Page 148 of Brutal Collateral

“If by garbage you mean that it’s wrong for a man to beat her? Yeah,” I drawl with my fists clenched out of his gaze.

While I look casual and poised, I’m a hair away from striking this asshole in the throat and crushing his windpipe.

“Ava!” Bourne shouts from the sidewalk.

Ted freezes, and I put a finger up to my lips.

“He’s with me,” I whisper. “But I want you to get your ass beat by a woman.”

Ted waits for Bourne to pass us and laughs a low, ugly sound. “Try me, bitch.”

He swings wildly, but I sidestep his fist with a practiced move that sends his hand crashing into the brick wall.

“Bitch,” he groans, holding his already bleeding hand.

For a moment, I’m on that platform with Rand Miller and the fight I wanted to have seven years ago is today. I deliver a quick jab to Ted’s ribs. He coughs and stumbles back.

There’s plenty of room for me to run, but I’m breaking my own rule. Every second he’s here in this alley with me, he’s not hunting Jenna.

Shock crosses his face, and the anger there flares hot as his pain melts into pure rage. “You think you’re tough?” Ted spats, recovering faster than I expect.

He goes after me again, but I hook his leg out from under him. He hits the ground hard, but I learned a thing or two since BUD/S so I don’t go down with him.

“Get it through your head,” I say, keeping my voice steady, holding my fist-drawn stance. “Jenna is done with you, Ted.”

His expression twists into something ugly, his gaze settling on me with male hatred I didn’t even see in BUD/S. But I’m not facing a fellow SEAL candidate or a rival, who underneath deserves respect.

This prick convinced himself he owns Jenna and that gives him the right to hurt her.

Watching Ted squirm in pain, I step back and decide now it’s time to find Bourne. As I turn away, I’m grabbed from behind, Ted surging forward with a roar. He spins me around and his shoulder hits me square in the ribs, sending us both to the ground.

I fight to catch my breath, but he’s got me pinned.

With his face inches from mine, I choke on the rank smell of alcohol on his breath.

I knee him in the balls and he winces, but his hold on me stays strong. Guess that’s not the first time a chick did that while pinned. His balls must be knee-proof.

“You’re gonna pay for that, you—”

A shadow falls over us, and Ted’s grip on me suddenly loosens.

Bourne.I hate that I’m grateful to be rescued by my guard.

But Ted’s face is frozen in horror. Looking over his shoulder, expecting to see my finely dressed, suit-wearing bodyguard, I gasp.

Griffin stands there, his presence as dark and foreboding as a deadly storm in cargo pants, a black T-shirt, and a leather jacket.

“That’s my wife.” His voice is ice, each word a warning.

Ted scrambles off me, and I push myself to my full height. Griffin’s eyes, fierce and blazing, never leave Jenna’s ex.

“She’s... She’s poisoning my girlfriend against me,” the idiot argues.

Squinting like he can’t believe what he’s hearing, Griffin growls. Hands flexing and fingers itching to get around this guy’s throat, he says, “You think that gives you permission to hurtmy wife?”

Ted stupidly opens his mouth to agree. There’s nothing but the sound of Griffin’s fist meeting this guy’s jaw with a brutal, bone-crunching hit. Ted staggers, his brain not catching up. Griffin keeps going. Blow after blow is rained down on this scumbag, each one fiercer than the last.

The air is filled with grunts and the sickening thud of fists against flesh and bone.

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