Page 96 of Violent Little Thing

Zee was now fuming, though, and pointing a finger at Court’s family. “Get the fuck out of here.”

“Make us,” Hudson drawled, making a come-hither motion with his fingers.

I don’t know what came over me.

Rage. A little bit of courage, knowing that no matter what I did to the “man” standing in front of me, Court would protect me. And balls.

A lot of balls.

But before I could tell myself not to do it, I was swinging at him, balling my fist exactly like my daddy had taught me, and swinging right for his stupid, upturned nose.

I hit it with a crunch, and blood sprayed.

Meanwhile, my fist screamed.

Did I pull back, though?

No, I swung and hit Court’s mom next, right in the cheekbone.

She cried out, holding her hand over her face.

Then shit hit the fan, and everyone was moving at once.

Court, of course, protected me from his family.

He had his brother in a headlock and heading outside at the same time that Beau had Court’s dad and was crab-walking him out behind Court.

Court’s mother and sister were holding on to each other, staring at me in shock. As if they couldn’t believe what I’d just done.

Except that was what you did for the people that you loved. You protected them, even if it hurt you in the process.

But I didn’t break the glare that I was aiming their way.

“Get. Out,” I said through gritted teeth. “And don’t come back.”

“I’m pressing charges,” Rebecca fumed.

I smiled. “Go ahead. My job doesn’t care if I have a criminal background.”

She swung on her heel and left, pulling Jacklyn with her. Jacklyn glared at me over her shoulder as she allowed herself to be pulled away.

“On your way now,” I said sarcastically. “Do what mommy tells you so you can get all the money.”

Jacklyn looked like she was about to turn around, but Magnolia was there shaking her head. “No. Go.”

Jacklyn looked like she considered putting up a fight, but Magnolia, who may be retired now, was still jacked. She looked like she could bench press a car with her perfectly defined biceps.

I wouldn’t mess with the woman, either.

“Oh, god.” Lysander snickered from somewhere behind me. “What in the hell was that? You looked like a baby Chihuahua going after a Great Dane!”

“Speaking of Great Dane,” Mom murmured. “Isn’t that the good one of your two bosses?”

I looked over to find Herschel sitting in a corner booth, sipping a beer and watching the show.

Curious now, I walked over to him and said, “Hey, Herschel.”

He smiled at me. “I wish you would’ve done that to Chris.”