Page 52 of Behind the Lyrics
His forearms came up and he tried to protect his face. “N-no. Please stop.”
I delivered uppercuts to his ribs and stomach, loving the way his soft flesh absorbed my hits.Hope this fucker feels everything for weeks.It was as if I couldn’t stop the rage boiling inside my veins. Seeing blood pouring from Angela’s nose and thinking of what she’d had to endure the night he raped her made my fists fly faster.
“Viktor.” Someone gripped the back of my neck. “Stop,” she cried. “You’re going to kill him.”
Harsh breaths heaved from my chest.
She stroked my cheek. “He’s down. Stop, please. He’s not worth you going to prison.”
My eyes cleared, and the buzzing in my head stopped.
Crusting blood surrounded one of her nostrils.
I dropped his unconscious body to the floor, stood, and wrapped her in a hug, feeling her face to check for any other wounds. “Are you okay, Love?”
Tears poured down her cheeks, but she nodded. “Yeah.” Her gaze went to my knuckles, which were bruised and bloody. “Oh my God. Your poor hands.” She cried harder.
“They’re fine.” Actually, they hurt like a son of a bitch, but the pain was worth it.
“What in the…?” Stu’s large form stood at the door, probably taking in the glorious mess of the living room, of the bleeding man lying on the floor, and of me sheltering Angela. “Damn. I thought I heard something. That’s why I came to check.”
“I took care of the problem.” I smoothed Angela’s hair and kissed the crown of her head.
A weak, watery laugh snuck out of her mouth. “That you did. Thank you.”
“Stu, call the police. I want that fuckhead behind bars.”
“Wait,” Angela said. “I don’t want to mess with—”
“I don’t care.” I pushed her back a bit. “I want to make sure he never has the chance to touch you, or any other woman, ever again.”
Her shoulders slumped. “You’re right.”
“And if he fights the charges, we’ll fight back.” I gripped her chin and forced her to look at me. “I’ll be with you every step of the way if you want.”
A small smile broke through her pain and grief, trembling her bottom lip. “Thank you. For everything.”
“Let’s get some ice while we wait for the police.” I pulled her into the little kitchen and rummaged in the top-shelf freezer, grabbing a handful of the freezing stuff.
She snatched two cloth towels, and I made a couple of temporary icepacks, placing one on her face. Next to her nose, her cheekbone puffed out and a purple bruise spread under the skin.
I wanted to go back to Jeff and kick his stomach over and over again for hurting her. Unclenching my fists, I laid the other pack over my right hand.
With a careful step, Marky crept to Angela’s feet and meowed. One hand on her face with the ice, she scooped him into her free arm and pressed his head to her neck. “Oh, boy. Thank you for helping me. Are you okay?”
He purred and gave her jaw a small lick.
“He jumped on Jeff and tried to help. Scratched his shoulder pretty bad, I think.”
In wonder, I stared at the little orange demon. “Perhaps I was hasty in my judgment of you, Marky.”
Angel set him on the floor, and he sniffed my boots.If the little fuck pisses one more time…
“Meow?” His slitted pupils flicked to my face then he rubbed against my leg.
I resisted the urge to shoo him away with my foot. Instead, I lowered myself to his level and gave his head a quick pat. “Good job, Marky.” Quickly, I rose.
“Look at that.” Angel’s eyes smiled at me, and my heart flipped. “Maybe you two will become friends after all.”
