Page 214 of Mountain Boss

“What happened to your hands? Who did you fight?” I dig my fingers into his shoulders.

To hold him away… To keep him close… I don’t know anymore.

Chapter 159

Sterling

I gently tug her braids,tilting her head back just a little more, needing to see her neck. Needing it exposed to me as I tell her this.

Needing her to trust me.

Like I should have trusted her.

I still won’t tell her the full truth. But with distance… I realized distance is the last thing I wanted.

“I’m not a violent man,” I tell her.

My hands around Creep’s fingers, crushing them.

“I need you to know you’re safe with me,” I ask of her.

Creep landing face-first on her steps as I drag him into the dirt.

“I need you to not be afraid of me,” I beg of her.

The pop of bone as I break Creep’s joints.

Her shoulders relax even as she clings to me. “I’m not afraid of you, Sterling.”

I let her braids slide through my fingers as I drag my hands down their length.

“Tell me what happened.” Her hands move to the sides of my neck, holding me.

I fill my lungs.

Chapter 160

Courtney

I feelhis neck flex on a swallow. “There was a man who was going to hurt a woman. He needed to be taught a lesson.”

Oh.

I keep my eyes on his.

He was protecting someone.

A woman.

My tongue peeks out to wet my lips.

I have to ask.

I don’t want to ask.

But I have to.

“Are you… seeing someone else?” It comes out as a whisper.

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