Page 97 of Call It Love

He lunged, yanking me off-balance and into him. The pungent smell of alcohol and sweat hit me like a wall. His hand clutched at my neckline, trying to drag me closer. His mouth came toward mine.

I twisted away, panic flooding every nerve. I opened my mouth to scream, but his hand, rough and calloused, slammed down over it.

I fought as hard as I could, kicking and reaching blindly until my fingers found his face. I raked my nails across his cheek.

“You bitch!” he roared, releasing me for half a second.

Then the world went white-hot as his fist met my face. Pain bloomed behind my eye, and an explosion of stars filled my vision. My knees gave out, and I hit the ground hard, the taste of blood sharp on my tongue.

I fought through the daze, trying to push myself up. But the shadow looming above me told me this wasn’t over yet. My head throbbed, but I knew I had to get out. Just yards away, the din of music and people laughing rang like a beacon. I tried to drag myself to the open door. So close. If I could make it a few feet, maybe someone would see and help.

A boot landed on my hand and pressed down. Through blurred vision, I saw the fury in Marcus’s eyes. He was more than drunk. He was unhinged. The boot lifted from my hand, only to swing backward. I knew what was coming next. I curled into a fetal position and waited for the blow.

Only the impact never came.

There was a rush of motion, and suddenly Marcus was tackled from behind and thrown to the ground. Then Chase was on him, landing punch after punch. I heard shouts, then the sounds of pounding footsteps. Clay and Zachreached Chase first, grabbing his arms and pulling him back.

“Chase, that’s enough!” Zach barked.

“Let it go, man,” Clay added, grunting with the effort.

Chase shook them off, but he let Marcus go, crumpled and bleeding in the dirt.

He spun back toward me, his face still tight with barely contained fury—but when he saw me, something in him broke.

“Anna,” he said hoarsely, his voice cracking. He crossed the space between us in three long strides and sank to his knees. He helped me to sit up, his hands not seeming to know where to go. “Where are you injured?”

“He hit me in the head,” I murmured shakily as the shock started to take hold. Chase cursed, then pulled me into his arms.

I let him.

For a second, I couldn’t do anything else.

He tucked me against his chest, one hand cradling the back of my head like he was afraid I might shatter.

“It’s over,” he murmured fiercely into my hair. “He’s never going to touch you again. Not ever. I swear it.”

I pressed my face against him, breathing in the familiar, steadying scent of him, and tried to stop shaking.

Reid and several deputies surrounded Marcus and, none too gently, dragged him to his feet and cuffed him.

“Get that piece of shit out of here,” Chase called. “And it goes without saying, you’re fired.”

Marcus didn’t even flinch as the deputies hauled him away.

Around us, voices slowly began to rise as people tried to make sense of what had happened.

And then, cutting through the chaos, I heard BeverlySeymour mutter loudly, “Honestly. Can this town have just one event without something dramatic happening?”

Despite everything, a strangled laugh slipped out of me.

Chase gave a low, disbelieving huff of a laugh, too, his arms carefully tightening around me.

It was ridiculous. Inappropriate. But it was exactly what I needed.

Somehow, sitting there in the middle of the mess, I felt stronger than I ever had before. I’d stood up for myself, then had a host of people back me up. I wasn’t alone anymore.

Someone had grabbed a folding chair for me, and I sat near the edge of the barn where some light spilled out, enough to see, but far away from prying eyes. Mac, Trey, and a few other guys had ushered everyone back into the barn, then stood sentry to keep everyone inside.