Page 202 of Saving Her

I ignore her pleas as I tug her across the room. I’m almost prepared to haul her over my shoulder when I reach the threshold to the sound of thunderous footfalls barreling down the hall.

Decker greets us on the other side of the doorway.

He takes one look at me, his sister, then my grip on her arm and turns livid. “Get your fucking hands off her.”

He doesn’t wait for my compliance. He launches. Fist first.

20

Penny

Luca releases my arm,ducks, but doesn’t miss the impact. My brother’s fist pounds into the side of his face, the crack of flesh on flesh sickening.

He’s knocked sideways, his head hitting the wall with a heavy thwack.

He falls to the tile at the same time the apple rolls from my numb hand. I’m too stunned to move. The office erupts. Hunter and Sarah barrel past me. Keira curses.

I don’t know what to do.

Luca is on the floor, glaring at my brother, and I’m unsure whose side I should be on.

“What the absolute fuck, Decker?” Hunter shoves Sebastian down the hall, out of view.

“Why the hell did you do that?” Sarah yells.

I remain silent. Keira does the same behind me, her wordless judgment scratching at the back of my neck.

“This is just one of the many reasons people don’t run their mouth around here.” Cole’s tone is glib. “Making false statements only leads to trouble.”

I glance over my shoulder, meeting his soulless eyes.

“Opinions have no place here. Only facts.” He returns to his desk chair, seeming unfazed by Luca on the floor or the snarled aggression coming from Sebastian. “It’s in your best interest to remember that.”

He doesn’t scare me. He’s nothing in comparison to his father. What concerns me is his connection to Luca. They’re family. Just like Benji, who I’m beginning to believe is a far more sinister man.

I drag myself to the hall, ignoring the underlying threat as Hunter shoves my brother again, over and over, pushing him farther away.

“Are you okay?” Sarah holds out a hand to Luca, his cheek dark pink and swelling, blood dripping from his nose.

“Fucking perfect.” He ignores her offering and shoves to his feet, using the wall as leverage.

He doesn’t look at me. Doesn’t even acknowledge my existence as he leans against the plaster to massage his temples.

“How much does it hurt?” I reach for him, not sure what else to do, my fingers grazing his shoulder. I’ve seen that look on his face before—when he had a concussion, and migraines for days.

“It’s nothing.” He scoffs. “That asshole can’t punch for shit.”

My remorse builds, morphing and expanding, as his expression tightens with obvious agony.

I want to help him. To fix what I caused. But I also can’t bring myself to apologize for attempting to clear up the misconceptions surrounding Abi’s death. They need to know.

Everyoneneeds to know.

She deserves the truth.

“That punch is only a taste of what I’m going to do to you,” Sebastian yells. “You’re a fucking piece of shit, Luca.”

“Shut your trap.” Hunt pushes him again. “The shit you just pulled was a low blow.”

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