Page 108 of Monster

“And I suppose you’re one of them?”

He threw his head back and laughed, and I looked past him to the bar. I could see Dominic from here, but I wasn’t sure if he could see me. I tried to shove past the man. I just needed to make it to Dominic, and I would be safe. But he grabbed my arm and pulled me back roughly before I could.

My eyes widened, and I felt the first inkling of fear.

“Let go of me!” I screamed before he covered my mouth with one sweaty hand.

So gross.

My eyes connected with Dominic’s, and a dark look passed over his face. But I wasn’t scared.

Thank fuck he saw me.

Dominic stood as the man dragged me further into the dark hallway and slammed my body against the wall.

I groaned.

He leaned down. “This is your fault for being so fucking pretty. I can’t resist you. Now be a good—”

The man was yanked away from me, and Dominic stood between us. My monster was angry. So angry.

Dominic’s back heaved up and down, and he was likely wearing his scary face.

I stayed frozen in place.

“What the fuck, man?” the stupid man said, obviously not picking up on the fact that he was facing someone hell-bent on killing him. “I was just having a bit of fun.”

I tried to swallow around the lump forming in my throat. What would I do if Dominic killed the man? In front of me?

“Fun?” Dominic asked quietly.

The other man finally understood the expression on Dominic’s face because he froze for half a second, and fear entered his eyes briefly before he backed up, chuckling a little.

“I didn’t know she was yours. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have touched her.”

“You didn’t?” Dominic asked, matching the man step by step. “You didn’t see her come in with me? You thought someone like her would come into a place like this without some protection? You don’t think very bad things are going to happen to you for touching what’s mine?”

Dominic turned slightly, giving me a glimpse of him as he took in the man the same way a predator would its prey.

His eyes took in a vicious glint that even I was scared of. He spoke low, calm. I would have thought he was calm if it weren’t for his tense shoulders. “Even if she came here alone, what makes you think it would be okay to touch her?”

“I—”

The man didn’t get the chance to say anymore. Dominic punched the man in the face, knocking him to the floor.

The whole bar was silent as everyone turned to the noise and saw us. No one moved, not wanting to get involved, and I didn’t blame them.

I covered my mouth, my heart thudding so loudly in my chest I didn’t know how I stayed standing.

I felt light-headed as Dominic climbed on top of the man’s body and pounded his face.

The man sobbed, covering his head with his arms, but it was useless. Dominic was relentless, and I could feel saliva building in my mouth at the sight of all the blood. I didn’t know how much the other man had lost, but it wasn’t normal for all this blood to be on the floor, was it?

Fuck. What should I do?

I should try to stop Dominic, but I couldn’t try to get in the middle of that. I didn’t want to get hurt, but I didn’t want Dominic to kill him, either.

A loud gunshot rang out, and I screamed, covering my ears.

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