Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 252(@200wpm)___ 201(@250wpm)___ 168(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 252(@200wpm)___ 201(@250wpm)___ 168(@300wpm)
There was a loud bang followed by a short scream. I was on my feet before I fully registered the noise. I shoved open the door between our rooms. Thank God she hadn’t shut that fucking door because, when I burst into the room, two men had Caleb and Violet. One of them was struggling to hold Caleb and keep a hand over the young man’s mouth, while the other was dragging a stunned-looking Violet by her hair toward the door.
I saw red. Pure, fucking rage I could barely control filled me. I lunged forward, grabbing the asshole who had Violet by the back of his neck and slamming him face first into the wall. He released her hair with a yelp. I shoved his head against the door twice in rapid succession. The guy dropped and I kicked him in the head hard enough my steel-toed boots caved in his skull. He didn’t move.
“Mom!” Caleb’s muffled shout came through the hand still clamped over his mouth. He fought against his attacker, but the guy had Caleb in a firm grip.
The second guy’s eyes went wide, clearly not expecting to deal with someone my size -- or, possibly, not expecting I’d use lethal force to protect Caleb and Violet. He tried to use Caleb as a shield, backing toward the door. Big fucking mistake.
“I swear to Christ, I’m gonna break every fuckin’ bone in your fuckin’ body.” The deadly calm of my voice belied how much I was seething on the inside. “Let him go and I’ll kill you quickly.”
“Mr. Harrington wants to talk to his family.” The guy was belligerent but also realized his severe disadvantage. He still dragged Caleb backward, trying to get to the shut door. Caleb struggling in his grasp was an added obstacle. “This ain’t your business, man.”
“Wrong answer.” I lunged for the guy just as Caleb lifted his legs, forcing the guy to either take Caleb’s full weight or drop him to face my attack. Caleb hit the floor on his ass a moment before I was on the guy.
I slammed my fist into the guy’s face, feeling the satisfying crunch of his nose breaking under my knuckles. Blood flowed from his busted nose as he howled in pain, but I didn’t let up. I grabbed him by the throat with one hand, using my other to rain down blows on his ribs, feeling them crack beneath my fists. The guy grunted in pain but fought his way up.
“You think you can come in here and grab them?” I snarled, driving my knee into his stomach. “You think I’m gonna let that happen?”
He tried to fight back, throwing a wild punch that grazed my jaw. I barely felt it through the adrenaline. I slammed his head against the wall, then dragged him to the floor. I used my weight to hold him down with both my hands around his throat, effectively cutting off his air. The guy was panicking now, clawing at my hands, his eyes wide with fear.
“Just… doin’… my… job…” It sounded like he was struggling with everything he had to get each word out.
“Your job?” I growled, tightening my grip on his throat. “Your fucking job is terrorizing women?”
Behind me, I heard Violet’s ragged breathing and Caleb’s frantic movements. “Mom, are you okay?” Caleb’s voice was strained.
The distraction cost me.
I barely registered the flash of metal before a searing pain tore through my side. I grunted but caught his knife hand when he tried to arc the blade back into my side. When I twisted his arm backward and shoved him forward, I jerked his arm upward with a sharp jerk. There was an audible pop as his shoulder gave way. This time, the guy shrieked before clamping his teeth shut. Sweat erupted over his face with the pain. His right arm now hung limp.
He struggled to his feet, pain obvious in his features. Stumbling backward, he held up his other arm. “OK! OK! I’m sorry! I’m leaving!”
“Right. And go straight to the police, no doubt.”
“No, man! You’ll never see or hear from me again!”
I shook my head sadly. “Wish I could believe that, but anyone who’d drag a woman across a room by her hair can’t be trusted to keep his word.”
“The cops are probably already on the way, with as much noise as we’ve been making.” The guy was trying to maneuver himself between me and the door, but the room was small and I was more than capable of blocking his way.
“If they are, I’ll deal with it. But you are not leaving here on your own.”
“He always gets what he wants, man. Harrington.” The guy looked up at me. Pain still lined his face, but I saw the calculating look in his eyes. When he flipped open a switchblade with his good hand, I was ready.