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“Stop!”
Arms wrap around me from behind, and I struggle against them, desperately needing to continue my assault on Mark. I’m dragged off my brother and thrown to the floor as if I weigh nothing.
“I’ll fucking kill you,” Mark snarls as he scrambles toward me, but Abyss grabs his arm and drags him across the room.
“Enough!” Soul shouts. “Both of you.”
When he crouches down, I track his movement and see that he’s kneeling next to Apple. She’s sprawled on the floor, a towel barely covering her, and cupping her cheek.
“Abyss, get over here and check her out,” Soul orders.
Now that my adrenaline is wearing off, my own pain starts to register, but I ignore it as I crawl toward Apple.
“What happened?” I ask and try to move her hand away from her face.
She swats me away. “You,” she cries. “You happened.”
Abyss takes Soul’s place next to her, and Soul crosses to Mark to make sure he stays put.
“Darlin’, let me take a look,” Abyss coaxes. Apple lowers her hand and winces when he presses his fingers to her cheekbone. “I don’t think it’s broken. But there’s gonna be a helluva bruise.”
“You’re gonna pay for that,” Mark seethes.
“Shut up,” Soul barks.
The world around me seems to shrink until nothing and no one exists but me and Apple. I scoot closer to her and lift her free hand, bringing it to my lips.
“I am so sorry,” I whisper. “I’d never…” I shake my head. “I can’t believe this happened.”
Apple stares at me, worry and understanding battling for dominance in her expression. “It was an accident. I know that.”
“Accident or not, he shouldn’t have touched you,” Mark snaps with disdain.
I glare over my shoulder and see Soul haul Mark to his feet. Mark tries to break free of Prez’s hold, but he’s not strong enough.
Felt like he was strong enough when he was hitting you.
“We’re gonna go get you cleaned up,” Soul says casually as he drags Mark from the room.
“Malice, grab me a beer from your fridge,” Abyss instructs, pulling my attention back to him and Apple.
“I don’t think now’s the time to drink,” I snap.
“Beer,” he repeats. “It’s not for me you fuck, it’s for her face. And put some clothes on, would ya?” he tacks on, almost as an afterthought.
Clothes?
Glancing down, I take in my nude state and shake my head.
Fuck.
I push to my feet, hobble to my dresser, and see that the drawers are cracked. After grabbing a pair of shorts and tugging them on, I make my way to the mini fridge in the corner. I snag a beer and carry it back to them. Apple takes it and holds it to her cheek.
“Keep that there for a while,” Abyss says as he stands. “I’ll get you something for the pain and an actual ice pack. Be back in a minute.”
After he leaves the room, I reach down and offer Apple my hand. She stares at it like it’s a snake waiting to strike, but then she takes it and lets me pull her up.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
