Page 95 of Boost

“I’ll grab you some more ice; see if we can get that swelling down a little more.”

“Thanks,” I murmured, knowing she would do it whether I accepted the offer or not.

Each strike of her heels faded from air-shot as she made her way to the office kitchen. A matter of seconds later, the timbre of Christian’s voice made me jump.

“Gree? What’s happened? Roxiee doesn’t rush like that unless it’s urgent.”

“It’s nothing,” I replied, ducking my head and angling away.

He stepped closer, his hand lightly brushing the small of my back as the other pressed against my hipbone. With little resistance, he pivoted me in place, then cursed when I looked up at him.

“The fuck?” He gently twisted me toward the window for better light. “Someonedeckedyou?”

His fingers tenderly touched my jaw and angled my head so he could get a better look. Anger vibrated through his touch and echoed throughout his expression.

“When did this happen?”

I shook my head. “Last night. Some woman slipped and bumped into me on the dancefloor. It’s not as bad as it looks.”

Disquiet and outrage warred through his gaze. Both took away the affection that usually lingered in the fringes of his eyes whenever he looked at me, and the intensity made my breath still. Temper rolled off him in thick waves, each one burying deeper into my chest than the last.

“Is that bruising?” he asked softly, and dropped his head to closely inspect the slight bruising under my eyes hidden by layers of makeup.

I gingerly touched my nose and winced. Just as I opened my mouth to speak, Christian violently jolted to the side. The unexpected and sudden movement startled me, as did Rafael’s booming voice.

“The fuck are you doing? Get your hands off her!”

Tian didn’t have a moment to collect himself before Raf was on him, pinning him to the ground by straddling his torso, and landing blow after blow while Christian fought back as best he could in a dress shirt and tie.

“Rafael!” I screamed. Each time his fist connected, it created a sickening thud. “Raf, stop!Stop it!”

Roxiee ran into the office and cursed. She threw the ice-pack at Raf’s back, which did nothing but bounce off and fuel his fury.

“Raf, stop it!” I screamed again at the top of my lungs. It was as if he was locked in a separate world and unable to hear me.

Desperation filled my veins. I hated seeing Tian take the fallout when he’d done absolutely nothing wrong.

In the space between an inhale and exhale, my eyes briefly locked with Roxiee’s across the brawl, and then I moved without thinking.

I threw myself blindly at Raf. The force of the impact was enough to knock him off balance and topple him sideways off Tian.

Through pure reaction, Raf threw up an elbow as he overbalanced. It collided with my ribs, inducing an immediate sharp burst of pain. Oxygen immediately punched from my chest and my lungs spasmed so hard I couldn’t draw a breath.

The moments that followed were surreal and out of sync with time. Raf’s eyes, dark and inky, were nothing but a stranger’s as they cut through me without seeing. Every muscle in his body remained tightly coiled as he pushed to his knees and panted heavily.

I sat as best I could in a tight business skirt and gasped when a twinge shot through my ribcage. My hands snapped up to press against the sharp pain. I forced myself up and stumbled to the couch, closing my eyes and gasping to catch a much-needed breath.

Tian’s angry voice wove ice down my spine. “You fuck! You just hurt her!” He dabbed the back of his hand to his split lip while glaring daggers at Rafael.

Raf’s body jolted violently as if he’d been physically struck. His stricken eyes found me; now wide with remorse and disbelief. They seared into me as he swallowed and worked his jaw. So many unspoken thoughts ran through his gaze. Confusion. Regret. Heartache.

“What!” he whispered, darting bewildered glances from Tian, to Roxiee, and then finally to me. He looked so broken, so lost.

I shook my head. “No-”

“Yes, you did, asshole,” Christian cut in as Roxiee disappeared.

I winced and rose to my feet. Outstretching a hand did little to close the distance between Raf and I.

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