Page 90 of Push

Ian tugged a white T-shirt over his head. “You on dad duties now that Gwen’s back at work?”

“Something like that.”

Tension crackled in the air, every movement charged, ready to spark.

Ian’s sigh was heavy. Oh, poor baby. Was something bothering him? Did that bastard evenhavea conscience? “Toby, can we talk about the other day?”

“No.” I reached into my locker to grab my dental coat. “I’ve got nothing to say to you.”

Ian’s chin lifted. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was sizing me up for a fight. I almost laughed, shaking my head as I slipped the coat off the hanger.

He took a step closer. “But I wanted to ask—”

I raised my eyebrows. My eyes were on the gap he was closing between us. This asshole was testing my patience.

“—if Gwen liked my flowers?”

Ian’s body slammed against the lockers. His smirking face was pinned against the metal by the hand I squeezed around his throat. My nostrils flared, chest heaving, adrenaline surging like bullets through my veins. The entire world, except his face, disappeared from my tunnel-visioned rage.

Howdarehe talk about Gwen?

“T—b—” Ian’s fingers clawed to get my hand off his neck. He wrenched to the side just enough to choke out, “Stop.”

Shit.

I was going to kill him for real.

A steady, violent thump of blood roared in my ears. I dropped my hand and took a step back. The grip of my fingers had bruised his throat in thick red lines.

I braced my hands on my hips and fixed my gaze on the ground, sucking in deep breaths, trying to calm down. My resolve—my sanity—was hanging by a thread. The lawyer’s warning looped on repeat.Protect my family. Be patient. Don’t lose my temper.Gwen’s voice had been so quiet—so scared, so small—when she’d stared down at the picnic blanket and told me what Ian had done. Yet, her voice was the loudest in my mind.Hold your shit together. I forced down more air.

Ian took a step closer.

I didn’t look up but raised my palm in warning. “Stay right where you are.” The words almost came out in a growl. “One more step, and you’re dead, understand?”

“No?” Ian sounded genuinely confused. “Toby—”

“Iknow.”

“You know…what…?”

I lifted my gaze. “About yourvisitto my house to see my wife.” I rolled my shoulders to relax the cords straining too tight in my neck. “Gwen told me.Everything.”

Ian nodded slowly. “I see.” He ignored my warning. He took another step. “So, youknow. Didmygirl truly tell youeverything?” He was next to me. “Did she tell you how much she liked my mouth on her? What about how she kissed me back?” A sinister edge crept into his voice. He was smiling when he leaned closer. “What about how my hand was inside her knickers—”

My fist swung and hit.

Ian grunted out a pained breath when the full force hit his cheek. His head cracked hard against the locker, but he was still on his feet. I landed another hit in his gut. He doubled over. I didn’t stop. The blows pounded in sickening, dulled thuds against the hands he’d crossed over his face to protect himself.

He got in maybe a shot or two, but at some point, my anger swelled into full-blown rage, and I shoulder-charged him against the lockers so hard he bounced back and hit the floor.

A thunder of feet roared into the changing room.

“Toby—fuck!” Judy. I couldn’t see her. I was too busy throwing off the flurry of hands trying to keep me from smashing Ian until he disappeared through the cold, tiled floor. “That’s it! That’sfuckingit! You’reout.”

My fist reared back, I froze. “What?” I blinked rapidly. “No.”

I looked over my shoulder.

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