Page 48 of Klutch's Kryptonite

The suited man is reaching for something inside his jacket. I don’t give him time to grab whatever it is. My boot connects with his knee, and the sickening crunch of ligaments tearing is followed by his howl of pain.

“You fucked up,” I growl. “Nobody touches my woman!”

In haze of rage I grab hold of the fat fucker’s hair and slam my knee into his face. He falls lifeless to the floor. Turning myattention back to his partner on the ground, I kick him in the ribs— once, twice, and again. Every strike is calculated for maximum pain. These men hurt my woman. I have no doubt they had plans to do worse. There’s only one appropriate response in my world. They have to fucking die.

I barely register Demi scrambling to check on McKenna. All I can see is red as I systematically work to break these motherfuckers who put their hands on my girl.

“Klutch, stop!” Demi’s voice finally cuts through the haze. “You’re going to kill them!”

I pause, my fist midair, and look up at her. Her face is tear-streaked, a bruise forming on her cheek, but her eyes are clear and locked on mine.

“Please,” she whispers. “Don’t.”

The fear in her voice pulls me back from the edge. I look down at the men beneath me, barely recognizable now. The suited one, who I realize only now is Frankie Fish, is gurgling. His enforcer isn’t moving at all.

Before I can decide what to do next, the door flies open again. Beast and Yukon burst in, weapons drawn, followed closely by Pee Wee.

“Jesus fuck,” Beast mutters, taking in the scene.

“Check on the girls,” I order, my voice eerily calm considering what I’ve just done.

Pee Wee immediately goes to McKenna, who’s starting to stir. Yukon secures the apartment while Beast comes to stand beside me, looking down at the bloodied men.

“This Frankie?” he asks, nudging the fat fucker with his boot.

I nod. “And his muscle.”

“Alive?”

“For now.”

Beast’s expression darkens as he looks over at Demi, noting her injuries. “Want me to finish it?”

Part of me wants to say yes. These men were going to hurt Demi in ways I don’t even want to think about. They deserve to die for that alone.

But then I look over at her again. She’s watching me, those blue eyes wide with fear.

“Not yet,” I finally say. “Need to take them to Denali.”

Frankie’s eyes widen at the mention of Prez’s name.

Good. He should be fucking scared.

“Blue,” my voice is void of emotion. “Go with Pee Wee. He’ll take you and McKenna to the clubhouse.”

She hesitates. “What about you?”

“I’ll be right behind you. Need to clean up this mess first.”

Tears spill down her cheeks. “Klutch, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have?—”

“Later,” I cut her off harshly.

She flinches and I feel like an asshole. After what she’s just been through she needs to be handled with care.

Fuck.

I suck in a slow deep breath and try again, more carefully this time, “We’ll talk about it later, baby. Right now, I need you to go with Pee Wee, okay?”

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