Page 23 of From the Wreckage

Everett

I don’t move until Joey’s taillights disappear down the road. My chest heaves with the effort of keeping myself in check. One more second, and I would’ve snapped his neck.

The second he’s gone, I whirl around, closing the distance between Bri and me in three strides. She looks so small standing there, her arms wrapped around herself, her wrist already red where he grabbed her.

I cup her face, my thumbs brushing the damp track of her tears on her cheeks. “Are you okay?” My voice is hoarse, almost breaking with the force of everything I’m holding back.

She nods, but it’s shaky, her hazel eyes glassy. “I… I think so.”

My hands slide down, carefully circling her wrists, checking the one he touched. My jaw clenches at the angry mark blooming there. “He hurt you.”

“It’s nothing,” she whispers, but her voice trembles.

“It’s not nothing.” My head bows, my forehead nearly touching hers. “If he ever touches you again, Bri, I swear to God?—”

“Everett.” She cuts me off gently, her fingers brushing over mine. “You already did enough. You stopped him.”

Stopped him. The words rattle around inside me. Stopping isn’t enough. Protecting her, keeping her safe—making damn sure she never feels that fear again—that’s what I want.

The back door creaks open. Grayson’s voice booms, sharp but distracted. “Bri? Dessert’s ready.” He disappears inside again, giving us a few more seconds.

I press my lips into her hair, just once, breathing her in like I can anchor myself with her scent. “Angel…” My voice breaks. “You didn’t deserve any of this. Not him. Not tonight. None of it.”

She leans into me, just for a beat, before pulling back and swallowing hard. “Come inside. Before Dad wonders.”

I let her go, even though every cell in me wants to keep her here, hidden in my arms.

But as she slips past me toward the door, one thing is burning, unshakable, in my chest. I’ll never let Joey—or anyone—hurt her again.

I follow behind Bri, forcing myself back inside. I’m still wound tight, my shoulders tense, fists aching from how close I came to putting them through Joey’s face.

The dining room hums with polite conversation again, though the tension lingers like smoke after a fire. I take my seat, every muscle rigid, keeping my attention on Bri. She’s already in her chair, smiling at her dad like nothing’s wrong, but I see the tremor in her hand.

Grayson nods at the pie in the center of the table, his smile returning as though he can will the night back into something normal. He cuts slices and passes them out. When he gets to me, his expression softens.

“Everett,” he says, his tone steady and heartfelt, “Thank you. First, you helped Bri after the accident with the deer… And now tonight.” His eyes linger on his daughter for a moment before returning to me. “You’re a good man.”

The words land like a weight in my chest. I shift in my chair, guilt flooding me.

If he only knew.

If he had any idea about the storm inside me—how I want his daughter in ways I shouldn’t, how I’m already too far gone to turn back, he wouldn’t be thanking me.

I clear my throat, forcing my voice to sound casual. “Anyone would’ve done the same.”

Bri glances at me from across the table, her eyes telling me she knows better. That no one else would’ve. That I didn’t just step in—I claimed her as mine in the only way I could.

I dig my fork into the pie, pretending it doesn’t taste like ash in my mouth when Grayson claps my shoulder.

“You’re too modest. Which makes you an even better man.

” He slides into his chair and lifts his beer bottle.

“Let’s make a toast to Everett. A good man who rescued my daughter.

Twice.” He smiles, and everyone clinks their bottles and glasses together.

Bri meets my eyes as she clinks her glass with mine, watching me over the rim as she takes a sip of her wine.

When she sets the glass down, her tongue slides out, licking the drops that remain on her lips away. I’ve never been so fucking jealous of wine in my life.

I force myself to look away.

Taking a pull off my beer, my gaze moves to Grayson. He looks up, smiling at me like I’m his best friend, then turns his attention to Tom when he asks him about his business.

Guilt has me in a stranglehold. All I can think is, if he knew the truth, he’d see I’m anything but.

Her leg bumps mine beneath the table, heat scorching through me. My eyes find hers, and I suck in a breath at the simmering challenge in them. She shoots me a flirtatious smile, and I nearly come undone. Tugging at the collar of my shirt, I try to mask how hot I suddenly feel.

As much as I like and respect Grayson, there’s no way in hell I can let go of his daughter.

I clink my bottle against hers, pretending I’m not one heartbeat away from dragging her into my lap in front of everyone.

Grayson keeps smiling at me like I’m the man he can trust.

He has no idea I’m already gone for his daughter.