Page 25 of First Time Rush
If someone has their fucking hands on her, this day will be their last.
I'm between two buildings. She's not far. My senses sharpen. A candy wrapper blowing under a dumpster. The hum of electrical wires running over my head. The sound of struggle and muffled screams.
I slam myself against a brick wall, easing toward the corner. Every muscle in my body is rock hard. Coiled. Ready. The flash of headlights catches my eye. A black Mercedes in the parking lot to my left, behind the building. My heart is unusually slow. My breathing even.
"Shut the fuck up." It's a man's voice, bored and raspy. It echoes around the corner. "You're nothing but a pain in the ass. Sneaking outagain? You're an idiot. Dad sent me to find your ass and bring you back, that's all, but you always have to make this harder than it is. Fucking little crazy ass bitch cun—"
He doesn't get that last word out before I spin around the edge of the building. May's eyes flash with horror as Victor drags her toward the Mercedes, his hand clamped over her nose and mouth.
His split second of surprise is all I need. May is barely to his shoulder. With one roundhouse swing, my fist smashes into his eye socket. Bone crunches. The night fills with the sound.
It's enough. His hand drops away from her, and in the seconds before he recovers, I meet her eyes.
"You're okay." I'm too rough getting her behind me, and she stumbles, but she keeps her feet. I hate it. Can't concentrate on that right now. Victor's trying to refocus his vision. Only a matter of seconds before I have to deal with this son of a bitch.
He has no idea what just hit him, but he's going to get a second chance real soon.
"Get over there!" I yell to May, pointing toward a metal door with a security light over it. She's frozen. Shock will do that to a person, but I need her to listen. "Pink!" The word draws her eyes. Her mouth opens. She takes a gasping breath. "Over there." I make my voice as gentle as I can. "Go over and stand by that light."
Victor's a step away from me, but he's no match. A fuck like this is all slick talk, but he hasn't been through the trenches. I've got skills, and he's got a manicure.
My second blow comes up from below, slamming his perfect teeth together. A flash of white incisor breaks loose. It arcs from the spray of crimson and lands on the black pavement. I'm not done.
When he gasps for air, I take hold of his shoulders and pull him down, doubling him over as my knee comes up and connects with his nose. A guttural, clenching scream erupts from him. His white dress shirt is tie-dyed with his own blood. He crumples to my feet with a pathetic whine.
I'm turned around and on her, my hands cupping her cheeks, scanning for marks or any sign she's hurt.
"Are you okay? What the fuck are you doing out here?" I'm furious. I'm also as happy as I've ever been.
She looks like a doll, frozen, those silver-gray eyes looking to me for safety. And I intend to give her that and more.
There's a low groan from behind as Victor shifts and flops over onto his back. Blood covers half his newly arranged face, but he’ll live.
As long as he never comes near her again.
"Come on, May. He's done."
I curve my arm over her shoulders, pulling her into me. This is right where she belongs. She fits under my arm like she was made for it, and I don't ever want her apart from me again.
"I was just trying to get to you." She's shaking under my hand, and I want to kill someone, but if I did that, I'd be taken away from her.
And that's never going to happen.
"They moved up the wedding. I've already signed the license. I'm getting married tomorrow. I just wanted to say goodbye. Kiss you one more time."
"You're not getting married tomorrow. Not to him."
She looks up at me with such distressed resignation it puts a hole in my chest. Knowing she was willing to marry him for any reason makes me want to grab Victor off the sidewalk and start over.
I never came close to losing my heart before. I guess it was all the years of watching my parents. My mom suffered so much in the name of love, part of me wasn't willing to go there. But what I saw growing up suddenly feels like a distant memory, because May has shown me a new world. One that exists only for her.
There's no more fiancé, no more wedding. All that shit ended when I crumpled Victor to the ground. She's mine.
And tonight I'm taking her home. To my bed. Where I should've had her from the start.
12
Decker
