AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Pride stirs in my chest as I watch Avery stand up for herself. She fixes Edmund with a withering glare, and for a moment, he looks taken aback, his cold mask slipping. But he quickly rearranges his face into that infuriatingly smug look.
“Avery, darling, you’re being emotional. We talked about this, remember? You need to learn how to think with your brain.” He gives her a pitying smile that makes my blood boil. “This is why you have me. I’m here to think for both of us. So come on, let’s get in the Bugatti and go home.”
Fuck that.
“She’s not going anywhere with you,” I say, taking a step toward him. “Ever.”
Edmund scowls. “This is a private conversation between me and my fiancée.”
“Avery’s not your fiancée. She’s my girlfriend.”
My words hang in the air, and Avery bewilderedly turns to look at me.
“Your girlfriend?” Edmund asks, his lip curling into a smirk of disbelief, like he’s caught me in a lie. “Bullshit. Our relationship only ended yesterday.”
“So now you admit your relationship is over?”
Edmund frowns like he’s annoyed to be caught out. “It’s none of your business anyway.” He shakes his head, smirking. “Girlfriend my ass. Come on, Avery, we’re getting out of here. Now.”
All logic flies out of the window as Edmund takes a step toward Avery, reaching out for her. I need to get her away from him. I want this asshole out of her life right now, once and for all.
I shouldn’t do it. I know I shouldn’t. But I do it anyway. I reach for Avery, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close to me. Her eyes widen as I lean in to kiss her, pressing my lips against hers. She tastes like syrupy pancakes, and I groan against her plump mouth, forgetting all about Edmund. My heart races as I feel her melt against me, her arms looping around my neck. All that matters is Avery’s sweet mouth moving against mine…
“Hey!”
The world comes rushing back and Avery springs away from me, like she just came back to herself. Edmund is glowering at us, tensing up like a bull about to charge. We sure wiped that smug smirk off his face. Now he just looks pissed.
“There’s your proof, asshole,” I tell him. “Avery and I are together, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it. Now leave, before I make you leave.”
Edmund looks between us, his face slowly turning an ugly shade of purple that matches his black eye. The tense silence is broken by the sound of hooves, and I turn to see my brother, Jackson, trotting his horse toward us from over a nearby hill. He frowns down at the scene as he approaches, looking at me quizzically.
“Everything alright here, Hunter?” he asks. “I heard shouting.”
“Everything will be just fine once he’s gone,” I say, gesturing toward Edmund.
Edmund ignores me. His rage-filled gaze is focused on Avery.
“Is it true?” he asks her sharply. “Is this guy seriously your boyfriend?”
I hear Avery suck in a breath beside me before she says, “Yes. He is.”
Edmund takes a menacing step forward. “You slut,” he hisses. “You stupid, pathetic little whore—”
My temper snaps. I lunge toward him with a groan of rage, but he’s expecting it. He turns on his heel and starts to run back toward his car. I chase him, fury pumping through my body, pushing me onward. I’ve nearly got him when I feel a strong grip on my shoulders, stopping me in my tracks.
“Get off me,” I snarl as Jackson holds me still. But he’s always been the strongest of my brothers, and I can’t fight him off.
Edmund has reached his car, and he turns back to look at me as he opens the driver-side door.
“Don’t think this is over!” he shouts. “I’ll be back for my fiancée!”
With a burst of furious energy, I pull free of Jackson’s hold, barreling toward the sports car. But it’s too late. Edmund is already speeding down the dirt track that leads away from the ranch.
“Fuck!” I round on my brother. “What the hell did you hold me back for? Didn’t you hear what he called her?”
Jackson looks grim. “I heard. He deserves that black eye and worse for speaking to a woman like that. But I don’t want you getting into any trouble. Not for a guy like that.”
“That’s not your decision to make,” I mutter, seeking out Avery. She’s still over by the fence, hugging herself nervously. Jackson follows my gaze.
