Page 51 of Changing Rules

That stupid motherfucker.

Washing his face. Yeah right.

My vision goes red at the edges as I storm toward the slightly open door down the hall. A furious energy fills my body to the brim as I throw it open and step inside.

Bella stands beside a bookcase, her hands pressed to Kevin’s chest, trying to shove him away.

The emotion churning inside me turns into all-out rage.

I lunge across the room and yank Kevin away from her. Her cry bounces off the walls as I topple this prick, clocking first his jaw and then his nose.

Kevin clutches my shirt, trying to stop my punches, but there’s no calming the monster that’s awakened inside me. I rain blow after blow upon him, hitting him in the face over and over. Miller pissed me off today, but this asshole…this asshole brought out my rage like no other. I’m determined to beat the living shit out of him.

“Xander!” Bella grasps my shoulders and pulls. “Xander, please, stop! Stop!”

I meet her gaze, breathing hard, one hand twisted into the fabric of his shirt, the other still balled in a fist. Adrenaline courses through me, making my body tremble. My heartbeat echoes in my ears.

Her focus drifts from me to the man beneath me, and her eyes widen.

Only then do I look down at what I’ve done. Kevin’s face is a bloody mess, and fuck, does it feel good. He got what he deserved.

When I stand, Bella steps in front of me, like she’s shielding me from him.

He slowly gets to his feet too, his bloodshot eyes focused on her, as if she’s all he sees.

My chest pinches so tightly, it’s suddenly hard to breathe. His bottom lip is split. Blood gushes from his clearly brokennose. His right eye is already swollen. But his expression is what makes my blood freeze.

There’s softness there, and not only that—there’s also a strange intensity, like he’s completely lost in her. He doesn’t pay attention to the blood dripping down his face, to the pain his broken nose is probably causing him. He only sees her.

He loves her, doesn’t he?

CHAPTER 14

BITTER TRUTH

BELLA

A year and one month ago

July

One,two, three.Counting my breaths, I work to collect my thoughts. In the last thirty-six hours, everything has gone downhill.Everything.One shitty day ended, and an even worse one began.

I so badly want to find a way out of the mess my life has become.

When I fell in love with Xander, I thought I was finally free, that I’d finally overcome the demons of my past and I could simply be happy. Loved.

Never in my life have I been more wrong.

Kevin stares at me, his gaze heavy.

Behind me, Xander’s heart beats in time with mine, his chest pressed firmly to my back.

He didn’t hesitate to defend me.The thought warms my heart, but the sensation is quickly replaced by a cold dread that douses me from head to toe. What he did to Kevin’s face could have severe consequences. If Kevin presses charges…

“Somebody should’ve taught you how to mind your own business, boy,” Kevin rasps, blood dribbling down his chin. “Isabella and I were just talking.”

“Just talking?” Xander’s voice is strangled. “Are you fucking kidding me? She was trying to push you away when I opened the door.”

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