Page 145 of A Better Place

If we were in any other situation I’m fairly certain I would have kissed every single inch of his body for the declarations he’s just made. However, we’re definitely not alone. And we’re definitely not in a place for us to be making out.

Vince lets out a loud growl and shifts in a way I know he’s getting ready to attack. James pushes me over to Jack, and Brad steps aside as Vince advances toward James, swinging and punching him first in the stomach and then in the face, blow after blow while I watch in both horror and confusion as James stands there, accepting every hit that comes his way.

“James!” Jack shouts, ready to step in front of him as well, but Tate steps over and holds him back.

“Let it go,” he tells him.

“What?” we both ask. “He’s hurting him!” I shout, breaking from the group and charging Vince, punching him in the kidneys.

Vince is lost in his head, so determined in his attack on James that my punch doesn’t even phase him.

“Stay back, Carly!” James shouts, and Will pulls me back, lifting me off the ground as I continue to kick at Vince.

I look over at Tate, hoping he’ll step in, but he simply nods his head toward Brad as Brad is cutting in. Will releases me, and I move to his side so he can help him pull Vince off James.

James stands up, wiping the blood from his face, chest heaving up and down. He looks over at me and winks. Winks!

What.

The.

Hell.

Is happening?

Brad starts reading Vince his rights, pulling his hands behind his back.

“What the fuck?” Vince shouts, still being held by both Will and Brad.

“Vince Taylor, you’re under arrest for assault against Mr. James Cole, trespassing, and admitting to criminal harassment of Ms. Hanson. That is, of course, unless James or Carly choose not to press charges.”

“Charge him,” James says, standing next to me, still breathing heavily as he rubs my arm up and down, comforting me while I’m standing here in a state of confusion, knowing full well he’s in pain, and I should be the one comforting him.

I look up at James, blood covering his face, and shift my gaze to Vince, blood — James’s blood — is covering his knuckles. No doubt in my mind which way I plan to lean.

I nod my head over at Brad, letting him know that I’ll gladly press charges. It should have happened after the first time he hit me, but I was so concerned about getting Jack and me away from him.

“It’s all good, beautiful,” James reassures me as Brad hauls a disgruntled Vince out of my home.

I look up at James, his eyes soft and calm. He gently kisses me on the forehead then releases me and wraps his arm around Jack, hugging him tightly. Then he leans back, hands on Jack’s shoulders and looks him square in the eye.

“You good?”

“Are you?”

“I’m good, kid. I promise.”

“I don’t understand what just happened,” he admits.

Tate steps over with Will standing close by. “When you texted James to tell him there was a strange car in the driveway and to get over here, he was with us. We knew immediately who it was. A few months ago, when Vince came around looking for you guys, we came up with a plan and knew that when he showed up, we had to make sure he would never be allowed around you again. Even without knowing Vince, James had a feeling he would come after him. He didn’t fight back for a reason.”

“So he couldn’t be charged with anything,” Jack says, shock and admiration in his voice.

“That’s right,” James tells him, looking him square in the eye. “Are you okay, Jack?”

“I am.”

“You sure? Because…”

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