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His girl was yelling something, but he wasn’t listening.

I braced myself, adrenaline surging. I wasn’t about to let him near her. Not now. Not ever.

Without turning, I said her name. “Get in the car, baby.”

“No,” she said, her voice shaking.

“Get in the fucking car, Zane,” I barked, then lowered my voice. “Trust me.”

Mark was too close for her to walk away though.

“Six months,” he spat. “More than six fucking months, and this is where I find you? Knocked up? With him?”

Zane didn’t answer. Just stared at him like he wasn’t worth the breath it would take to respond. Good girl.

He kept going despite her silence. “You ruined my marriage,” he hissed at me. Then gave his attention back to Zane“You think this is gonna last? You think he loves you? He’s using you, Zane.”

“You don’t know shit about me,” I finally said. “But you’re about to learn if you don’t go back to your fucking date, bitch-ass.”

His hand twitched like he might swing.

I almost hoped he would.

I was ready.

Then Zane’s voice cut through the tension.

“Mark, if you touch him, I swear to God, I’ll have my lawyer ask for half of everything you got. I’ve got months of pictures of you fucking his wife and several women from your firm to make sure I get it. Leave me the fuck alone.”

His mouth moved like he might say something. I focused on the fear in his eyes.

She wasn’t afraid of him anymore.

And that terrified him.

She stepped up beside me. “I’m not your wife anymore, Mark. And I’m not coming back. So take your little girlfriend and go the fuck away from me.”

Mark looked like he’d swallowed glass. He said nothing. Just stood there, breathing hard, before finally turning and storming off down the sidewalk—his girl scrambling after him in her heels.

I exhaled, realizing only then that I’d been holding my breath.

Zane looked up at me.

“I’m shaking,” she whispered.

I pulled her close. “It’s over.”

“No, it’s not. He’s going to cause trouble.”

“I know. But he won’t touch you.”

She was everything to me.

And after tonight, I knew one thing for certain and two things for sure—

She was going to be protected.

Even if it meant putting Mark in the ground myself.