Page 4 of Jagged Burn
I close the door without waiting for her to reply.Anger radiates from me as I stomp back toward the entrance of the house.Anger at her reaction to me, at her situation, at the unfairness of life in general, just as the first raindrops land on my forehead.
The scene in front of me would have me laughing out loud if I wasn’t so fucking pissed.Matt is trying to catch a man almost twice his size as he chases him around the dining room table.Already the man’s eye is swelling along with his split lip.
“Matt.”He turns to glare at me as the man moves further away from him.“Anna needs to go to the hospital.”
The memory of the bruises on her neck and her broken nose is still fresh in my mind.The thought of what I didn’t even see sending another wave of rage through my system.I do know she needs to be checked out by a doctor.
Matt frowns before stomping toward the door.He doesn’t say a single word as he strides out into the night, but the bastard behind me does.
“Get the fuck out.All of you.”
Turning slowly, I take him in.He’s a big guy, probably around six feet and bulky with muscles he probably takes hours to maintain.He is what people would consider a “pretty boy.”Blue eyes, blond hair, and a perfect smile, even though Matt did try to rearrange his features.
“What is your name?”I ask, my voice a low rumble as it leaves my lips.
“What’s it to you?”I wait patiently until he becomes uncomfortable enough under my dark gaze to simply answer the damn question.“Sam Baxter,” he says, a nervous edge to his voice.
“Well, Sam Baxter, let me explain how this will go.You’re going to forget Anna existed or that we were ever here.”
“Or what?”He leans forward, regaining some of his earlier swagger.
“Or I will set this fucking house on fire,” I reply flatly, leaning into his personal space.“With you inside it.”I grin, knowing how it distorts my face, my scars.I can feel it pulling at the edges.
“You’ll ...you’ll never...”he stammers.
“Get away with it?”I ask with a raised brow, cutting him off.“I’m a fireman, I know how to set a fire without leaving evidence.”
I don’t wait for him to reply before turning away and striding out into the pouring rain.I find Matt sitting on the top step, staring at my truck.It takes me a moment to steer my gaze in the same direction.
Beside my truck, in the downpour, stands the woman I’ve always wanted but never had the guts to make a move on—my best friend’s younger sister.And even bruised and broken, still the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.
For a moment I consider walking back inside and making sure Sam doesn’t ever get the chance to hurt another woman again, but I push the thought aside.Instead, I help my friend to his feet before moving to my truck.It’s time to take care of the people I have always considered my family.Vengeance can wait.
Chapter Four
Some Explaining To Do
