Page 61 of After the Storm

“I don’t want to do this here,” I rasp out, taking a step closer to him. “But if you try to touch her, I will,” I add and there’s a warning tone in my voice. This sick fuck thinks it’s some kind of game though, and the warning tone in my voice is like waving the red flag for a bull. A smile washes over his face and it makes my stomach turn over. It’s one of those smiles that you just know the person wearing it is not all there.

“We had some problems but we’re past them now. I just want to talk to my girl. I’m sure you get it, couple problems.” He shrugs. He fucking shrugs. The words ‘my girl’ out of his mouth feel like poison. Rage bubbles in me. He’s going to pretend like he didn’t do what he did. Yeah, not on my fucking watch. Someone has to call this guy on his shit and I’d love to do the honors.

“You like hitting girls, why don’t you try someone your size since you’re a big tough guy, hm? Why not me?” The words are hot on my tongue, burning on their way out. Rage bigger than me is stuffed in my chest so tight there isn’t enough room for air. His eyes are black, all fucking black, almost murderous. I’m not scared but I know Audra can’t be here. In my peripheral, I see Ares pushing through the crowd and I tip my chin up to try and subtly get his attention. He looks over to me and I gesture over my shoulder to Audra. His eyebrows pinch together in confusion. He looks at Audra, then back to me, and then realizes who’s standing before me. Realization washes over him and he nods at me, going over to Audra. Hopefully, he can read between the lines and get her the hell out of here.

“Who said that?” he barks out.Fuck.Time to bullshit my way out of this until Ares can get Audra out of here. Then I’ll just beat his ass and we can leave.

“Doesn’t take the most observant person,” I say, and I don’t even get a chance to gauge if he believes me before Audra, Ravyn, and Ares are next to us. I look at Ares and throw my hands up, wondering why the fuck they’re still here. He mouths the words “I tried” to me. Tyler’s eyes quickly fall from me to Audra. I brace myself for the fear that will fall over her face, but it doesn’t. Instead, it’s all fire behind those eyes. I know this doesn’t end well, there’s no universe in which it does. I’ll let her get out all her anger though, and then I’ll clean up the mess for her. She deserves to let it out on him. So, the floor is hers.

“Let’s not make a scene, Audra. Let’s go somewhere and talk,” he says putting a hand out for her to take. She doesn’t though, she shoves the hand away from her.

“Scared of what will happen if you do it in front of them?” she asks, putting a hand on her hip. All of our eyes go wide. Ares looks to me then to Ravyn, concern blazing in his eyes.

“Audra stop acting like that, let’s go,” he says grabbing her wrist. I’m just about to intervene when I realize I’m not needed. She yanks her hand from his and steps in front of him. Ares and I just keep looking at each other wondering what the hell we should be doing. She throws a finger in his face, pointing.

“You hit me. Not once, like you swore. No. You hit me over and over.” She’s being loud and people are looking but I kind of like the idea of this idiot’s dirty laundry being aired out. “You fucked me up!” she screams in his face and he steps back, eyes wide. My heart splits in two at her words. Her voice doesn’t even crack or wobble though. She doesn’t falter. She stands tall in his face.

“Shut the fuck up, people can hear you,” he forces out. I don’t know what I expect but it definitely isn’t for her to wind back and smack him in the face. I can’t help the proud smirk that forces its way onto my face. Ravyn slaps a hand over her mouth to hold back what seems to be a laugh. Ares’ head snaps to me and I just shrug.

“I’m done keeping your secret. It doesn’t protect me. It only protects you and I don’t care what happens to you. Whatever happens will be the consequences of your own actions.”

“No one will believe you.” Bull fucking shit. I’ve spent so much time scrubbing that narrative from her head. I’ll be damned if he plants that seed again. She lunges forward, shoving him. I step between them and grab her. If someone fights him tonight it’s going to be me.

“They all believe me!” she yells, thrashing in my arms, trying to get back down to the ground. I don’t release her though, I keep her in my arms. When I don’t put her down she spits at him instead. Luckily it misses him but that doesn’t stop how angry it makes him.

“You dumb fucking bitch!” he yells, stepping forward at her. I shake my head looking at Ares.

“I’m taking her home. You got this?” I ask. I know he does. I know he has about as much rage built up for this guy as me. He nods at me.

“Love you, Audi,” Ares says before stepping between Tyler and us. The second we’re away from it all she stops thrashing around in my arms.

“If I put you down, are you going to run back there?” I ask, looking down at her. She huffs.

“No, I’ll stay with you,” she assures me. I sit her feet to the ground and we walk to the Jeep.

Chapter25

Audra

As we walkto the Jeep my hands shake and I’m so unsteady on my feet, I feel like I might fall. My chest is heaving. Adrenaline fills me to the brim and I’ve never been a fan of the way adrenaline feels. I’m not the kind of person who seeks it out, I’m not an adrenaline junkie by any means. But right now, I feel high on it.

Roman holds my hand tight in his, I think to make sure I don’t run back and lunge at my abusive ex again. Yeah, maybe it was a really stupid thing to do but nothing has ever felt so thrilling in my life.

I wonder what happened between Ares and Tyler once Roman carried me away. If dreams come true, Ares did something that scared him enough to leave me alone from now on.

When we get to the Jeep, Roman opens the passenger door for me. My leg bounces rapidly. I have more energy than I know what to do with. I’ve never felt this before in my life. He makes his way round the front of the Jeep and sits in the seat next to me.

As he drives away his hand wraps tightly around the steering wheel. The feminist in me falters when his white-knuckled grip on the wheel leaves an ache between my legs. I write it off as just the adrenaline and keep my eyes focused on the road as he drives.

His hand splays flat across the thigh of my bouncing leg and stills the movement. The ache returns and I look over at him, expecting to find him wearing a smirk but instead, he’s totally oblivious.

“I feel like my entire body is buzzing,” I admit, looking over at him. He nods softly before speaking.

“I’m so proud of you, Auds,” he says and that little piece seals my fate. Between the adrenaline and the praise of knowing he’s proud of how I handled tonight, I don’t even know if I can wait until we get home. I need him and I need him now.

I pull my heels up on the seat and let my knees fall to the sides. I slide my hand between my thighs. Roman takes one glance before throwing his head back and tightening his grip on the wheel.

“What are you doing, baby?” His voice comes out rough and strained. I don’t answer him instead, I just take his free hand and pull it to join mine between my legs. He pulls his bottom lip between his teeth. He bites down so hard I’m a little surprised when he releases it and there’s no blood drawn.

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