Page 17 of The Devil's Wrath

“You don’t get to walk away from me,” he hissed, his breath hot against my face. “I own you. You’re mine.”

Fear clawed at my throat, but I refused to let it consume me. Not this time. I brought my knee up hard, slamming it into his groin. It gave me enough time to push past him, and I made it a couple of feet before I collided into something solid.

“I told you to leave her alone, Connor.”

The deep, commanding voice cut through the air like a knife. I sawTheo—the immovable wall I had slammed into. He stood tall and imposing, his green eyes blazing with fury as he stared Connor down. His muscular arms were crossed over his chest, the colorful tattoos stark against his tanned skin. There was a dangerous edge to his stance, a tense readiness that suggested he was prepared to spring into action at any moment.

Connor staggered backward, a sneer distorting his features. “This doesn’t concern you, freak. Stay out of it,” he snarled.

“Oh, I think it does concern me,” Theo responded, stepping forward to position himself between me and Connor. “I warned you about what would happen if you laid a hand on her again, didn’t I?”

“Go fuck yourself, West,” Connor snapped, his expression twisted with fury and pain from where I had kneed him. “This is between me and my girlfriend.”

“Ex-girlfriend,” I corrected, my voice shaking slightly. “And he’s right, Connor. This is over. We’re done.”

Connor’s eyes flashed dangerously. He stepped forward, but Theo matched his movement and placed himself firmly between us.

“I believe the lady made herself clear,” Theo said, his voice low and threatening. “It’s time for you to leave before things get ugly.”

Connor scoffed. “You think I’m afraid of you,Devil? I could ruin you with one phone call to my father.”

Theo smiled, but there was no warmth in it. It was the smile of a predator, all sharp edges and deadly intent. “Go ahead. Call him. But ask yourself this—is your pride worth a broken jaw and a trip to the hospital?”

For a moment, I thought Connor might actually take a swing at Theo. His fists were clenched, his body coiled like a spring. But something in Theo’s eyes must have given him pause. Maybe it was the cold, unflinching resolve, or perhaps it was the promise of violence that lurked just beneath the surface. Whatever it was, Connor seemed to think better of it.

And at the perfect time.

Our little altercation had amassed quite a crowd of witnesses, and the last thing I needed was video evidence on the Internet.

“This isn’t over,” he hissed, pointing a finger at me. “You’ll regret this. No one makes a fool of me. Especially not a whore who sleeps with my friends.”

With that, he spun around and marched away, the sound of his pricey shoes echoing on the pavement. I exhaled sharply, my legs suddenly feeling unsteady. He had discovered the truth about Jake and me, and judging by the pain in his eyes, betraying him by fucking his best friend had pierced his otherwise icy heart.

I rested against my car, feeling my heart thud heavily. The adrenaline began to fade, and the pain in my head and arm where Connor had gripped me became more noticeable. I shut my eyes and attempted to calm my breathing.

“Are you okay?” Theo asked, his voice softer now.

I opened my eyes to find him standing before me, concern etched on his handsome face.

“I’m fine,” I said automatically. But even as the words left my mouth, I knew they weren’t true. I was far from fine. My ex-boyfriend had just assaulted me again, this time in public, and if it hadn’t been for Theo’s intervention, who knows how far he would have gone.

Theo studied me for a moment, his green eyes searching mine. “Come on,” he said finally. “Let’s get you out of here.”

I hesitated, glancing around at the crowd that had gathered. I could hear the whispers and see the pointed looks. The rumor mill was already churning, no doubt.

“People are staring,” I muttered, my cheeks burning with embarrassment.

“Let them stare,” Theo said firmly. “You have nothing to be ashamed of. He’s the one who should be embarrassed.”

He held out his hand, and I took it after a moment’s hesitation. His skin was warm and calloused against mine, his grip solid and reassuring. He led me away from the crowd, his hand still holding mine. I followed him numbly, my mind reeling from what had just happened. Connor warned in my head,“You’ll regret this.”I’d known he was capable of cruelty, but this was a new level of vindictiveness.

Theo led me away from the crowd, his hand never leaving mine. As we walked, I could feel the stares boring into my back and hear the whispers following us. But with Theo by my side, I found I didn’t care as much. There was something about his presence that made me feel safe and protected. More than an illusion this time. The darkness that emanated from him broke through the haze of my darkness, meeting me in the middle—a curious mingling, like smoke tendrils coiling around one another, neither yielding nor dominating.

We reached a motorcycle parked at the edge of the lot. He handed me a helmet, the black matte finish glinting in the fading sunlight. “I’ll give you a ride home. You shouldn’t be driving right now,” he said, swinging his leg over the bike.

I hesitated for a moment, eyeing the motorcycle warily. I had never ridden one before, and the thought of speeding down the road with nothing but a helmet for protection made my stomach clench with nerves.

But I put it on, fastening the strap under my chin with shakingfingers. Theo patiently waited, his helmet already in place. I climbed behind him, the bike’s engine warming my legs through my jeans.

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