Page 83 of Lassoed Love

“Yes, she is. Now back the fuck off,” I retort with a low, threatening growl. I hear a gasp, but I’m too fucking angry to notice who it came from.

“Easy, easy,” he jeers. “We were just having some lighthearted conversation, mate. Ain’t that right, girls?” The girls don’t respond.

He just can’t take the hint. “So, Xavier Mitchell, crushing on thedaughter of the town’s loony? That must be a tough gig, bro.”

“Back off, Billy,” I warn. In my peripheral vision, I notice Bradley, Harrison, and Michael are now standing beside me.

Billy scoffs, muttering, “Bitch seems too frigid, anyway,” before pointing to Olivia. “She looks more fun,” his words slurred as he winks at my sister. That’s it. I snap. Rage blinds me, everything turning red. The bar explodes into chaos as I seize him by the collar and slam my fist into his smug face. He staggers backward, crashing into the bar stools.

Shouts and gasps fill the air. “Oh shit, it’s going down!” someone yells.

“Xavier!” Bradley’s voice cuts through the commotion. But I’m beyond reason, fueled by rage. I ignore the pleas and continue my assault. Billy tries to fight back, but I’m relentless, fueled by a protective instinct for both Liv and Isla and boiling anger at the disrespect thrown their way.

Amidst the chaos, Olivia’s voice pierces through the air like a beacon, screaming my name.

“Someone call security!” an older woman’s voice cries out.

“He’s going to kill him!” This comes from Amelia as she gasps.

My adrenaline surges, drowning out the chaotic noise around me. I’m focused on one thing—making sure Billy regrets running his mouth.

Isla’s voice cuts through the chaotic scene, a sharp command to stop. For a split second, my movements falter at the sound of her voice. In that brief pause, Harrison and Michael seize the opportunityto step in, their strong grips pulling me away from Billy.

I’m seething, ready to continue, but their combined strength prevents me from retaliating. The other guy, however, seizes the opportunity and throws a punch at my face, and the impact jars me momentarily. Bradley then intervenes, yelling at me, “What the fuck, Xavier! Calm the fuck down!”

A pair of security guards arrive, each grabbing one of us by the shirts. I look up and find Olivia and Isla, wide-eyed, as they watch the scene unfold. Amelia looks shocked, while Imogen covers her mouth in disbelief.

I’m still growling in anger as I watch Billy stumble backwards, but manages to shout something incoherent. In the midst of the struggle, I mutter to the security guards, “That cunt started it.”

“You’re out of your mind. I didn’t do a damn thing!” he yells, attempting to regain his balance, and I lurch forward.

“Stop!” I hear Isla scream, her voice cutting through the chaos. For a brief moment, my movements falter at the sound of her voice, but then Harrison and Michael step in, restraining me backward.

Unimpressed by his protests, the security guards now at our sides, guide us all toward the exit.

So much for a fun filled night.

33

Chasin You - Morgan Wallen

The night air is thick with tension as we step outside, the chaotic energy from the bar brawl still pulsating through me. The cheers and jeers of the townies create a cacophony around us, but in my mind, there's nothing but the echo of my own thoughts.

What the fuck just happened?How did things spiral so out of control? I’ve never lost my cool like that before, not in front of everyone, not like that. It's like I was someone else entirely in that moment, someone fueled purely by rage and protective instinct.

I rub a hand over my face, trying to shake off the remnants of adrenaline coursing through my veins. My knuckles ache from the impact of my fists against Billy’s face, and I can still taste the metallic tang of blood in my mouth.

As the group grills me, questioning my actions, I take a deep breath to calm the wave of anger that just subsided. “What the hell, Xavier?” Olivia demands, her arms crossed. “I’ve never seen you lose your shit like that.”

“What the fuck even happened?” Imogen adds, her eyes wide with concern, as she comes up beside me.

Harrison chimes in, “Mate, you really need to learn to control your anger.”

My jaw tightens, my temper still smouldering. “Let it go,” I growl. But for some fucking reason, they just can’t let it go. Isla marches up to me, her face a mixture of anger and concern.

“Why would you do that? You could have been arrested, you—”

Bradley steps forward. “She’s right.”Fuck, I’m really not in the mood to hear all this now.