Page 53 of Major Penalty

Her.

I turn, and Irene is still frozen, wide-eyed and shaken. And that makes my pulse hammer even harder.

She opens her mouth to say something, but I grab her before she gets a chance.

She gasps as I lift her right off the ground. Her hands push at my chest, struggling, but she doesn’t stand a chance.

“Ares, wait!”

I ignore her. I ignore everything as I carry her straight through the club, through the crowd that parts as I move.

The second I step into VIP, everyone turns. Livia’s already on her feet, her brows pulled tight.

“What the hell happened?” she demands.

I set Irene down on one of the couches and crouch in front of her. The team swarms us.

“Are you okay?”

“What happened?”

“Did that guy try anything?”

“Back the fuck up!” My voice is a whip crack. They all freeze and take a few steps back. I don’t yell often, but when I do, this is the reaction.

“Water. Now,” Rowan barks at the bartender.

A glass slides across the table. He grabs it and shoves it toward me. I take it, grip it tight, and press it into her hands.

“Drink.”

Irene swallows, fingers trembling around the glass. She hesitates. I don’t have the patience for hesitation right now.

“Please, drink,” I repeat myself, trying to soften my voice.

Her lips part, and this time, she listens. She takes a sip, and I exhale, some of the tension in my chest loosening. And then I lower my eyes down to her dress. The fabric is torn just above her thigh from where that bastard grabbed her and yanked her toward him.

Something inside me detonates.

I stand and turn, but Livia blocks me instantly.

“Oh, no,” she snaps, hands flat against my chest. “You already knocked him out once. That’s enough.”

“It’s not.” My voice is flat and deadly.

“No.”

I try to step around her.

“Jesus, Ares! Just stop and think for a second!” She shoves me back.

“I am thinking,” I grit out. “And all I’m thinking about is ripping that guy’s fucking spine out.”

“This is going great.” Damien sighs behind me.

Livia exhales sharply. Then, her voice softens just a fraction.

“I got this,” she says. “I’ll handle the press. I’ll make sure no one runs their mouth about this. But you? You need to cool the fuck off.”

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