him back and away from me. “Don’teverfucking touch me.”

Shane catches Drew before he falls on his ass. He yanks him up by the collar of his dark-red sweater while Steve takes hold of Drew’s left arm. Together, they drag Drew out of the bathroom.

“Get the fuck out my house, you fuck,” Shane growls.

“What the fuck, man? I didn’t do anything,” Drew bleats, spit and blood flying, his right hand pressed to his bleeding nose, his left flailing and swinging as he tries to get out of Shane and Steve’s hold on him.

Steve lets go of Drew. “Did you not just kiss Cat?” He looks livid, his expression, his posture almost as menacing as Ronan’s the night Adam stalked me to New York. God, how alike the brothers are, causing a deep yearning for Ronan to wash through me.I need him back. NOW.

“You know what, stay the fuck out of my business, Steve. This is between Cat and me,” Drew says and sucks the blood back up into his nose with a wet, disgusting snort. My face contorts at the sound.

“The fuck it is,” Steve says. “You put your grimy fucking hands on my little brother’s girl and I’ll—”

“Fuck you, Steve. And fuck you, too, Shane. And fuck Ronan,” Drew shouts, doing a weird twisting motion, successfully escaping Shane’s hold on him. “God, that motherfucker isn’t even here and still you’re all fucking beholden to him. Does he suck your cocks or what?”

A jolt of anger causes my feet to move forward, and before I know what I’m doing my fist comes flying into Drew’s face.

I’m not the only one surprised by my out-of-character response. Steve and Shane look at me stunned, their eyes wide, mouths agape. Drew scowls at me, his right hand cradling his cheek.

“Fuck, you know what, I don’t know what I ever saw in you, Cat. I was obviously wrong about you. You fit right in with these motherfuckers,” Drew sputters.

“You sound like a whiny little bitch, and you’re bleeding all over the damn floor,” Shane says disdainfully. “So, you can either walk out of here right now or I will fucking drag your ass outside. Your call, but option two won’t be pleasant.” His deep voice is a low rumble.

“Fuck all of you.” Drew presses his hand to his nose, breathing through his mouth.

Steve points straight at the front door. “Just leave, man.”

Drew considers the boys with a stony expression, then finally turns to leave.

“I swear to fucking god, if I ever see your fucking face again I won’t let you get away so easily,” Shane growls.

“Yeah? That a fucking threat?” Drew asks over his shoulder.

“You bet, asshole,” Shane says, unblinking.

Neither Steve nor Shane move, their eyes fixed to the back of Drew’s head until Drew slams the door shut behind him.

“Hey, are you okay?” Steve asks, looking me over with concern in his eyes.

“Totally fine.” I’m honestly kind of proud of myself. This is the first time I’ve truly stood up for myself, the first time I didn’t freeze when my safety was threatened, the first time I didn’t cower or comply.

Steve rubs his hand over his face. “God, we can’t let you out of our sight even for a minute.”

“Hey, I handled myself just fine,” I say. “It’s not my fault that Drew felt he needed to follow me into the bathroom.”

“God damn it,” Shane mutters, his face furious. “Ran’s going to be so fucking pissed.”

“No, I don’t want to burden him with this,” I say quickly. Shane’s brow furrows and I look at Steve.