Page 63 of More Than a Match

“You’ll never hurt anyone, ever again.” I stomp again and again, determined to turn his prized area into an indistinguishable ball of mush. “You’ll be a fucking Ken doll.”

“Stop, Alex, that’s enough,” Katie pleads, tugging on my arm, but I don’t listen.

I land blow after blow, not caring that he has stopped fighting back. Stopped moving. Mina’s voice breaks me from my trance.

“Please Alex,” she whimpers. “Please stop. If you kill him, they’ll take you from me forever.”

I look down at the bruised, battered heap in front of me, lying motionless on the cold floor. Little rivulets of blood run from his injuries, and his face is swollen beyond recognition. Shit. Even if he’s not dead, I’m in a world of trouble.

I hear whispering and turn around. The hall behind me is filled with partygoers, watching the scene with wide eyes.

“Well?” I snap at them. “You’re doctors, right? Do something.”

I wince as I adjust the ice pack on my knuckles and stare at the grey stone wall. Caged up, like a fucking animal, and for what? For protecting my girl?No, for taking it too far, I remind myself. I still don’t know what came over me back at the party. I could have stopped after one punch. I could have backed off, having neutralized the threat. But I didn’t. I let my heart lead, instead of my head. Now I’m fucked.

“Guirero?” a deputy asks, approaching my cell.

“Yeah, that’s me.”

“You’re free to go.”

It takes a second for his words to register. “Wait, what?”

“That guy you beat up? Turns out he’s not going to press charges. And there’s a slew of other crimes coming in tonight. The DA isn’t too worried about picking up this case, given there was video evidence of the events leading up to the… um… beatdown. It could easily be ruled a crime of passion. There’s really no point to drag it all out.”

“Oh my god.”

“Your girl and her parents are out in the lobby.”

Shit. Her parents. If they disliked me before, what will they think now? “Oh.” I try to keep my face neutral. “Thank you, sir.”

“Hey,” he says as he unlocks my door. “If it’s any consolation, if I rolled up on a guy trying to rape my wife, I’d have the same reaction that you did. I think most people would.”

“Thanks,” I say, giving him a wry grin. “I just reacted in the moment. Not my best decision, probably, but it was instinct.”

“Hey, I get it. I’m on your side here. But you didn’t hear me say that.”

“Deal.”

We head out to the processing area and he gives me some paperwork. “Here’s the arrest report and some other information. Like I said, the DA is currently deciding not to pursue this. That could change but I sincerely doubt it will. My card is in there, as well as the card of the arresting officer. If you have questions, reach out.”

“Thanks, man. Appreciate it.”

“No problem. Now, go get your girl.”

I exit through the double doors into the lobby. Mina and her family are sitting there, and Mina leaps to her feet when she sees me. Her makeup is tear-streaked, her hair disheveled. She flies into my arms, squeezing me with all her strength.

“I thought they were going to take you from me,” she whispers into my chest. “I thought I lost you.”

“No, Princess. As long as I’m breathing, you’ll never lose me. I’ll always find my way back to you.”

CHAPTER 43: MINA

The waiting room at the police station is cold, unfeeling. It’s the polar opposite of what I’m experiencing inside; a flood of emotions ranging from fear to anger to relief. I’m so thankful Alex was there to stop Jason, I’m terrified that he’s going to be locked away from me forever, and I’m angry that it even got to the point it did where Alex needed to intervene. My thoughts swirl relentlessly, and I look up as my mother places her hand on my knee, which I had been bouncing unconsciously.

“It’s going to be ok, baby girl.”

“I hope so,” I reply, biting my lip. “I really hope so.”

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