Page 130 of Pretty Little Threats

My fist connects with his jaw, and his head whips to the side and he stumbles back before dropping onto his ass. It’s not enough. I want him limp on the ground. I want his jaw broken, so he can never say shit about Rose again. I’m on him in the next instant. He covers his face, so I punch his ribs over and over, not holding back.

The sound of my flesh hitting his isn’t enough.

He wants to fuck Rose? Over my dead body. I want the gasp of his last breath. I want his cock in a jar on my desk.

“Dare!” Crue yells.

“Hey, hey, hey!” someone shouts.

My fist hits Crue’s side onemore time, and then someone is dragging me off him. I thrash and try to wrench out of the hold, but Bret, our trainer, is a strong motherfucker. Pulse pounding, body hot as adrenaline pumps through my veins, I go for Crue again.

“Calm down,” Bret gruffs, wrenching me back.

I grunt but suck in a breath, trying to steady my hammering heart.

Crue clutches his middle. “What the fuck, Dare?” He groans and barely manages to sit. I wouldn’t be surprised if his ribs are bruised. “I was joking!”

“It wasn’t funny,” I shoot back, finally giving up going for him, but Bret’s hold doesn’t loosen. He knows better after thirty years of owning his gym. Tensions run high in the ring. Sparring matches turn into full-fledged fights. The way I felt when Crue said he’d like to pay Rose a visit, though? I don’t know that I would have stopped if not for Bret.

“My ribs.” Crue winces.

Glaring at him, I don’t feel an ounce of regret. Even if we’re not together, Rose is mine. I don’t want him thinking about her, fantasizing about her, or even saying her name. “That’s what you get for talking shit.”

Bret huffs in annoyance. “I’m going to let you go, and then you’re going home, Richardson. You hear me?”

I don’t respond.

He tightens his hold, wrenching my arms to the point of pain. I clench my jaw to keep from crying out.

“Richardson. I said, do you hear me?”

“Yeah,” I grumble. “I hear you.”

“Get your things and leave or you’re suspended. I’m not playing around.”

Pinching my eyes shut, I nod and clear my head. I’m so fucked up over this woman. I can’t have her around,because I’m scared of what might happen to my family, but I don’t want anyone else close to her. I don’t want anyone to see that first smile in the morning or to hear the way she laughs when she thinks no one is watching.

And I especially don’t want anyone else inside of her.

Bret releases me and pushes me away from Crue, who is still holding his ribs. He’s in pain. Probably needs a doctor. A shred of regret slices through me. We’re friends, but that’s about all the remorse I have. Crue is so used to doing whatever he wants.

But he can’t have my wife.

No one can.

Not even me.

forty-four

ROSE

Dare won’t answermy calls.

Cassia hasn’t responded to my texts.

It’s only been a few days since Orion told us what happened, and I know she may be processing, but the lack of communication terrifies me.

Without anything better to do, I go through my closet, getting rid of every piece of clothing that reminds me of Dare. The dress I wore on the balcony the night he cornered me goes into the donation pile. The shirt I think he’d like? Donation. The thong and bra I want him to peel off of me?

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