Page 188 of Crossed Wires: The Complete Series

Keith’s fist smashing into his jaw shut him up.

He staggered backward, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth.

“Make sure what, Ronald?” Keith asked, following him, his fist drawing back. “Tell me. Go on.”

Ronald sneered, swiping at the blood on his lips. “Had your dick up her arse yet, Munroe?”

Keith’s punched him again, a blur of brutal speed. His fist cracked against Ronald’s jaw, the sound of splintering bone unmistakable.

Ronald stumbled once more, and again when Keith’s fist slammed into his mouth.

Harper stared at the scene, her mind blank. Her stomach churned, nauseous with stunned horror.

Keith hit the man again, again, driving him backward until Ronald crashed into the wall. He staggered sideways, head down, blood dripping from his mouth and nose, before—with a snarled “Fuck you, Munroe!”—he ran shoulder-first at Keith.

Harper cried out.

Keith’s knee punched up. Connected with Ronald’s nose.

Ronald arced backward, blood spattering from his mashed face.

Keith closed in on him, blood on his knuckles. Whose blood, Harper didn’t know.

“Keith!” she cried. “He’s not?—”

“Going to kill you.” Ronald spat out a wad of blood. He stumbled forward, his glare fixed on Keith. “Going to fucking kill you, Munroe!”

Hatred fell over Keith’s face. “Try it.”

Ronald charged him again. Keith smashed his fist into his nose, his jaw.

The stockman fell, ass first, to the ground.

And Keith bore down on him, fist pulled back.

Only to have his arm snatched mid-swing by Marc, the sound of his palm smacking against Keith’s wrist like a crack of thunder. “You’re gonna kill him, Blue.”

Keith’s lip curled. His stare drilled into Ronald, now cowering on the floor at his feet. “That’s the idea.”

Harper let out a whimper, shaking her head. “He’s not worth it, Keith.” She stepped toward them, willing Keith to look at her. “He’s not worth going to jail over.”

The muscles in Keith’s jaw bunched. “He was going to?—”

“But he didn’t,” Harper interjected.

“Don’t do it, Blue.” Marc struggled with his friend. Harper could see the tension in his muscles as he fought to keep Keith’s arm motionless. “Harper’s right. He’s not worth it.”

Keith shook his head. And then, his glare locked on Ronald, he opened his fist and stepped backward. “Turn yourself into Hunter, McNamara,” he said, his voice low. “Now. Or I’ll finish what I started.”

“Fucking have her then,” Ronnie snarled from the floor, throwing a glare of sheer contempt in Harper’s direction. He leaned forward and spat a glob of blood at her feet. “Bet she’s a dud root anyways.”

Marc cursed, strong arms grabbing Keith as he tried to lunge forward. “Get out of here, McNamara. Before I let go of Blue and he beats you to?—”

Ronnie scrambled off his knees and bolted. Past Keith, past Marc, snatching his hat from the table as he ran out of the cottage.

Harper’s heart restarted. Smashing fast in her throat. She let out a choked breath, slumping against the back of the sofa, her hands clinging to the cushioned edge, her burning stare locked on her feet. “That…that wasn’t fun.”

Marc was at her side in two steps, smoothing his palms up her arms. “You okay, love?”