Page 19 of Fire Bound

“Anyone ever tell you that your eyes are beautiful?” he slurs. “They’re like a summer day. So blue.”

Who the fuck is this guy?

Remington’s eyes aren’t like a summer day. Her eyes are like the sky when a thunderstorm is rolling in. They’re alive with chaotic energy. Lightning strikes every time she blinks.

He groans dramatically before saying the words that sign his death certificate. “Will they look like that still as you stare up at me from your knees?”

I’m charging into the room before he has a chance to finish his next sentence. I find him cuddled up to Remington on the leather couch, his face buried in her neck. His hands with sausage-like fingers wander over her body, caressing up her bare exposed thighs.

A look of boredom is etched across her face, there is no light in her eyes. They’re dead—cold even. When her gaze locks with mine, it’s like a switch is been flipped. The fire—the life—returns to her face.

If anyone could stop me from going after this guy, it’d be her. She could probably get me to do anything if she asked, but she remains where she sits, watching my movements with fascination.

He jumps to his feet to stand between Remi and me. Once I’m close enough, he pushes me back with both of his hands, but he’d have a better chance stopping a freight train than stopping me with his weak little human muscles.

“Hey, buddy, you lost? I think you’ve made a mistake—” The fucker doesn’t get to say the rest because my hand wraps around his throat, effectively cutting off his oxygen and whatever moronic comment he’s about to make.

“No, I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be,” I snarl in his face, not caring for a second my tone is borderline animalistic. “You, however, have made a mistake that’s going to cost you.”

His fat fingers tear at my hand, but I’m not deterred by the scratches he leaves. “What is your problem?” he chokes out.

Pretending to ponder his question, I forcibly back him up until his lower back hits the guardrail of the balcony. “That’s a bit of a loaded question, my friend.” I chuckle softly. “But I believe the short answer isdaddy issues. When I tell you that man did a number on me, I mean it.” A low gasping sound escapes his lips as my hand clamps down harder on his throat. “He never did teach me how to share. From what I’m told, it’s something kids learn at a young age, but he had other lessons in mind for me.”

“Jax.” Remington’s voice is a low warning coming from behind me, but I don’t let him go. I can’t yet. The red, angry haze has washed over me and I’m no longer in control.

“He taught me all kinds of things. For instance, I know right now your vision is starting to get a little fuzzy. Darkness is creeping in at the corners, right?” I pause, waiting for a choked answer, but all I get is a jerky head nod. “You probably think that’s because I’m depriving you of oxygen, but in reality, it’s not your airflow. It’s blood. I’mstarvingyour brain of blood.”

With a snarl, I shove him farther back until his upper body is hanging over the balcony. I’m the only thing keeping him from falling backward onto the dance floor.

“Your parents really failed you by not teaching you to not touch other people’s things. Surely, that’s a lesson that comes soon after the sharing one. Don’t worry though, I’ll teach you it myself,” I promise him. “When you touch something that doesn’t belong to you, there are repercussions.” My wolf thunders against his restraints and they fracture just enough that I feel his rage combine with him. “Do you know how long your brain can go without blood? Three minutes. You now have less than two minutes to learn what happens when you play with someone else’s toys, after that you risk permanent brain damage.”

I push him farther over the ledge and his hands cling on to my arm like a vice instead of trying to get me to release him. His face is red, and his eyes are wide with fear. Just when I think he’s starting to learn his lesson, he has the audacity to open his dumb mouth again. “She’s just a random...girl,” he chokes out. “You’d do this over some easypussy?”

This time it’s Remington who growls. Looking over my shoulder, I find her eyes glowing as her own wolf pushes forward. Her hands are balled into fists, but if I had to bet, her claws are also out. She doesn’t look at me. Her focus is on the man she was willing to let touch her just moments ago.

Turning back to the douchebag, I laugh coldly at him. “Jesus. You really are a dense motherfucker.”

He glances down at the ground below him. Nervously licking his lips, he looks back at me. “Let me go.”

“You want me to let you go?” I repeat, raising a brow.

“Yes.” He nods awkwardly. “Please just let me go.”

That’s all I need to hear. “Okay.” I nod once, shrugging before I release my hold on his neck.

He barely has time to open his mouth in a cry for help before he tumbles down a story. People yell in surprise as he falls toward them. The sound of his body slamming into the dance floor will be one I savor for a long time. Smiling to myself, I glance over the metal railing and find him splayed out on the ground. People stand all around him with puzzled looks on their faces.

Feeling pleased with myself, I turn back around and find Remington standing with a dumbfounded look on her face as she stares at me. She doesn’t look sad or remotely worried about the man, just shocked. “What did you just do?” she whispers.

“He said please.”

“For you tolethim go,” she emphasizes while throwing her hands up in the air.

With a puzzled look, I thrust my thumb behind me. “Yeah,and I did.”Is she not paying attention?

“He meant let him go, as in let himwalkout of this room.”

Shrugging halfheartedly, I move away from the balcony. “In that case, he really should have been more specific.”

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