Page 198 of Make the Play

And him. Nate.

Fucking Nate.

For one second, I stop breathing.

Then I detonate.

The roar tears out of me so fast and raw, it doesn’t even sound human. It’s everything—fear, fury, grief, panic—compressed into a single sound.

He turns just as I come flying at him, full speed and no hesitation. My shoulder drives into his ribs, and we crash to the pavement.

“GET THE FUCK OFF HER!”

Zoe slumps down against the wall behind him, conscious but barely. Her body looks like it’s folding in on itself, skin pale, hair stuck to her clammy cheek. Her eyes find mine, and she releases a shaky breath as though she’s been holding it for hours.

Nate scrambles to his feet, panting. “It’s not what you—”

I punch him mid-sentence.

One hit. Full force. Square to the jaw.

He hits the ground, and I’m on him. No refs or penalties, no rules to stop me. Just fists and fire andher blood on his sleeve.

“You touched her,” I snarl, landing a fist to his gut.

“You hurt her.” Another to his ribs.

“You put your fucking hands on her.”

He grunts and curls in, trying to block his face, but I see red. Iamred. It tunnels everything into bone and breath and the need toend him.

Another punch.

Her cheek, bruised.

Another.

Her wrist, red and raw.

Another.

I will break every bone in his fucking face.

“Chase.”

One word, small and frayed. My name on her lips. Barely above a whisper, but it hits me harder than any check I’ve ever taken.

My head snaps toward her. She’s slid down the wall into a crouch, arms wrapped around her knees. Her chest is heaving, lips trembling, and there’s a bruise blooming across her cheek.

Her eyes meet mine, and I forget the rest.

I stumble back from Nate, dropping to my knees in front of her. My breath saws out like I’ve run ten miles, and my hands are fucked, but I don’t care. I don’t even feel it.

“Zoe.” My voice breaks on her name. “Jesus—fuck—I’m here. I’ve got you, sweetheart. You’re okay.”

She tries to smile, but it doesn’t land. “You look like shit.”

I choke out a laugh that turns into a sob.

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