“Sadly, yes.” Jericho sighed. “My money would be on River, but if they killed each other the paperwork would be a bitch.”
“True.” Seth nodded, setting Heavenly behind them. “Stay back.”
Liam and Hammer followed, doing the same with their princess. Then, in unison, the five of them, along with Zach, stepped into the fray. Hammer and Beck pried Dean to one side of the room. Seth and Liam pulled River to the other. Zach and Jericho stood between them as sentries. River and Dean continued glaring daggers of hate, chests heaving with rage.
Arms banded around Dean, Beck ignored the blood dripping onto his shirt sleeve and glanced over his shoulder to check on Heavenly. The horror etched on her face—on Raine’s and Jasmine’s too—told him they’d never witnessed this kind of caveman violence.
Sensing his concern, Heavenly sent him an unsettled half smile.
“Easy. Calm down,” Hammer urged both men.
Pike, the demented fuck, leaned against a nearby wall and laughed hysterically.
“Shut up, asshole,” Beck snapped.
It wouldn’t be easy, but they had to defuse this situation and somehow find neutral ground.
“I wasn’t done pounding his face.” Dean tried to lurch from Beck’s grip.
“He’s not worth breaking your knuckles,” Beck growled in low tones.
“You’re right. Forget my knuckles. I’m going to kill that cocksucker in his sleep. I will stab a knife through his fucking heart and smile.”
“No, you won’t,” Beck muttered. “If you did, you’d lose your job, and you wouldn’t last a day in jail with all the criminals you put there. Even if you did, you’re too pretty to go to prison and not end up somebody’s bitch.”
“Yeah, so fuck you,” River hurled across the room.
“It’d be worth it,” Dean bit out.
“Who will protect Jasmine if you and River are both dead?” Beck asked. “Pike?”
“You’re not helping,” Dean snarled.
“Calm the fuck down and I’ll let you go.”
Dean dragged in a handful of deep breaths, then gave him a choppy nod. “I’m good.”
“Are you? Give me your word you’ll behave.”
“Don’t push me.” Dean rolled his shoulders, shrugging Beck off.
“I’m serious, fucker.”
Dean ignored him.
On the far side of the room, Seth released River, who also eyed the cop as if plotting his death. But instead of antagonizing Dean again, he turned to Jasmine. “Could you be pregnant?”
She hesitated, then gave a soft shake of her head. “No.”
Raine sighed in relief. “That’s a good thing.”
Beck agreed, but River didn’t look quite so thrilled. Had he wanted her to be pregnant?
Jasmine looked so vulnerable, and Heavenly reached out to clasp her hands. “How can we help?”
Beck’s heart filled. Damn, he loved this woman.
“Right now, there’s nothing you can do.” Jasmine shook her head. “I have to get out of here.”