Page 22 of The Watcher's Bride

His eyes darken and he rounds on me, furious. Mike might not be as big as Max, but he still far outpowers me and I realize I’ve gotten myself into a bad situation. With Max out with his Army buddies there’s no one to hear my screams.

“You fucking bitch,” he snarls, grabbing me by the throat. “You’ll fuck any meathead that comes near you, but you won’t go for the nice guy who’s actually good for you. The guy you’ve been leading on for years! Well, I’m done being Mr. Nice Guy. You’re going to learn that you can’t be a fucking cock tease without there being consequences.”

He squeezes my throat, and I’m worried I’m going to pass out. I can’t breathe, and as much as I struggle, he’s too strong.

I can’t stop him.

Stars dance across my vision as I slip into blackness.

Chapter 14

Leo

I’d returned early from my meeting with some of my uncle’s men. As I approach the apartment I know something is wrong. The light is on in Nora’s bedroom, but she isn’t there. As I enter, I see her front door is wide open, a boot mark under the knob where someone has kicked it in. Running inside, I see the asshole from the library with his hands around her throat.

Instinct takes over as I drag him off Nora. My fists rain down furiously with the deadly precision of a boxer. I forget I’m supposed to be Max the friendly neighbor, and instead my years of training as a Bratva lieutenant come to the forefront. Mike is unable to defend himself from my blows as he lies on the floor beneath me. There’s a sickening crunch as I break his nose, but still I can’t stop.

“Max, that’s enough!” Nora’s voice cuts through the red mist. But she sounds like she’s miles away. “Max, please, stop! You’re going to kill him!”

My fist continues to rain blows on him as anger consumes me. “Max, stop!” Nora is standing in front of me. Finally, I stop at her command, Mike is a bloody mess on the floor. She grabs my face and stares at me like she doesn’t know who I am.

“Come back to me, Max,” Her voice is soft.Max…who is Max?I wonder for a moment, then I remember. It’s me.

I breathe deeply, trying to find myself, trying to push Leo away. My gaze goes to my hands, now covered in blood, and to Mike lying on the floor gasping. I realize I don’t have my contact lenses in, the ones I wear when I’m Max and I hope she’s too distraught to notice. After a few moments I have full control again. I stand, leaving Mike forgotten on the floor as he moans and cries.

“Are you hurt?” I ask Nora, as I study her for injury, my anger bubbles to the surface when I see the angry red fingerprints on her neck.

“I’m okay, thanks to you,” she says.

“You broke my fucking nose!” Mike whines.

I’m grateful that the fact he’s talking means he isn’t as badly injured as I’d feared. While I have no problems whatsoever with violence, Nora does not need to see that part of me. Mike doesn’t realize it, but his days are numbered. I’ll deal with him later. Right now, Nora needs me. Needs Max.

“If you don’t get the fuck out of here right now, I’ll break every bone in your fucking body,” I growl.

Mike senses that I’m deadly serious and quickly rushes to the door. “I’m sorry, Nora, I wouldn’t have hurt you,” he says.

Nora’s hand goes up to her neck, touching the marks he left. He already hurt her. If I hadn’t come when I did then I dread to think what would have happened.

“Leave,” I say. My voice a low threat.

Mike finally does the first smart thing he’s done all evening and goes. He’s a dead man walking.

I stand there rigid, outwardly calm, inwardly raging, as I control my breathing. I want to chase after Mike, but when Nora walks over and looks up at me, all I want is to be with her.

“Max, how did you know I was in trouble?” she asks curiously.

“I didn’t. My buddies left early, and I decided to come home.”

“I hate to think what would have happened if you hadn’t,” Nora says, her voice shaking.

For the first time I take a look at her apartment, it’s been ransacked. “Did he do this?”

She shakes my head. “No, there was a break-in.”

I suck in a breath. I’m here protecting her and something like this happened. My eyes scan the room, landing on the television. “They didn’t take anything?”

“Not that I can tell.”

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