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will
not
react.
“Tell us where you came from. We’ll make sure you get back there.” The four men chuckled and swayed closer. “We can put you on a boat tonight. How about that?”
Neri shot me a look as if surprised at how calm I was.
I did my best to embrace ice. To become impenetrable to these bastards. My only task was to keep Neri safe. They meant nothing to me. She meant everything.
If I had to look weak, so be it.
If I had to listen to their remarks, fine.
As long as they grew tired of taunting and left us the fuck alone, they could spit on me again for all I cared.
“Fucking rude prick for not responding to us.” Black t-shirt snarled. “Hey.” He shoved me in the chest. “We’re speaking to you.”
My vision turned as red as blood.
My free hand balled into stone.
I will not retaliate.
I will not put Neri in danger.
I will not strike—
“If you won’t speak willingly, we’ll just make ya. Won’t we, boys?” Bald Spot grinned.
Fuck.
I braced myself for a punch.
I deliberated how to protect Neri if they attacked.
But then Neri threw a match onto the gasoline these bastards had poured around our feet and stepped in front of me.
Putting herself in harm’s way.
Making me lose the final shred of my control.
“Stop being racist pricks and go the fuck away!”
I snapped. I roared. I jerked her back. “Lanet olsun, Neri. Sus!” (Damn it, Neri. Shut up!)
All four guys reacted.
Disgust filled their faces.
Neri’s wide eyes met mine.
And I realised my mistake too late.
Just like every time when my emotions grew too fierce, my mind slipped into my first language.
The guys bared their teeth. “Bloody immigrant. Can’t even speak fucking English.”
Fuck.
FUCK.
They stepped closer.
“Let her go, cunt!” Black t-shirt lurched forward, grabbing Neri’s arm. He tugged her forward, making her stumble.
My heart stopped beating.
The savagery inside me woke up. The brutality that I’d only embraced once in my life raised its ugly head.
Gritting my teeth, I refused to speak.
I merely stepped forward, tore the bastard’s hand off Neri, then shifted her so she was directly behind me. Backing her into the building, I caged her in, trapping her behind me.
“Aslan—”
“Quiet,” I hissed.
“Fucking bastard. Don’t tell her what to do.” Ugly Fish tried to grab Neri from the side.
I stepped into his path and snarled. “You touch her, and you’re fucking dead.”
The two older guys paused and looked at each other.
A slow smile crossed their faces.
The decision I’d wanted to avoid flared cruelly in their drunken eyes.
And I knew.
Just like I’d known what Ethan had done to Neri, I knew what would happen tonight.
I would die defending her.
I would die murdering four Australian idiots who’d ruined one of the best days of my life.
I trembled on the spot, clinging with my final strength not to drown in hate. “I’m asking you nicely to leave,” I seethed. “One last chance to continue walking and forget about us.”
“You’re fucking having a laugh.” Blue t-shirt cracked his neck. “Give me the girl. I’ll look after her. She’ll find out what a real man—”
I hit him.
Square in the mouth.
His teeth split my knuckles, but it was worth it as he stumbled back and tripped off the curb.
The three other guys blinked as if not expecting me to deliver on my promises. I knew I shouldn’t have struck first. I wished I could get Neri far, far away from here.
But it was too late.
With a roar, the three uninjured men launched at me.
Neri got knocked to the side, landing on her knees as my hand was torn off hers and a punch thwacked against my temple.
My vision darted with black spots. Sickness splashed on my tongue. But it wasn’t until Neri screamed and the sight of Black t-shirt towering over her, pawing at her, that I lost myself completely.
“Neri!”
She screamed as he tried to catch her swinging fists, his hands somehow tangling in her sea lion necklace. He pushed her to the ground as his fingers broke the silver chain. Neri cried out, more enraged at him for breaking her necklace than him pressing her against the dirty street.
With a chuckle, he threw her necklace into the gutter and trod on her sunset dress, keeping her down as she tried to launch up and fight him.
Another punch landed on my jaw, spinning me around.
I lost sight of her.
I panicked at what that fucking cunt was doing to her.
But all I could see were fists and violence.
Strike after strike landed on my torso, head, and shoulders.
Each one cracked and fissured the man I did my best to be, unlocking the cage, knocking down the bars inside me, smashing through the walls and doors and barriers.
Neri screamed again.
And that was it.
I became everything I always ran from.
I became the monster I was born to be.
Violence ripped through me.
Roaring, I launched at the men taking turns to punish me.
