Page 57 of One More Song

But I’m not about to let the bastard get away with it, or anything he’s done.

I barrel forward, my shoulder catching his ribs and sending him flying back against the trunk of a tree. He huffs and gives me another shot to the ribs.

My own fist finds his face, and I hit him several times, taking more blows myself.

“You don’t...ever,” I growl out. “Put your hands on Cadence or Ember again.” An uppercut to his jaw has blood spraying, and I’m pretty sure several of his teeth come loose. “I know what you did. To Ember. Convincing her to take the blame for your crimes.”

He spits blood, circling me. “You have no evidence. Only the word of a lying cunt.”

I strike him again, this time sending him to his knees, hands in the dirt.

Synn pulls me back. “He’s had enough.”

I shrug Synn off me. “Not until he admits what he did.”

Mitch chuckles, kneeling and wiping away blood. “Yeah, she took the fall for me. But it’s not my fault she was delusional, thinking I actually loved her. The only reason I married her was because she was stupid enough to get knocked up.”

I grab the man by the scruff, my fist still not satisfied. I want the man to pay.

“Careful,” he says, chuckling. “Or she’ll try and trap you the same way. I mean that’s what this is about, right? You fucking my wife.” He grins at me like he’s won. “Hope it was worth it.”

It’s then that I see the cops coming toward us, and a few seconds later my arms are behind my back and I’m being cuffed.

Mitch is too, but he doesn’t seem fazed. Maybe he doesn’t realize that the whole show was caught on video.

I see Ember trying to get to me, but Saint and Dusky hold her back.

“Get the recordings,” I tell Synn as a cop reads me my rights.

Synn frowns, not understanding.

“The fucker confessed, and I’m pretty sure people were taping it.” The cop pushes me forward. “And make sure Cadence gives a statement. She’ll have bruises on her arm from where he grabbed her.”

“Do you have any idea how screwed you are?” Synn asks.

“He was going to hit her,” I tell him.

Synn drags a hand through his hair, the weight of what I just told him in his eyes, and he nods. “Fuck. Okay.”

I catch Ember’s gaze as I’m being forced by her, and I can’t read her expression. She sucks in a breath, holding Cadence to her tightly.

There’s no chance for words, even unspoken ones. I’m dragged away like a criminal.

And I know I’m screwed.

Once the press gets a hold of this, Stanton will no longer be a quiet little town where nothing happens. Reporters will swarm in, and unless Maryll and Tina can redirect the attention, Ember’s life will be broadcasted all over the news.

“Keep her away,” I tell Synn before the cop guides me into the back of a cruiser. “Make sure none of this affects her.”

He nods.

“Oh, and call Tina.”

I’m going to need a good lawyer.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Ember

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