Page 79 of Pretty Broken Wings
I jerk my eyes open, wishing I could see.
“Youwatch it,” Raven’s voice comes, then there’s a rattling of carts and an intake of breath.
“You fucking cunt.”
Who thefuckis talking to Raven like that?
Argument forgotten, I stride forward, zeroing in on the dark shape that I think is Raven. As soon as my fingers feel the brush of her hair, a part of me calms.
“Your bitch assaulted me.” The voice comes from another form, this one large—a man. I don’t recognize his voice. He must not be a regular.
I shove Raven behind me. I don’t think twice before my voice comes out low and quiet, “Call her that again, and I’ll fuck you up.”
Raven sucks in a breath behind me.
There’s a stunned silence from the man in front of me, and I’m already putting the weight on my back leg to throw a punch.
“You’re fucking crazy!” The man’s voice is pitched higher. “I’ll call the cops!”
“I’ll tell them you pushed me.” Raven’s voice is no longer directly behind me. What the hell? Why did she move? She needs to stay behind me so I can keep him away from her.
“You’re a fucking liar!”
Did he touch her? I hear rushing in my ears.
“And you’re an asshole!” Raven’s yelling now, and suddenly, I feel the shift. She’s gonna beat this guy’s ass, and I won’t be able to see to protect her from any of his punches.
Nope.
I herd Raven back into the store. “Let’s go.” I know she doesn’t want me touching her, but there’s about to be a whole lot more touching if I don’t get her away.
“You’re a fucking cowardly waste of space!” Raven’s still yelling, pushing back against me.
“Easy.” I grab her shoulders and push her into what I know is the produce section.
“Get off me!”
“What does he look like?” I ask her.
“Like an entitled piece of shit!” Raven’s breathing is heavy, and I hear her breath hitch.
It’s that little hitch of breath that drives me crazy. I’m ready to whirl and beat the man’s ass now. But if I do, she’ll follow and get hurt.
I force myself to take a breath. “What did he look like?” I’m going to need details if I’m going to track him down and beat his ass later.
Raven yanks out of my grip. “I don’t need you to fight my battles for me.”
“Are you okay?”
Raven ignores me. For another few beats, she paces like a caged animal, and it’s all I can do to keep her with me without stepping on her boundaries.
Finally, she gives an infuriated huff. “You threatened him. You’re a lawyer; you can’t do that.”
It was a conditional threat, but whatever. “Allegedly,” I tell her. “Are you hurt?”
“No, the fucker just shoved past me.”
Okay, maybe instead of beating his ass, I’ll bury him instead.
