Page 158 of Crushing Clover

“Don’t even think about contacting me or anyone in my family ever again. That includes my girl,” I snarled low. “Or next time it’ll be a bullet instead of a fist.”

I shoved him hard, and he staggered back against his desk, still holding his face.

He’d won, and yet he’d lost. All he’d ever wanted from our relationship was to keep me under his control. With my choice to give up Cygnet entirely, he’d lost the last of his leverage.

“You’re out of the will!” he finally shouted as we walked out the door.

“Shove your money up your fucking ass.”

Rush clapped me on the shoulder, and Lucky’s silent satisfaction was deafening, as we left the house I hated so much.

Time to go find our girl.

Chapter 32

I kicked the downed, vomiting man again and again, adrenaline helping me ignore the pain in my feet and the ugly, dripping ache between my legs. When he turned onto his side, gasping for breath, I shoved him to his back with my foot and heel-stomped his throat. He wheezed, eyes bulging in panic.

Part of me tried to stop myself from doing him irreparable damage, but if he’d done this to me without any hesitation, who knew what he’d done to other, more vulnerable girls?

My priority should have been getting away.

In the dark, shadowed figures converged upon us.

Two. Three.

Fuck.

Warren’s security detail? This guy’s coworkers? I could only stagger back a step before they were on us.

Did they all think they were going to take a fucking turn?

I stumbled back a step then held my ground, pushing my hair out of my eyes, my lips drawn back in a rictus grin.

Fuck these guys. I was going to claw their fucking eyes out.

Two of them piled onto the guard, beating the living shit out of him.

“Clover!”

I fought to claw the third one’s face, but he was strong and unexpectedly fast.

“Clover, stop!”

Saint?

“Let me go!” I shrieked. He’d let this happen—he’d sent me away. I was going to fucking kill him, too.

“Shh. Clover. It’s done. You’re safe.”

“You’re letting him sell me!” I screamed, trying to break his hold. I slid down through his arms, then scrambled backward.

“No! We didn’t know he was going to take you, Clove. We won’t let him take you away.”

“You’re lying!” I spat, feeling like a cornered animal. “You’re just trying to get me into that fucking car!”

“Did that asshole hurt you?” Saint demanded. Even in the dark, his body was tense.

I didn’t answer. Why did he care?