Page 164 of His Addiction
He sniffed hard, wiping his nose with the heel of his hand, eyes veined red.
“I hated the horses. Always did. But I tried. Ipretended. Year after year, like it would matter. But you know what?”
He leaned in again, voice laced with venom.
“I really fuckinghatehorses. Just like I fucking hate you. I’m glad he’s dead. And I’m going to sell this shithole and walk away.”
The words struck like a thousand wasp stings, swarming her head, her ears, her chest. The yard had been Harry’s soul. His life.
The idea of Trixie sold to the highest bidder made her heart fold in on itself.
“IwishHarry thought you were a loser,” she spat. “Then maybe he wouldn’t have funded your addiction or left this place to rot in your hands.”
Without thinking, she lunged, shoulder-first ramming into his chest. He toppled, ungraceful and stunned, landing hard on the floor with a grunt.
“Ihateyou!” she screamed, her voice raw, primal, fractured. “I’m taking Trixie, and you can’t stop me.”
And then he laughed.
“Do you want to play rough, little Shannon?”
He pushed up on one elbow, eyes gleaming, teeth bared like a feral animal. That mocking laugh lingered in the air and still, Jamie had no idea she needed him.
She didn’t hesitate. While Niall was down, she threw her boot straight into his ribs, into the very place she’d seen him kick horses without a flicker of remorse.
He lurched forward with a howl, and she followed, fists flying, fury overridingfear.
Distracted by anger, his fists crashed into the back of her knees.
Her legs buckled.
The floor slammed into her, her head smacking the edge of the open drawer on the way down. Pain exploded behind her eyes.
Everything blurred.
Grunting and swearing, Niall scrambled on top of her. She punched his chest, fought to shove him off, but his weight settled across her hips, trapping her.
Her body thrashed beneath him, but her strength was fading fast.
Then came the slap across her cheek, her head snapping sideways.
“Don’t make me mark the places people can see,” he hissed. “Play nice, or I’ll go out there now and put that fucking horse in the ground.”
When she spat in his face, his hand jumped to her throat, his fingers squeezing.
Her scream died in her chest, strangled beneath his grip.
In the back of her mind, nails tapped on the floorboards, and a steady growl came.
Jackson.
The dog skidded into the room, teeth bared, a warning snarl rumbling into savage, furious barks. The noise split through her head like a siren.
Then she saw him.
Jamie.
He charged into the bedroom, eyes locked on Niall with a murderous glint that made her heart jump.
