Page 27 of Beautiful Nightmare
I grit my teeth. I don’t know what they have planned. But if someone is going to hurt her, it’ll be me. If someone is going to touch her, that’ll be me, too. She’s mine. No one gets near her but me. I don’t have time to consider the repercussions of those statements or to analyze what my feeling that way means for the future. I'm too worried and pissed off to go down that rabbit hole right now.
Their sick laughter coming through the door clear as a bell is more than the confirmation I need. She’s not just drunk. She’s in danger. And it’s more than I can take when I catch part of what one of them says.I’m first. The rest of you can do what you want after I’m done with her.
Like a raging bull, I back up a pace then lunge forward to kick the door open. My foot connects with it near the lock and the wood splinters, giving way. The door flies inward and slams into the wall with a sickening crack, and everyone in the room stops what they’re doing, their gazes shooting to me. Three of them automatically put their hands up and take a step back from their intended prey—no other word for it. They meant to have their way with her. None of them is wearing a shirt, and each of them has their belt unbuckled and pants unfastened, the denim gaping open for easy access when it’s their turn.
The fourth guy, the one who gave her the drink, and who I was forced to watch dance with her, smirks as if to say,What are you going to do about it?
Bad. Fucking. Idea.
I lunge forward and yank him straight off the bed, holding him with his back against me in a choke hold. “Something funny now, fucker?” We’re of similar height, and when I lean backward, putting pressure on his throat, his feet barely touch the floor.
He shakes his head, almost violently, and his voice gurgles out, “N-no.” I clamp down tighter on his neck, squeezing so hard, I think my bicep might pop. He struggles, hands clawing at my arms. But I’m not letting up.Oh, no.
Then my eyes fall to Lux who is sprawled sideways across the bed, and it makes me squeeze harder, and the piece of shit goes limp. Lack of oxygen will do that. I drop him immediately like a ton of bricks to the floor, then deliver a swift kick to his back.
Lux is only semiconscious, but her eyes flicker with partial awareness when she turns her head toward the commotion and sees me. “Hawk?” The soft, confused sound of her voice takes things to an entirely new level.
My heart thuds, heavy in my chest. I need to get her out of here. But not before I issue a warning.Fuckers.I look each one of them still standing in the eye, their faces imprinted on my brain. They won’t get away with thinking they could hurt what’smine.“Lemme guess. You figured you’d run a train on this poor, drugged girl, and it’d be fun? You’d get your rocks off, use her up, and spit her out? Welcome to Shadow River University.”
One of them stutters, attempting to answer, but I cut him off. “No. You’re pathetic. Save it for later. And don’t worry, I’ll be back. No sense in running, either. I’ll find you. You’ll be fuckin’ lucky if all I do is knock you the fuck out. And,”—I focus on the asshole ringleader who is just coming around—“maybe you can help me out with your buddy here. Make sure he understands that he’ll be lucky if I don’t come after him with a big dildo and no lube.” My jaw twitches. “All of you fuckers deserve that.”
I must look like I’m going to make good on my promise because the other guys shuffle backward, their eyes wide. One of them even edges toward the door, as if he’s going to take off running.
“Don’t you move a fucking muscle.” I step to the bed, scooping Lux into my arms. My jaw tenses.Fuck,I’ve got to get her out of here before this becomes a four-on-one brawl with these dumb fuckers. Not that I couldn’t take these frat boy pussies all on my own.
Trying to control the raging beast inside me for her sake, I walk out the door with her, down the stairs, and away from the house and its perverted brotherhood.
When the fresh air hits us, Lux struggles sluggishly in my arms. “What are you d-doing? P-put me down, Hawk.” But then her eyes close, and she rests her head against my chest.
Not knowing what else to do or say, I begin the long walk back to the dorm. A few minutes in, and I’m certain she’s still out of it or half-asleep because she rambles in a low voice, “But you’re dead, Hawk. I thought you were dead. But you’re not. You’re here. But you can’t be. Because you died. I was right there.” She huffs quietly against my neck. “I’m glad you’re not dead. I like this new Hawk.”
I shift her in my arms and try to make sense of her words. Her confusion is clear as a bell, and I know it’s my fault she feels this way. I should tell her the truth. But there’s still a part of me that looks at her as the girl who messed everything up for me. And I don’t know what to do about that.
Out of nowhere, she stretches up, pulling on my neck and putting her luscious lips on mine. They’re soft and sweet, and her tongue brushes my lips, as if she’s searching for something. I relish the idea that she wants me. But whether she’ll be happy to learn what she did while half-drunk and drugged-up is anyone’s guess. Her body presses closer to mine, but I can’t let this go further. Not like this. Not when she’s had the night she has.
With a confounding sense of regret, I gently pull back. “Sorry, Lux. If you’re going to kiss me, you’re damn well going to be aware of doing it and remember it tomorrow. I’m not like the assholes at the frat. I don’t get off on taking advantage of women.”
I don’t think she heard me because she doesn’t react at all. Her breath shudders out, and she closes her eyes. And when I hazard a look at her, I find she’s passed out, her arms slipping from around my neck.
I finally make it to the dorm, inside, and up the stairs, then maneuver her limp body down the hall, where I give a rough kick to their suite door with my foot. Then again. And again. Until I finally hear first one bedroom door, then the other, creak open and footsteps pad toward us. When the suite door opens, I only have a moment before the barrage of angry female voices hits me full force.
“Oh my fucking God, what the hell did you do to her?” Star’s eyes blaze, her hands going to her hips. “What did you do?”
Raven, messy white-blonde hair floating about her head, swats at my arm. “Put her down. Now. Where’s Mike?”
I groan. “Fuck Mike. He’s a dick. I’m the one who brought her home.” I brush past them and head over to the couch at about the same time Maddox and Kellan poke their heads into the suite. The girls were plenty loud enough to wake them.
Maddox’s voice is gruff with sleep. “What the fuck’s going on?”
“Yeah. What the—” Kellan stops mid-question as Star pokes his bare shoulder and points at me.
“You’d better make him put her down. He shouldn’t be touching her. Of all people,” she huffs.
Raven quietly adds, “Don’t you think you’ve done enough to her?”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Kneeling, I carefully lay Lux on one of the couches and tuck a pillow under her head before I give them my full attention. Whatarethey talking about, I’ve done enough to her? She’s the one who—
“Never mind. Just get your hands off her,” Star hisses.
