Page 13 of Cupid's Arrow

I love her. I must. How could I draw her from memory if I didn’t? I pour every ounce of myself into it, the next best thing to the real Corinne.

I’m so consumed by my work that when the real Corinne shows herself, it comes as a shock. She opens the door a crack, and right away, something about her wide eyes and pale skin set off my instincts. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s—there’s someone here to see you.”

That’s all she manages to get out before the door flies open all the way, and she’s shoved further into the room by a black-clad man who towers over her. He holds her back when she lunges for me, gripping her arm tight in one ham-sized fist.

“You know who I am?” he grunts, glaring at me. “Let me refresh your memory in case you forgot. I’m the guy whose car you stole.”

“I remember you,” I murmur. My blood’s gone cold, but instead of panicking, my mind goes completely still, clear. Because there’s only one thing that matters: the trembling, whimpering Corinne, whose fear-filled eyes bounce back and forth between the intruder and me.

“Then maybe you’ll remember the ten thousand bucks you stole from the car. I got the car back, but the money was gone.” She lets out an agonized cry when he takes a handful of her hair and yanks her head back. “Where is it?”

I stand slowly, my hands visible. He doesn’t seem to be carrying a weapon, but that doesn’t mean he can’t hurt her. “Let’s talk this out without the girl.”

“Fuck that.” He pulls her closer to him, and she yelps in pain and fear. “No, how about I tie her ass up, fuck her half to death while you watch, then leave her in here when I burn this whole fucking shop to the ground?”

He leans down and nuzzles her neck while she squirms and whimpers. “You think I won’t do it?” He laughs. “Keep withholding my money, fucker, and you’ll see how serious I am.”

“Arrow?” It’s the slightest whisper, choked with tears now running down her cheeks. “Help me.”

“Let her go,” I grit out while fire races through my veins. “She has nothing to do with this. It’s between you and me.”

“You want me to let her go? Fine.” With a bitter laugh, he throws her to the floor. Her sharp gasp and pained cry ring in my ears.

That’s what does it. That’s what breaks the thin veneer of control I was still clinging to for her sake.

Everything around me goes red and hazy as I launch myself across the room and slam him against the wall, sending pictures falling to the floor around us.

“You stupid shit!” I spit in his face before pulling my right fist back and driving it forward into his jaw. He stumbles to the side, but I haul him upright before hitting him again. His pained groan is music to my ears because, damn it, he hurt her. He put his hands on her and made her cry, andshe belongs to me.

“You think you can come in here?” When he bends forward, I deliver a flurry of jabs to his kidneys, then drive my knee into his nose and relish the cracking sound that results. “You think you can hurt innocent people to get what you want?”

“Please—” I cut off his blood-choked plea by throwing him to the floor and dropping to one knee at his side.

“You’re a real badass when it’s a woman you’re threatening, aren’t you?” I haul him up by his collar, and his eyes widen at my fist coming for his face.Again. Again.Blood coats my knuckles, and Corinne is screaming, but all of it fades into the background because this is too satisfying to stop.

It’s Ben who pulls me away, grabbing my right arm to keep me from throwing another punch. Corinne wraps her arms around my left arm and pulls back until I have no choice but to leave the guy where he lies on the floor.

“The cops are on the way,” Ben grunts while ushering me out of the room. I’m panting and grunting and prepared to kick the fucker to death, but he bars the way with his body. “A customer was waiting by the desk when he barged in, and they made the call.”

The cops.

Fuck my life.

I’m on parole, and my swollen fist is covered in the blood of the guy whose stolen car landed me in prison. No way will I get out of this without a return visit to the stinking cesspool I left only days ago.

I wanted an excuse to remove myself from Corinne’s life. Looks like I found it.

“It’ll be fine,” he assures me before going to his sister and wrapping his arms around her shaking body. “I’ll show them the security footage. He came in here looking to do damage. It was self-defense.”

“He said… he would burn… the shop down.” I can barely make out what Corinne sobs against his shoulder. “With… me in it.”

Ben’s flinty eyes meet mine, and for a second, I see myself having to keep him from finishing the job I started. I shake my head, even though hearing her repeat the words leaves me craving more blood. He would’ve killed her, no doubt about it.

No matter what happens to me, her safety is worth it.

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