Page 113 of Dangerous Men

I don’t have Sebastian’s strength, and I never learned how to properly throw a punch.

But I have an excellent backhand, thanks to years of tennis.

Chase’s head whips back when I slap him, the sound of my hand against his cheek so loud it echoes in the silence of the house.

No one moves.

“If I ever see you again,” I tell him, hissing the words between clenched teeth. “I won’t stop what they’ll do to you.”

I don’t say another word. I don’t even take back the boxes of pastries, though I should. They never deserved Jade’s kindness, and they sure as hell don’t deserve her baking.

I just turn around, and leave, slamming the glass door behind me and storming toward the street. I’m shaking so hard it takes me three tries to pull my phone out of my pocket, fumbling with it over and over until I finally unlock it and make the call.

Sebastian picks up on the first ring.

“Sydney?” he asks, immediately. “What’s wrong?”

“Chase,” I snap, rage oozing out of every pore.

Traffic is loud around me, whipping past me as I walk to my car. But even with all the noise, I hear his quick intake of breath.

“I’m on my way. Tell me where you are.”

39

SEBASTIAN

I runevery red light in the city, my motorcycle dodging between traffic at a dangerously high speed.

It still doesn’t feel fast enough.

Their shop is closed when I get there, the lights in the cafe dimmed, an inauspicious sight in the middle of a Saturday afternoon. But I spot Jade at the counter and knock hard on the window, and her eyes perk up when she sees me.

“Where is she?” I ask when she unlocks the door and ushers me inside. “Is she okay?”

“She’s in the stockroom in the back,” Jade says, shaking her head. “Andno. She’s not okay. She’s?—”

I hear a crash from the back of the store, and don’t bother staying to hear the rest. I bolt, my long legs carrying me quickly through the store and to their backroom, where?—

I duck, and the book flying through the air toward me misses by mere inches before it crashes into the wall.

“Stupid motherfucker!” Sydney yells, picking up another book and throwing it full strength against the back wall. It hits with a loud crash and drops.

Sydney is pacing, shoulders tight with fury, and she’s?—

She’s—

She’sfucking resplendent.

I stand there, stunned, as she picks up another book and throws it. This is not the timid, breakable girl I’ve seen these last few weeks. This is not the shy, naïve little mouse I thought she was. She’s a storm of rage and violence.

I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in my entire life.

“What happened?” I ask.

My voice snaps her out of her pacing, and she turns toward me, eyes blazing. It takes everything in me not to kiss her.

Because this woman? This goddess?