Page 128 of Breaking Rules

“Jake Miller?” Mr. Jensen furrows his brow in confusion.

“Yep, that’s me.” He bends down, finds Milo’s leash, and straightens again. “Everything’s alright. We were just on our way inside.”

“I asked Isabella, not you,” Mr. Jensen says, his voice cold. “Isabella?”

Jake squeezes the back of my neck hard enough to make my vision darken around the edges.

“I’m…f-fine.” Despite my words, I widen my eyes, hoping he reads my silent plea and calls Xander.

“We gotta go. Goodbye.” Jake forces the leash into my hand before dragging me to the house. On the porch, he leans in so his mouth is at my ear. “Open the damn door, Isabella.”

With trembling hands, I work the knob, and he stomps inside with me in tow. He slams the door with enough force to make the house shake, then stuffs Milo into the coat closet.

Holy shit.

Keeping my emotions in check, I pull my shoulders back. “What do you want?”

“You.” He shrugs, suddenly nonchalant.

What the hell?His change of attitude gives me a whiplash.

“That’s not going to happen.”

“Isabella, baby, did you already forget that I know you like the back of my hand?” He smirks. “One touch to your clit, and you’ll be dripping wet for me, ready to fuck.”

My stomach roils. “Is that what you said to Stacey?” I ask. “Xander told me everything. Absolutely everything.”

His anger contorts his face, his eyebrows pulling together. “Did he mention we spent our college years competing to see who could fuck girls first? That we banged more than a few together?”

Chin lifted, I nod. His eyes flare for a second, but then he’s smirking, his fists clenched at his sides. He leans into me, and I take a step back, only to bump into the wall.

He clutches my chin and forces me to look at him. “In that case, you know what?—”

“What the fuck are you doing?” a familiar voice booms.

I practically jump out of my skin, and my heart takes off, but when I realize who the voice belongs to, relief washes over me, making my knees weak.

Xander.

“I’m claiming what’s mine.” Jake doesn’t bother to look at him. He remains fixated on me, his pupils so wide, his usually grayish-blue eyes look black.

Xander grasps Jake’s shoulders and turns him around right before his fist connects with Jake’s jaw.

I jump away as Jake’s back hits the wall.

Xander delivers another punch, and the sound of bones cracking is deafening. Blood drips down my ex’s face as he slides to the floor. Just like that, all trace of the strong, powerful man who tried to exert control over me vanishes. He crumples like a paper bag, moaning as he brings a hand to his nose and tries to stop the bleeding.

“How dare you force yourself on her?” Xander bellows. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Xander,” I call out to him quietly.

As if he can’t hear me, he yanks Jake off the floor and cocks his fist back, ready to punch him again. All the rage he’s kept locked up erupts. If he doesn’t stop, the consequences could be devastating.

“Xander, please!”

He looks at me over his shoulder.

“Please,” I plead.

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