Page 124 of The Restoration Program

“What’s gotten into you lately?” she demanded. “Don’t be a jerk, he didn’t do anything!”

Ryan groaned, looking between them. “See? This is exactly what I was talking about. You let him get you all worked up.”

“Don’t talk to her like that,” Carlos said viciously.

An odd prickle of fear raced through her. Even knelt down inconspicuously as he was, Ryan towered over four times Carlos’ height. He didn’t have to do a damn thing to be reckoned with.

Even the timbre of Ryan’s voice made both of theirs sound insignificant by comparison when he said, “I won’t ask again. Back. Off.”

Carlos cocked his head, pulling his lips into a pout. “You gonna grab me up too? Would that get you off, fuckface?”

Just as suddenly as she had been gathered up, Nicole found herself gruffly set on the floor. It took her a moment to find her balance again.

“Hey! Stop it.” She pulled at Ryan’s wrist, desperate to ease that horrible coldness building in his face. “Ryan, listen to me. Leave him alone!”

Ryan ignored her. It was as though he could barely feel her efforts as he pushed a knuckle against Carlos’ ribs.

“You know, I really tried to give you a chance,” Ryan said, his voice a growl that Nicole scarcely recognized. “Tried to ignore the way you started looking at her across the room. But I’m done giving you free passes.”

“Oh, you’re threatening me?” Carlos laughed roughly. He stepped backward, but Ryan grabbed the hem of his shirt to hold him in place. Carlos wrenched free with a snarl. “Right. You’d prefer me to just stand by and say nothing while she deals with your abuse?”

Ryan’s hand lunged forward. Nicole scrambled back and watched in silent horror as Ryan grabbed the front of Carlos’ collar and wrenched him right off his feet—pinning him to the glass.

Clawing at Ryan’s fingertips to free himself, Carlos fought for only a few seconds before realizing the futility and freezing. He stared up with wide eyes.

Ryan growled, “What, you’ve got nothing to say now?”

Carlos shuddered, but gradually, the fear in his expression faded to near indifference. “Well, go on,” he said, hollow. “What’s your next move?”

His voice tapered off in a groan as Ryan laid on pressure. Nicole’s own ribs ached at the sight. Carlos’ face purpled as his airflow was restricted. His feet braced against the glass, slipping along the smooth surface. Ryan just watched him struggle like a war was raging inside, violent and unrelenting. Nicole remembered how he had mauled her kidnapper. Remembered the blood on his knuckles from busting the man’s nose. He’d been a hero. But this was a waking nightmare.

She dove at Ryan’s free hand resting on his thigh and clawed at his wrist. “Hey!” Nicole shrieked. She swiped and pulled. “Are you crazy? Let him go—just let him go,please.”

Ryan brushed her away. The movement was small, likely thoughtless. It was enough to knock her backward, swatted like a bug. She hit the floor hard, wind knocked from her lungs. The sound of her wheezing for a full breath was enough to bring sense back into him. Ryan released Carlos, setting him down and scooping her up between both hands.

“Shit. Are you alright?” Ryan asked in a low voice.

She nodded weakly at the huge face that filled her view. She watched it darken as Ryan glanced back down at Carlos sprawled on the floor.

“You stay the fuck away from us,” Ryan muttered. “She’s got enough problems without you poisoning her head. I don’t give a fuck if you’re ten inches tall. If I see your face in her chat logs after today, I’ll ruin your life.”

Ryan stood before she could catch her breath. Nicole urgently sat up and tried to glimpse the state of her friend.

“Wait!” she shouted. “I need to make sure he’s okay!”

“He’s fine.”

Ryan placated her squirms as he turned on his heel and headed for the glass doors. She tried to twist around, but she wasn’t allowed another glimpse of Carlos as Ryan turned the corner. Further down the hall, Ryan’s voice made her flinch.

“Rebecca?” he called. “Found them over here. Safe and sound.”

DAY ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FOUR

“What were you thinking, grabbing him like that?”

“I barely touched him.”

“You shoved him against a wall!”