Page 65 of Hard Hitter

He leaned closer, his voice tight with anger, “Quiet down please. These are my colleagues, and you’re here representing my name. Micah is only going to distract you from achieving the goals you’ve worked so hard for. He’s a bad influence, and I’d hate to see you follow in his footsteps.”

I shook my head as my world shifted. Craig was still trying to control me, but his hold was broken. Had heevertold me the truth? My father had gone to jail for aggravated assault, that much was confirmed from the letter, but what had Craig left out for his own benefit?

My temper rose up like a wave, pushing me to use my strength to find the answers. I could make Craig fear me. The temptation was strong, especially after the way he’d treated Chloe, but I wasn’t willing to live up to his worst opinion of me.

Craig could have his secrets. I didn’t need his half-truths and manipulations—I had Micah’s number. Assuming I could trust a man I hadn’t seen since I was six. If Craig wanted to retaliate, let him. I’d find a way around him.

A sense of freedom spread in my chest, and I took a full breath for the first time in maybe forever. Fuck Craig. He didn’t deserve my loyalty.

“You don’t get a say anymore. I don’t want to hear from you or see you. Use my name all you want to make yourself look better, but if anyone asks me, I’ll deny a relationship with you. Have a good night.”

“I didn’t raise you to be so disrespectful,” he hissed, but I’d already dismissed him to look for Chloe.

I strode away from Craig with my pulse pounding in my ears. I’d just detonated my past and possibly my best chance at a future, but he couldn’t take the people I loved. Mac, Shaw, RJ, Eva, D, Soren—those guys were all the family I needed.

And Chloe. Always Chloe. She wouldn’t mind one bit if we left all this bullshit behind and finished our date.

I followed the signs toward the bathroom down a side hallway, and for the second time, I found another guy with his hands on her. Chloe stood stiffly by the ladies’ room entrance while he held onto her arm and leaned toward her.

Rage blocked out any conscious thought. In the back of my mind, I registered the paunch under an ill-fitting suit, the receding hairline, and the red lanyard around his neck indicating he was one of the medical people there for Craig’s conference.

I didn’t care.

Chloe stepped back before I could reach them. He swayed slightly, and his hand fell from her arm. Probably the only thing that kept me from coming in swinging. I grabbed a handful of his wrinkled jacket and shoved myself between him and Chloe.

The guy let out a surprised grunt, and I had to blink tears away from the sour smell of tequila. He squinted, trying to focus on my face, but the sharp edge of my fury didn’t dull a bit.

“Touch her again and I’ll rip your arms off.” I tossed the guy toward the elevator doors with a growl.

He stumbled and regained his balance with a confused frown at Chloe. “Angel?”

Chloe stepped in front of me before I could go in for a second round, flattening a hand on my chest. “Stop, Noah. It’s not what it looks like.”

My rage itched under my skin, searching for an outlet, but I tore my gaze away from the drunk guy swaying in the hallway to Chloe’s pale face. Fear edged into her eyes, and my stomach turned.

I took a step back, giving her plenty of space, but she shook her head.

“You idiot,” she muttered under her breath. “Stay here for a second.”

Chloe approached the drunk guy, and his face split into a sloppy smile. She gingerly took his arm and steered him toward the elevator.

“Your wife is at home, remember? Do you need me to have someone help you to your room?”

He squinted at her then patted her hand. “No, thank you, darling. You’re beautiful, just like my angel. She’s at home keeping the dogs company while I’m here.”

Chloe smiled at him. “You told me. Why don’t you go on upstairs and get a good night’s sleep?”

“Yes. Sleep. Big day tomorrow. G’night, Angel.” He stumbled away toward the open elevator, and Chloe’s shoulders relaxed as soon as the doors closed behind him.

I approached her tentatively, her fear fresh in my mind. “Chloe?”

She let out a huff and turned toward me, propping her hands on her hips. “I’m not afraid of you, Noah, so stop acting like I should be running the other way.”

I tilted her chin up, searching her face, and she met me with a patient smile. “You sure I didn’t scare you?”

She moved closer, pressing her body against mine to kiss my jaw. “No. I know you’d never hurt me. I was worried you might hurt him to keep me safe. Your protection is sexy, but not needed at the moment. Let’s go home, and you can take advantage of all the tingly feelings you caused.”

Her complete faith shattered me, especially after my less than stellar reaction a moment ago. I wrapped an arm around her, resisting the urge to find a nice shadowy corner to explore those tingly feelings.

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