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I hauled back my hand and punched him, transferring all the frustration and humiliation I had endured over the years right to his nose. The blood poured out like a faucet, but it was the rage in his expression that startled me.
“Fuck!” he shouted as his hand connected with my mouth. I tasted the coppery blood before I even realized what had happened. My lip stung from the contact of the back of his hand.
When he stepped toward me, I held up my hands.
“Before you run off and tell your old man what happened, remember that his daughter is on my side.” He moved out of my way. “Who do you think he’ll choose?”
“Stay away from me.”
“You just remember that I have the power to blow your whole world apart.”
I darted out of the stables and back to the house as fast as I could. What the hell just happened? Why would Josh target me? I couldn’t help him get a job at the club any more than Cassie could.
As I entered the kitchen, I wiped the blood from my mouth. If I told Jude what happened, he would go after Josh. I may not have known what Jude did for a living, but I knew he would retaliate. He beat up Cobra for approaching me at the club. What would he do to Josh for hitting me in his house? Jude going after Josh would put a strain on his relationship with Cassie. I couldn’t be the reason for that. Besides, I hit Josh first.
Cassie wasn’t interested in Josh. Even Josh knew that. His days here were numbered. I didn’t have to intervene, and I wouldn’t tell Jude.
“There you are.” I jumped when Jude came into the kitchen. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” I turned away from him. “I was in the stables and…”
“Look at me.” He came up from behind me and spun me to face him. “What happened?”
“Oh.” I covered my mouth with my hand, trying to come up with an explanation. “I tripped and hit my lip on that wood beam in the back of the stables.”
I didn’t want to lie.Why am I lying? Because I’m trying to protect everyone.
“Emmie, you have to be careful.” He pulled out a chair and made me sit. “I’ll clean that up and put some ice on it.”
“I can do it.”
“I’ll do it.” He went to the freezer and got the ice.
I didn’t argue, because I needed him to take care of me as much as he wanted to take care of me. If this was a strange relationship, I didn’t mind. I craved his attention.
He knelt in front of me. “This might sting.” He wiped my lips with a wet paper towel.
“Ouch!” I pulled away. “I’m fine.”
“Let me wipe the blood away.” He brought his lips to mine, kissing me slowly, helping me to forget the pain. “Let me take care of you.” He gently swiped the paper towel over my swollen lip. “My sweet girl.”
“Please don’t make a fuss.” The guilt settled into my core. “I don’t deserve it.”
“That’s an absurd thing to say.” He held a small bag full of ice against my lip. “Why wouldn’t you deserve some compassion?”
“I…” I had to tell him the truth. After everything he had done for me, it wasn’t right to lie. Josh was a bad person and shouldn’t be around anyone in this house. If I didn’t tell Jude what I knew, Cassie could be in danger.“I have to tell you something. I’m sorry I…”
Luke came into the kitchen from the back door, interrupting my impromptu confession.
“We have a problem,” he said.
When Luke looked at me, I knew he knew. There was no chance to fix this on my own.
Fuck!
Chapter 24
Jude
