Page 97 of Bleeding Hearts

“Who the fuck do you think you are? Get off me right now, or I’ll sue.” Her dad groans from under me as if he has the right to say a single word.

“I’m the man who’s in love with the woman you almost just killed, you fucking piece of shit.” I punch him again and he coughs to the side, spitting blood onto the otherwise pristine floor, tainting it.

“I wasn’t going to kill her. I was just teaching the stupid little bitch a lesson.” He laughs. He fucking laughs. And I see red.

My vision blurs as I slam my fists into him over and over again, anger like I’ve never felt before coursing through my veins.

I hear Kade yelling my name, yelling for me to stop, but I can’t. I feel his bones crunch beneath my fists and a part of me breaks at the sound.

I’ve never been a violent person. I got into a stupid fight or two when I was a kid, but nothing serious.

Then I was diagnosed with bone cancer, and the idea of fighting became something that I hated. The thought of breaking someone else’s bones when I know just how precious they can be makes my insides cringe.

But in this moment, I can’t seem to stop myself.

I go to throw another punch but feel arms yanking me off Demi’s father before I can, and then I’m jerked around to face a wide-eyed Kade.

“He’s done.” He nods his head to where Alexander lies, bloody and beaten on the ground.

“That’s right, Kaden.” Alexander groans. “Be a good son and help your father.”

He holds his hand out for help. Kade grabs it in his, pulling him up slightly before using his other hand to punch him across his face, knocking him back down to the ground.

He squats down in front of his father.

“I’d never help you, you piece of shit.” His voice is cold as ice as he looks down to where his father lies on the ground. “You deserve this.” He shakes his head at him before turning back toward me. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t go anywhere. Go.” He looks over to where Logan is sitting, leaning against the wall, holding a teary-eyed Demi.

I don’t hesitate to run over and crouch down next to her. She throws herself into my arms the second I get to her, letting out a choked sob as she does.

I wrap my arms around her, sitting on the ground and pulling her into my lap.

“Ash, I’m so sorry. You were right. She tricked me. I shouldn’t have come.” She cries into my arms, and I shush her, stroking my fingers through her hair as I cradle her head against my chest.

“No, you don’t need to apologize for a single thing. It’s okay. Everything’s okay. He’s never going to hurt you again, okay?” I look down at her, and she nods, tears streaming down her face. “I’m here, baby. I’m here.” I press my lips against her forehead, kissing her over and over, scared to let go of her.

I look over to where her father is lying on the floor, and I see him push himself to sit and then to stand, his eyes locked on Kade.

“Logan,” I say calmly, keeping my eyes on him. “Stay with Demi.” I gently move her out of my lap as Logan wraps her arms around her.

I walk over to where her father is, making sure to stay quiet so he doesn’t hear or see me in his peripheral vision.

Kade is facing away from him, on the phone with, I’m assuming, the police, not noticing what is happening behind him.

Just as I reach the two of them, I watch as Alexander picks up the lamp from behind him, lifting it to slam it over Kade’s head. Instead, I grab him from behind, turning him toward me and punching him one more time, hard enough that he falls to the floor again.

Unfortunately, it’s at that exact moment “Police” is called through the house and two cops, one man and one woman, walk inside, watching me hit him.

Before I even realize what’s happening, I’m being put in handcuffs as I’m dragged away from Alexander and a shocked-looking Kade.

“Wait, no. He was defending me,” Demi yells, pushing herself off the floor and trying to run toward me, but Logan wraps her arms around her tight, holding her back.

“Ma’am, are you okay?” the woman cop asks Demi while the man cuffs my wrists, pulling me to the opposite side of the room while he looks around, trying to assess what’s going on.

“I’m not,” her father calls out, pushing himself up to sit, holding his nose, which looks broken. “That lowlife fucking attacked me.” He points over to me.

“Alright, sir. The ambulance is on its way. Why don’t we go somewhere more private, and you can tell me what happened while we wait?” She turns away from Demi and toward him.

“I don’t need to go anywhere private. I need you to arrest that asshole and get him the fuck out of my house,” he yells. “He’s been abusing my poor daughter, and he showed up here and attacked the both of us.” He feigns concern toward Demi.

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