Page 74 of Nothing To Lose

"You're a spoiled little nobody who will achieve nothing in life that isn't handed to you by your rich daddy. You could never measure up to a real man like Isaac."

Guy rears back. Snarls. Pulls his fist back.

I move first. Quickly. Just like Isaac taught me. I sidestep, grab his wrist, and twist. He yelps, trying to wrench free, but wails with pain when he tries. I push him face first into the wall he just had me up against.

"If you ever come near me again, " I growl, injecting as much malice into my adrenaline-shaken voice. "I will ruin you."

"You don't have shit on me."

I laugh menacingly. "You think I don't have anything? I've got the police report that was filed at the hospital. I've got the photos they took of my injuries and the fingerprints they lifted off my neck. There were multiple witnesses that saw you follow me after causing a scene atThe Nook."

His eyes widen. "You're bluffing."

I pull him back, spin him around, and push him. "Fucking try me."

He takes a step toward me, but again, I'm faster. My knee meets his groin, and he screams, stumbling away from me.

Turning on my heel, I head for the door, but it slams open before I reach it.

Isaac steps in, his eyes wide and assessing, looking me over frantically. His chest is heaving. He reaches his arms out for me, but then glances over my shoulder to see Guy half bent over behind me.

"You son of a bitch!" Isaac yells, and surges past me.

His fist connects squarely with Guy's face, blood exploding from behind his knuckles with a loud crunch. His voice is low and menacing. Dangerous.

"I'll fucking kill you."

24

ISAAC

The second I hear the door slam, I know I fucked up.

I stand frozen in the bathroom, the silence ringing in my ears while I stare at the busted wall. My hands twitch at my sides, wanting to reach for him, to rewind the last ten minutes and take it all back. But he's gone. I let him walk away. Worse—I pushed him.

Panic hits like a gut punch.

I bolt for the front door, shoving it open so hard the bell above it clangs off-key. My boots hit the sidewalk. I scan the street, hoping—praying—to catch a glimpse of him. Nothing. Just strangers and traffic and the sinking realization that I’ve never been more afraid in my life.

I run back inside, grab my phone, and shoot off three messages.

Me: I’m sorry.

Me: Please come back.

Me: I just want to talk. Please, kitten.

The messages sit there.Unread. No dots. No nothing.

I snatch my jacket and tear out the door again, sprinting down the block towardThe Nook. If he went anywhere, it’s there. He always goes there. I don't know what he was like before the incident, but since I've known him, he's cautious around other people and prefers familiar places. Safe places.

The bell above the café door rings as I burst in. Brenna glances up from the counter, her eyes widening.

"Whoa. You okay?"

"Have you seen Tyler?"

She shakes her head. "Not today. Everything alright?"