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In response, Callie turned rigid, her Little growing teeth. In all the years she’d struggled with this side of herself, not once had she used it as an offensive tactic; self-defense was always the goal.
“Atticus,” Evander said quietly, “we’ll just take Callie back to her room.”
The hiss of leather through his pant loops made her spine cramp as chills seized it.
“No problem. We’ll join you in the kitchen for breakfast when we’re done here.”
Monster.
Elias shifted, turning to carry her away, and something inside her snapped.
She kicked savagely, her heels hammering his legs. Her body twisted and bucked, trying to dislodge the steel band around her waist as she snarled.
“Fucking hell,” he muttered. “Easy, little minx.”
She needed to protect Alicia from the monster. He’d beat her until welts scored her back, until bruises formed upon bruises and blood spotted the sheets.
She brought her foot up, jamming her heel solidly into his unguarded crotch.
A low, agonized grunt exploded in her ear, but she broke free the second Eli’s grip loosened.
She stumbled forward, yanking her arm from Evander’s grasp as he came in to capture her.
The sane part of her brain winced as she charged at the bearded beast. Another part recoiled and wanted to flee at the sight of the belt in his hands, already folded.
“You gonna kick me in the nuts too, little warrior?”
Fury overrode sense. Pure emotion pushed her to extremes she’d never dreamed of, using fists and feet in a hail of retribution.
Granted, it hurt her far more than it did him, her bare toes smashing into his shins painfully.
Yet it didn’t deter her. Nothing would, not when she understood the power of the belt, the pain it wreaked on a soul.
Arms wrapped around her, only they weren’t familiar. Slim, strong but in a different way.
“Alicia, get away—”
“She won’t hurt me, Atticus. It’s you she wants to maim.”
Maim? More like snap those nasty hands off at the wrists so he couldn’t ever swing a belt again.
Teeth bared, Callie strained against the other woman’s embrace, reaching out with clawed fingers to at least rip the bastard’s face off.
“Callie, take a deep breath. It’s okay. Atticus is going to put the belt down now. He’s not going to use it.”
The asshole frowned, but as Callie stilled, he carefully set the hated weapon over the back of the chair, turning back with his empty hands facing her. “Okay?”
The volatile emotions drained out of her within a few frantic heartbeats. Trembling, aware her breathing was ragged and heaving, she started to slide to the floor.
“I got her, I got her… I don’t got her!” A note of alarm rang in Alicia’s voice as she was dragged down to the floor.
“Here, babygirl.” Evander gathered them both up, somehow detangling them so Alicia’s Daddy could reclaim her. “Well, I wasn’t expecting that.”
Neither was she.
Callie felt tears build behind her eyes as she saw what carnage she’d caused; Elias on his knees, his face pale as one hand cupped his crotch; the concern in Alicia’s eyes, and the wariness in the man’s.
“Bad memories, Callie. They come back to bite you when you least expect them. It’s okay, no one blames you.”
