Page 225 of Pucking Sweet

Dad’s expression is impossible to read. Resolved, he looks to Colton. “Will you please see my girls safely inside? I’ll deal with Anderson.”

“Daddy, no,” Violet cries. “You can’t kill him.”

He just chuckles. “I’m not gonna off the man. I’m gonna splash some water on his face to get him conscious. Then I’ll tell him in no uncertain terms that the next time he comes sniffing around a St. James, he’s gonna get his nose stomped with the heel of my goddamn boot.”

Lukas steps forward. “Sir, I can’t have him pressing charges—”

“Should’ve thought of that before you knocked him out cold,” Rowan counters.

“Rowan, enough,” Dad snaps. He looks to Lukas. “We have witnesses that he was attacking Violet, yes?”

“Yes,” I say with a fervent nod.

“We both saw it too,” Colton assures him.

“That’s good enough,” Dad replies. “As I said, leave Anderson to me. The day he presses charges on you will be the day his life goes up in smoke.”

“Thank you, sir.” Lukas steps over and offers out his hand.

Daddy shakes it. “By the way, I like the tattoo.”

Lukas grins. “Thanks. Your daughter drew it.”

“Oh god,” I mutter as Colton laughs.

“Did she now?” Dad looks at me. “Always full of surprises.” He drops Lukas’s hand. “Now, y’all head on inside. I’d prefer not to have a witness to the threats I’m about to levy on this man’s soul.”

Lukas takes Violet’s hand, leading her over to us. I take her other hand, and the five of us start walking back toward the golden lights of the hotel. The music grows louder as we approach the restaurant.

“Well, that was embarrassing,” Rowan mutters. “Are you two capable of doing anything but bringing shame to the damn family?”

“Oh, Rowan, will you shut up already?” I snap. “If we can survive our mom, you can surely survive dad. Or if you can’t, do what I did and walk away. The door is always open to a new life.”

He huffs. “Sure. Why don’t I just go see if a few football players can knock me up too?”

Next to me, Colton groans. “Permission to break rule number one?”

“Be my guest,” I say with a wave of my hand.

Rounding on my brother, Colton grabs him by the shoulders and shoves him up against the nearest boxwood. “Ouch—fuck—get your hands off me,” Rowan cries.

“Listen to me, you literal fucking shit stain,” Colton growls in his face. “Say one more bad word about your sisters, and I will personally put my fist so far down your throat, it’ll massage your prostate. Do you understand me?”

Rowan’s eyes go wide. Then he squirms, fighting Colton’s hold. “I don’t think you know who you’re talking to—”

“I knowexactlywho I’m talking to,” Colton shouts. “And your sister is an angel sent to this earth to fucking redeem me. She is the best person I know, and I will tear your heart out if you hurt her feelings again. So much as look at her sideways, Rowan, I goddamn dare you.”

Rowan opens his mouth, but then closes it again.

“Good boy,” Colton sneers. Pulling him from the bush, he gives him a shove. “Now, get the fuck out of here.”

Rowan stalks away, cheeks pink with embarrassment, muttering under his breath.

“Okay, you’re my new favorite,” Violet says at Colton.

“Wow,” Lukas says with a dramatic nod of his head. “You’re welcome for saving your life, by the way.”

She smiles at him. “You’re my favorite too.”

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