I am loved. I am wanted. I’m starting a family.
Fuck him.
My hand closes around the brass knuckles. One breath. One beat. I draw them, cock my arm back, and slam them into his face with everything I have. There’s a sickening crunch—bone, cartilage, something—and he staggers back with a howl of pain, blood erupting from his nose. His hands fly to his face, cursing through the pain.
“How dare you?!” I snarl. “Who the fuck do you think you are?! Just because we share the same blood doesn’t mean you fucking own me! I’m not your property, you thieving piece of shit! And if I want Ethan, I’ll have him. Again and again and again.”
Lucas staggers back, clutching his injured face, staring at me.
My voice is fueled with rage. “You don’t get to control me. You don’t get to touch me. I’m free to be with anyone I want—Ethan or not. And you? You’re just a pathetic, jealous bastard clinging to the power you never earned. You stole from Ethan. Everything you have is because you’re a thief! Nothing more! And I love that man! I love him to death. So you stay away from us, or I’ll make you pay!”
He lowers his hands, eyes blazing with fury. “I’ll kill you. I swear to God, I’ll?—”
“Try it,” I whisper. “And I’ll make sure you rot in a cell for the rest of your miserable life.”
He lunges at me again.
A blur of motion, and Lucas goes flying into the dumpsters.He doesn't land alone, the figure who tackled him is punching him.
Jake!
Jake’s fists fly, one after another, precise and brutal. “Back. Off. Her.”
Lucas shoves him off after some struggle, sneering, “Another one? Jesus, you little tramp, have you been spreading your legs for the whole lot?!”
“Watch your mouth, Lucas!” Jake rolls back his sleeves. “I’ve been waiting a long time to ruin that ugly mug of yours.”
Lucas kicks him in the knee and struggles to his feet, blood smearing his face. “You think this is over? You think I’ll just walk away?”
Jake positions himself between us, shielding me. “Touch her again, and you won’t walk away from anything.”
I stagger forward, breath ragged. “Jake, I’m fine. The baby’s okay.”
Lucas freezes. His gaze whips to me. “Baby?” His face twists. “You let him knock you up?”
I step around Jake and glare at Lucas. “Whatever I let Ethan do to me is none of your business. You lost the right to speak to me the moment you laid hands on me. You’re nothing to me.”
He spits at my feet, and I hiss, “You know what your problem is? All these years, you and Mom did your best to break me, to show me that I had no value. And Ethan came along, and he saw something in me. He loves me, and you can’t handle that someone—no, not someone, but the man you betrayed—values and loves me. You are pathetic, Lucas. You always were. I was just too browbeaten to see it!”
He lunges again, fury breaking loose, but I don’t hesitate this time.
My knuckles slam into his jaw.
He goes down hard.
Jake grabs my arm and pulls me back as building security rushes around the corner.
Lucas scrambles to his feet and bolts, disappearing into the crowd which has gathered around the entrance of the alley.
Jake curses under his breath. “Are you okay?”
I nod, shaking, heart still racing. “I will be.”
He guides me inside, shielding me from curious stares, never letting go. But I don’t look back. I’m not scared anymore. Not of Lucas. Not of my past. Not even of the future.
Because, for the first time,I know I can fight for myself.
And win.
