Avenging Angel (Pounding Hearts 5)

“Doesn’t change anything?” I repeat incredulously. “Doesn’t change anything?! I caught you balls deep in Ashley. It changes everything. We’re done, we’re over. I don’t care what you do, but stay the hell away from me.”

Tristan steps into me, forcing me to press my spine into the brick wall to keep some space between us. There’s barely an inch between his chest and mine, and I have no choice but to arch my neck back if I don’t want to be stuck glaring at his neck.

Bastard. I know he’s purposely using his bigger size to try and intimidate me.

His voice drops to an angry hiss as he tries to explain, “It didn’t mean anything. She’s a stupid bitch and she means nothing to me. You’re the only one who matters to me.”

I don’t even know why I’m trying to argue with him on this. It’s obvious his logic and my logic do not mesh. I know I should press my lips together and give him the silent treatment. Freezing him out would probably be the best course of action.

But I just can’t stop myself from saying, my voice dripping with venom, “Oh, and that’s supposed to make it all better? I’m supposed to be okay with you fucking other girls because you really don’t give a shit about them? Fucking spare me.”

Tristan’s face flushes an angry red and he slams his hands against the brick wall, each barely missing me.

I find myself flinching and then becoming even angrier.

Yesterday, he used his size and strength to bully me. To make me feel afraid and powerless. And I’ve been carrying that scared, helpless feeling around inside me ever since.

It’s been festering.

Festering from fear to anger. And I’m so not putting up with it today.

He opens up his mouth, probably ready to spout some more convoluted bullshit at me, but I don’t give him a chance to get the words past lips.

“Go away, Tristan. Get the fuck away from me,” I warn.

I’m so upset, so angry, I’m starting to shake with it.

He leans down, pushing his face into my face. “No, I’m not going away, Bree. You’re coming back to California with me, even if I have to drag your ass back.”

The look he gives me causes the tr

ue weight of my current situation to slowly sink in like a cold finger dragging up my spine.

Staring into his eyes, into his sick, twisted determination, it finally dawns on me that I’m not dealing with a rational man. He’s completely irrational, and if I don’t get myself out of this situation, things are only going to get worse.

He might seriously hurt me.

“Fine,” I huff, my emotions doing a complete one-eighty. The sudden, instinctive need to flee, to escape, is nearly overwhelming me. “Then I’ll leave.”

I try to duck under his arm, hoping to slip quickly past him before he can stop me. But when I’m about to pop back up on the other side, his hand comes down heavy on my shoulder.

“Don’t you dare try to run away from me,” he bellows in my face as he shoves me back into the wall.

My shoulders connect first with the hard brick, followed by the back of my head, and I cry out against the sharp bite of pain.

“You don’t get to leave until I say you can leave!” he continues to yell at me.

I’m so freaked out by his sudden aggression, I try to make myself as small as possible.

Chest heaving and huffing with his anger, Tristan watches me wrap my arms around myself and gives me a look full of disgust. “And fuck, don’t you dare look at me like that. Don’t fucking flinch, I barely touched you.”

I don’t even know how to respond to that, but thankfully before I have to, someone calls out, “Hey! Get away from her!”

Tristan doesn’t tear his gaze away from me as he shouts back, “Fuck off, this is between her and me.”

I want to see who called out, but as soon as I try to lean around Tristan, he pushes his body back into me.

Tristan leans down, following me as I shrink in on myself.