Page 47

47

FORD

T he woods are red from my rage.

My fists slam into bone, the crack reverberating in the night air.

Splintering it.

Blood coats my knuckles—mine and his.

I don’t stop.

I can’t stop.

This bastard touched my woman.

He’s been stalking her.

Taking pictures.

But the way she reacted when she saw him—when she muttered “Not again” —tells me there’s more.

Something else.

Something she didn’t tell me.

I’ll get it out of her .

She’ll be punished for keeping secrets.

But him?

Jeffrey is about to take his last breath.

He’ll never fucking look at her again.

“Mine!” I roar, my fist colliding with his face.

His nose shatters.

Blood spurts, coating my skin.

I don’t stop.

“Harper is mine! She’s always been mine! Never yours.” Spittle flies from my lips as I bare my teeth, a feral, unhinged beast.

Jeffrey whimpers, then howls as I spin and kick him straight into a tree.

“Jesus Christ, Ford.” Connor’s voice is breathless behind me.

“Fucking impressive as fuck.”

I glance at him over my shoulder, ferocity dripping from my gaze. “I’m. Not. Done. Yet.”

He folds his arms, leaning against a tree. “I can see that.” He waves a lazy hand. “Carry on.”

I stomp toward Jeffrey, fisting his hair and yanking his head back. “What the fuck are you doing here, Connor?”

My fist slams into Jeffrey’s stomach.

He howls, gasping . “P-Please?—”

“Allie wanted to see Harper.” Connor’s tone is matter-of-fact.

I spit on Jeffrey as he crumples to the ground.

“Good thing,” Connor mutters. “Your woman was having a panic attack.”

I freeze.

My pulse stops.

My rage rips open, swallowed whole by something darker. “Is she okay?”

Connor nods. “Allie’s with her. But she was freaking out over you.”

Despite the storm raging inside my chest, a slow smile curls my lips.

Worried about me, huh?

“She’s afraid you’ll kill him and go to jail.”

Jeffrey lunges forward.

I easily step aside.

My knee slams into his chin, snapping his head back, blood spraying in the air.

“Pfff. I’m gonna kill this bastard.” I grind my boot into his hand, twisting like I’m putting out a cigarette. “But I’m not going to jail.”

Connor smirks. “Of course not. We’ll make sure of it.” He holds up his phone. “Zayne and Jaxson are handling it. Keep the rest of the team out of it.”

I nod. “Smart.”

He preens. “Intelligence and a huge dick. It’s a curse, but I manage.”

I shake my head, lips twitching.

Connor will always be Connor.

I raise my foot, ready to end this.

“Stop!” Harper’s voice cuts through the air.

My head snaps up.

I snarl at the sight of her striding toward me, fire in her eyes.

Connor and I snap at her and Allie at the same time. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Harper’s spine is straight .

Chin tilted defiantly.

But when her gaze lands on mine, her entire face softens . “Are you okay?”

She reaches for my face.

I jerk back. “What. The. Hell. Are. You. Doing. Here?”

Her jaw clenches.

Her fingers curl into fists. “ Making sure my husband isn’t hurt.”

Then, before I can react, she kicks Jeffrey in the fucking face.

Holy shit.

It’s so hot I might die.

She whirls, glaring at me. “Don’t tell me I shouldn’t be here.”

I step closer, my voice low. “You shouldn’t be.”

She crosses her arms. “I thought we were a team.”

I hesitate.

She’s right.

But also, she’s not.

“Harper—”

“Don’t Harper me!”

Her hands shake.

Her lip trembles.

But her fire never dims.

She’s a storm of emotions. Anger. Worry. Love.

And just like that, I surrender.

I step forward, brushing my fingers along her jaw. “I love you, Harper.”

Her breath shudders. “I love you, Ford.”

Then, she smirks.

“You gonna let me have a few more hits before you end him?”

I hold up a hand, my eyes narrowed in a warning. “As long as you listen to me.”

She cocks her head. “Obey you ?”

I nod.

Her lips curl. “Yes, sir.”

Jesus fucking Christ.

And now my dick is hard.

Goddamn her.

Her gaze drops to my bulge.

Her smile grows. “I’ll do whatever you want,” she purrs, her voice a slow, seductive drawl. “You can punish me later, Mr. Brooks.”

Goddamn.

My breath rushes out in a whoosh , my brain short-circuiting as I try to process this Harper.

She saunters closer, her hand trailing along my arm—slow, teasing strokes like she’s stroking my dick.

“What do you say?”

I growl. “Fuck, yes. And you’re gonna take everything I give you later.”

She nods, lowers her head—and peeks up at me beneath her long lashes.

“Yes, sir.”

Fuck.

I’m not gonna be able to control myself for much longer.