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“I don’t string you along!” I yelled back. “Get. Off. Of me!”
I shoved hard against Tanner, but he held me tighter. His fingers dug in to my sides, and I cried out in pain as he shoved me backward against the wall. I wiggled and squirmed, shoving and kicking at him, but he just held me there, pressing me harder into the solid wall.
“You should be mine!” Tanner screamed in my face. “And I’m going to show you that!”
Tanner’s hand slid down my side to the hem of my dress. He yanked it upward just as his lips crashed down on mine. I shoved his face away and screamed out in fear. Not a second later, Tanner flew backward and landed on the floor.
When I looked up, I saw Sean standing above Tanner, his face red with rage. He was on top of him in a flash, his fist connecting with Tanner’s jaw over and over again. Tanner struggled to get up, but Sean held him down easily. He lifted him up by his shirt collar and leaned forward menacingly.
> “I’m only going to say this once,” Sean said. “Stay the hell away from Emily, or I will fucking end you.”
With one last punch, Sean shoved Tanner back to the ground and stood up. He was shaking with fury when he turned to face me. My eyes were wide with shock and fear, and I couldn’t move. My body was still pressed against the wall as if some invisible force was holding me there.
“Come on,” Sean said, an edge in his voice. He grabbed my hand and pulled me to him. Wrapping his arm protectively around my shoulders, Sean led me through the crowd of people in the club, not letting me go until we were safely outside. Once the night air whipped across our faces, Sean dropped his arm and glared off into the distance. I followed him to the car, neither of us saying a word.
We climbed inside and drove toward home. Sean was still shaking with unresolved rage. I tried to think of something to calm him down, but I couldn’t pry my lips apart. Part of me was terrified and shaken by Tanner’s assault, but another part of me was turned on by how fast Sean jumped into action. Watching him pummel Tanner into the ground for me was hot, and when I looked over at him, I felt a rush of desire wash over me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - SEAN
My head was racing as I drove us home. It took all my strength not to turn around and go back to the club. Hitting that jackass a few times wasn’t enough. He deserved to be beat fucking unconscious, pummeled until his face was be unrecognizable. I wanted to put him in the hospital and have him wake up, alone and afraid to see my face again.
Instead, I just kept driving. My anger was far from fading, but I knew I couldn’t do any more than I had. I had Tommy and Sarah to think about. If I got arrested for assault, they wouldn’t have anyone to take care of them. They’d already lost their mother, I couldn’t let my own anger rob them of their father.
Still, it was impossible not to feel a burning rage the entire ride home. It wasn’t until we finally pulled into the driveway that I turned around to see Emily staring at me, her eyes wide and her face flushed.
For the first time since the club, I wondered if I had scared her. She had never seen me fly off the handle like that before, and I never wanted her to. What that asshole did to her was awful, and he deserved to be punished for it. But what I did was bad too. I hadn’t once asked her if she was okay.
“I’m sorry,” I said softly. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
She shook her head and reached over to touch my knee. Her hands were steady, but there was something in her eyes I didn’t recognize.
“Did I scare you?” I asked. “I’m sorry. It’s just, when I saw him holding you there, I lost it. I lost my mind, Emily. I’m sorry.”
“Stop apologizing,” she said firmly. “What you did was amazing. I’ve never felt so protected in my life.”
“He deserved worse,” I said darkly. “I shouldn’t have left him breathing.”
“Yes, you should have,” Emily said. “You did the right thing by walking away, Sean. There wasn’t anything else you could have done. You saved me. That’s what matters.”
“I know, but I’m still angry,” I said, punching the steering wheel. “Who the fuck does he think he is? That’s the same guy from the pizza place, right? The one you said has been hounding you for years?”
Emily nodded and looked down at her hands. “I never imagined he would do something like that. He’s always been interested in me, but he’s never been violent. Ever. That was—”
“Fucked up,” I finished for her. “Deserving of a serious ass beating.”
“You beat him pretty good,” Emily said. “He’ll regret ever laying a hand on me, and he won’t feel great tomorrow morning.”
“I hope not,” I said. “I hope he remembers it and never fucking touches you again. Emily, if he even talks to you again other than to apologize for being a sorry piece of shit, I’ll break his fucking skull.”
“I don’t think he will,” Emily said quickly. “And if he does, I know how to handle it. He was drunk and crazy tonight. Janie’s been warning me about him forever, but I never gave it much thought. I really thought he was harmless.”
“Well, he’s not.” My voice was hard and flat. When I glanced at Emily, I saw a frown cross her face as she ducked her head again. She stared at her hands for a few minutes, and I tried to think of something to comfort her, but my mind was blank. The only thing I could focus on was my anger.
“Let’s get inside,” Emily said softly, finally lifting her eyes to meet my gaze. “You can’t pick up the kids yet. Not while you’re this angry.”
“You’re right.” I sighed, and we both got out of the car.
Once inside, I followed Emily into the kitchen. She grabbed us each a bottle of water, and we stood there silently. When her eyes found mine, she no longer looked shaken or upset. She put her water on the counter and walked slowly to me, her eyes dark with desire.
