Page 123 of Saving Grace

She sees me seconds before I am in her space. We falter backward on impact.

“I’m okay,” she rasps, her voice cracking on the last syllable.

I’m shaking, the explosive combination of rage and desperation sending my head spinning. Grace clings to me and I wrap my body around her, still needing to protect her, even though I wasn’t there to do so when it counted most.

I groan into her hair, and she pushes from my arms, catching my gaze. “Breathe, Mack. I’m alright. I was alright.”

I grip her arms. “No, Grace, you were so far from alright.” My jaw feathers.

A high-pitched chuckle comes from by the Volvo. I straighten, pushing Grace behind me. Joel smirks at me. An arrogant, cocky piece of shit, even in cuffs. The trooper who helped Grace from the trunk dips his hat and heads for his SUV.

I take that as my cue, and with three long strides, I’m in the asshole’s face. One fist gripping his ratty shirt, I slam him into the side of his busted car.

“If you ever come within three counties of her again, I will fuckin’ end you.”

My hand curls to a fist by my side. My height and muscular frame dwarves his gangly, thin junkie build. He nods slowly. His eyes are half glazed over.

Is he goddamn high?

Staring at me, his eyes narrow further before I decide he’s not worth another second of either of our lives. I turn back to Grace. She is hugging her arms around her body, now tucked under Reed’s arm and into his side. The protective brother pose. Same as the time with Addy when Morley tried his luck.

Harry’s silver Chevy pulls in behind the F250 as I walk for Grace.

“Fine by me if you take my sloppy seconds. Trashy piece of ass is all yours. Enjoy my seconds, retard.” The words are acid. I stop mid-stride. Before my brain overrides my head, I’m on him, fist smashing into his face with one hand gripping his shirt. He sways on his tiptoes where I have him shoved up against the side of the car, again.

Something gives way as I slam another punch into his stupid face. He smiles as blood trickles down his chin, pouring from his nose and split lip. I sink another and another into him. Hegoes limp in my hold. I slam my stinging fist into his face. The sickening crunch tells me I should stop.

I don’t.

Another punch.

Another messy crunch, and something slides under my knuckles.

“Mackinlay.” The word is almost ethereal. Grace’s voice floats past my anger, sinking into my chest and touching my heart.

I hesitate.

I see her close in beside me in my peripheral.

A light touch comes to rest on my forearm holding this lousy waste of oxygen upright. “Enough, Mack.”

I haul air into my lungs as if someone could steal it away at any second. I finally turn to find her gorgeous face.

Grace gives me a sad smile and tilts her head. “Take me home?”

My grip loosens and Joel slumps, sliding to the hard asphalt. The officer from before appears at my other side, checking for a pulse.

Fuck.

He nods before waving us away.

I stagger toward my waiting family by Reed’s truck. Harry pulls Grace into a long hug. He checks her over at arm’s length before he and Ma return to the Chevy. How is it my father can communicate so much without a damn word?

Reed adjusts the cap on his head. “I’ll give you some space.” He rounds the vehicle and climbs into the driver’s seat.

I lean my side against the truck and pull Grace into me. “Sweet Jesus, Gracie, I’ve never been so terrified in my entire life.”

I cup her hands with my face, tilting her face up to mine. It’s there that I find calm. Strength.

---