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There was no point arguing with her. None. Whatever set this breakdown in motion, Linnie was merging her personal demons with Tamsyn’s, and that didn’t bode well for anyone.

It was the knee to his groin, perilously close to his prize jewels, that forced Merrick to switch from defense to offence—he wasn’t entirely sure she wouldn’t kill him if she got him on his knees. He meant it when he said he didn’t want to hurt her, only she wasn’t leaving much room to avoid it.

When her fist clipped the underside of his jaw, he pushed her back a step. She came in harder, breath panting now, giving him no option but to tackle her. His arms banded around her, trapping hers against her sides. The momentum sent them down, and he twisted so it was his back that took the impact first before he rolled and pinned her beneath him.

Linnie screamed and thrashed, calling him every name under the sun—including a few he hadn’t heard before. When her teeth snicked sharply together, a hair’s breadth from his throat, he knew she was well beyond any help he or anyone else here could give.

The door crashed open as he was trying to flip her onto her stomach, keeping those snapping teeth from sinking into his vulnerable flesh.

Tamsyn had been a very good girl.

Elias, Fordham, Violet, Ericka, and Grit piled into the room, staring with various shades of incredulity at the chaos they’d barged in on.

Grunting, Merrick glowered up at them. “Give me a fucking hand before she rips my throat out, will you? See if you can find some restraints.”

“What the hell?” Elias demanded, stepping forward only to come to a halt when his presence inflamed Linnie’s fury.

“Been asking myself the same damn question,” Merrick snapped. “Doc’s got a few troubles, Eli. Got herself a bad case of misandry, but something triggered her today. She doesn’t respond well to orders, and she sure as shit ain’t in the mood for men.”

Concerned, Violet stepped forward. “Let me—”

“No. Not until she has herself under control.” Merrick met her eyes, then slid his gaze to the open doorway. “Where’s Tamsyn?”

“Downstairs with Liam, Sierra, and Anarchy. She’s shaken up, but she’s okay.” Drifting closer despite his warning glare, Violet hitched up the material of her pants legs before crouching down, balancing impressively on her heels as she laid her hand on Linnie’s forehead. “Honey, you’re worrying me. Do you remember who I am?”

Linnie bared her teeth. “Get this asshole off me, Vi.”

“I don’t think he wants to be on you, Lin, but you’re not really giving him a choice. Take a breath, settle down, and Merrick will move. You know we can’t tolerate this kind of behavior here,” she added softly in her southern drawl. “Not to mention it’s not good to be all riled up like this.”

Grit slipped out of the room while Elias and Fordham stepped to the side, obviously reading the situation accurately enough to let Violet lead. Ericka inched closer, mimicking her, kneeling on the other side of Linnie’s head.

“Linnie, we were just talking an hour ago. Everything was fine—what happened between then and now?”

The manic edge in her eyes lost some of its insanity.

Merrick stayed perfectly still, understanding the precarious position he was in. The bruises she’d already given him were the only things he wanted to take away from this; he didn’t need a broken nose or a punch to the throat.

“Him. He happened.”

“Merrick? What did Merrick do, honey?” Vi asked quietly.

“He… he’s using that girl. She was pure and innocent, and he’sruinedher.”

“Oh, Linnie. Ruining her is the last thing on his mind. Merrick worships the ground she walks on. He loves her, and Tamsyn loves him right back. You’ve only got to see them together to know what they’ve found in each other.” Smiling sadly, Violet stroked the sweat away from Linnie’s hairline. “Maybe I’m pulling on the wrong string, honey, but I’m thinking it’s not Merrick and Tamsyn’s relationship sending you off the deep end. Something about it, though, that’s hitting you all kinds of wrong, isn’t it?”

Ericka made a shocked noise of understanding. “Ewan.”

Merrick felt the angry vibration of Linnie’s body beneath his change to rigid denial.

“Ericka, don’t.” Linnie’s eyes pleaded with her.

“No, Lin. If he’s affecting you this badly, they need to know. Fuck, ifI’dknown he’d cause this, I wouldn’t have kept quiet.” Shaking her head, Ericka’s expression was full of regret. “Are you going to tell them or am I?”

Okay, so there was a reason behind all this drama, which was reassuring. Having a starting point meant there was a path to follow, and a road to healing if she wanted to take it.

Sensing a shift in the tide, Merrick eased himself up and away, careful not to touch her in any way that might set the whole damn thing off a second time. As he climbed stiffly to his feet, he took his first full breath in twenty minutes, just as Grit returned with a pair of utilitarian cuffs.

“You got the situation deescalated,” he murmured, stepping beside Merrick.