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A big fist caught Bram’s shoulder, and he swallowed a growl. Then he attacked.
He punched the man in the face, chest, gut. This asshole had come after Addie. Had terrified her.
And no doubt had much worse planned.
Energy flooded Bram. He blocked the man’s next hit, then shoved the guy. The man hit the wall and Bram elbowed him in the face.
The man cursed, almost too low to hear. It sounded like another language.
“Who the fuck are you?” Bram demanded.
The man didn’t respond. He charged at Bram.
They crashed into the couch, and a lamp fell off a side table and smashed. Bram tried to yank the man’s mask off.
“You don’t breathe Addie’s air,” Bram said. “You don’t come anywhere near her, or I’ll kill you. She’s mine.”
The man’s head jerked up. Through the gap in his mask, Bram saw a flare in the man’s dark-brown eyes.
He didn’t like hearing that.
“Mine,” Bram said again.
With a low roar, the attacker jerked his arms up.
He caught Bram in the gut. Bram grunted and blocked the pain, as he’d been trained to do. They hit the floor, wrestling. An elbow hit Bram’s already bruised eye, and pain exploded through his face, but he gritted his teeth.
He wasn’t letting go.
He had to protect Addie.
“Bram!” Addie’s muffled shout. “Are you okay?”
He heard the fear in her voice.
He pinned the attacker down and gripped his shirt. Then Bram hauled him up and punched him in the face.
“I’ll always protect her. Always be her shield.”
They scuffled again. A hard shove had Bram’s shoulder hitting the wall.
Suddenly, the asshole turned and ran.
With a curse, Bram raced to the door. He heard the man hammering down the stairs.
Bram gritted his teeth, his jaw creaking. He wanted to follow. He wanted to catch the fucker and ensure he stayed the hell away from Addie.
But as he looked back into the apartment, he realized he couldn’t leave her. She was afraid, and he couldn’t leave her alone and unprotected.
He crossed the living room and rapped his knuckles on the bathroom door. “Addie? It’s okay. He’s—”
The bathroom door wrenched open, and Addie threw herself into his arms with a sob. “I was so scared.”
“Shh.” He picked her up, the need to soothe her drumming in his chest. He made it to the couch, sat, and settled her on his lap. “You’re safe now.”
“He’s truly gone?”
“Yes.” He stroked a hand over her head, and down her back. “He’s gone.”
