Page 159 of Lush

Someone shouted, “Jesus Christ, stop them!”

Reese grabbed Conrad by the front of his shirt and drove him back, slamming him against the mast. The impact made the sail snap, ropes whipping dangerously overhead.

Conrad laughed through clenched teeth, blood on his lip. “Hit harder, little brother.”

“Reese! Don’t!” I shouted.

He landed another punch—this time to Conrad’s stomach, making him double over. But before he could land another, Conrad twisted, using his weight to shove Reese back. The music cut out.

“Shit! Watch the wheel!” someone shouted, but the fight was moving too fast.

Conrad charged.

He tackled Reese, the force slamming them to the ground.The wood splintered under their weight. Reese grabbed Conrad’s collar and flipped them over, landing on top. He drove a fist into Conrad’s face, then another.

And another.

But Conrad caught his arm and headbutted him.

A sharp, pained groan ripped from Reese’s throat, his face contorted in agony. His hands went to his face, just enough for Conrad to roll them over, pinning Reese down. His hands clamped around Reese’s throat, squeezing hard.

“You don’t get to win,” Conrad growled, his voice a low, venomous hiss. “You never get to win.”

Water splashed over the side as the boat jerked dangerously close to the rocks.

He grabbed Conrad’s wrist, trying to pry him off, but Conrad was unshaken, his grip tightening.

The yacht swayed hard again, nearly knocking them both over. More screams. More chaos.

“Conrad!” I turned to see Nina screaming.

A sharp, splinteringcrackechoed through the deck as the yacht teetered, too close to tipping, and people screamed—some scrambling to grab on to the railing, others falling into each other like pins.

“Let—go—” Reese gritted out.

But Conrad didn’t listen.

I couldn’t justwatchthis. I couldn’t.

“Conrad!” I shout, my voice barely reaching over the crashing waves. “Stop!”

But it was no use. He was lost to rage. He didn’t hear me. He didn’t care.

I surged forward, my feet slipping on the slick deck, but I forced myself to push through. I reached out, my fingers gripping the back of Conrad’s shirt, trying to pull him off Reese.

But Conrad was solid, like a damn boulder.

I pulled harder, determined to break this up before it was too late.

The yacht swayed again, more violently this time, and I lost my footing, stumbling backward.

“Laurene!” someone shouted as I was knocked off-balance.

But I wouldn’t give up. Not when Reese needed me.

I lunged forward again, reaching out just as Conrad shifted his weight, his attention still solely on Reese. I grabbed his arm, pulling, yanking, using every bit of strength I had left.

Then my fist slammed into the side of Conrad’s jaw, the contact jolting through my arm, pain flashing up my wrist. But I didn’t hesitate. I swung again, landing another punch to his ribs, a satisfying grunt escaping him.

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