Page 89 of Broken

Lisa pulled her shoulders back, facing off even as she shook. “They deserved to hear what I said. Truth hurts, huh?” She sneered at Annie, and I wrapped my arms tighter, hauling my girlfriend back again as she tried to lunge.

“Fucking bitch. Talk shit about me all you want, but my sister is off limits,” Annie yelled over my shoulder.

“Hey!” A manager called out from the doorway. “Y’all get out of here. Off the property.”

“Not actually on it!” Annie pointed to the sand under our feet. “But yeah, happy to freaking go.”

I didn’t set her down until we reached the parking lot, our nerves still rattled as adrenaline pumped through us. Tucker pulled Izzy to him as we came down from the high, treating her like a porcelain doll as he leaned back against his truck. She swatted his hand away. “Really, Tucker, I’m fine. I know how Lisa is. I’m just concerned about Annie.”

“I’m fine,” Annie huffed, her cheeks flushed as anger still rushed through her veins. I couldn’t even take her hand yet, she was so worked up. “See y’all back at the house?” she asked as I opened the car door for her. She gave me a look, but I gave her one back. She might be pissed, but I was still a gentleman.

“Yeah, sure. Meet you there,” Tucker offered, seeing our exchange. He helped Izzy climb up into his truck, and I ran around to my side, shutting myself in my car with Annie. I started it but left it in park,21 Gunsby Green Day coming through the radio.

Annie’s nails clenched and unclenched into her thighs a few times, and I just waited, giving her the minute she needed.

“Thank you for pulling me back.” She finally breathed.

The corner of my lips lifted into a grin. “AKA, you should’ve let me take them.”

Annie’s chin jutted out. “I had it.”

“That you did,” I said proudly.

Annie slowly turned to look at me. Her hair was half pulled from her ponytail, her bottom lip was starting to swell, and there was a long set of raised, parallel puffy pink lines across her cheek from where someone tried to scratch. But my girl had held her ground against three, drawing blood without any on her.

One of her eyebrows raised. “Youlikedwatching that, didn’t you?”

I couldn’t help but smirk. “You were radiant. A blazing fire of protective glory.”

She snorted even as she blushed. “Corny much?”

“Still the damn truth.” I reached up, brushing my thumb gently over her bottom lip where it swelled. “This is gonna need ice.”

“Not as much as Lisa’s does.” Annie gave a devilish smirk. “Now, let’s go check on my sister.”

I put the car into drive. “Whatever you say, sweetheart.” I gave her a wink, a charge lighting the air between us, and she grabbed me behind the neck to drag me in for a kiss.

ANNIE

After ducking down an alley for a quick round of foreplay in the Mustang, Jet and I headed home. I’d heard Izzy telling Tucker she was fine after what went down, but Isaw and fuckingfeltwhat Lisa’s words did to my sister. Izzy was full of bullshit if she said she was okay, and I was definitely going to call her out on it.

Except I didn’t have to.

“Would you stop?!” My sister’s yell carried through the front door when Jet and I were heading up the porch steps. We exchanged a look and hurried in, the tension in the house hitting me like a wave.

“Izzy, would you just—”

“No, Tucker. I won’t just.” Her hands were fisted on her hips, eyes blazing. Tucker stood by the other end of the couch, his jaw set, the two of them facing off in an argument I suddenly wasn’t sure Jet and I should be present for. Izzy’s head snapped to face me, and she threw an arm out. “Would you tell him I’m fine?”

I paused, trying to think of the best way to answer, knowing instantly she wouldn’t like my honest one.

“Well?!”

I held my hands up. “I’m sorry. I don’t even know what y’all are arguing about.”

Izzy rolled her eyes up, her breath in a huff. “We’re arguing about Tucker being overprotective. I’mfine.” She turned back to glare at him.

“But you’re not.” Tucker stood his ground. “I saw you after what Lisa said, and you were practically shaking after that fight.”

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