Without thinking, I fling myself at Connor before he can do something he regrets. The last thing I want is him getting thrown in jail or sued and losing his home because he came to help me. Connor easily catches me, but as quickly as he does, he’s moving me behind him to face off with Carter. I can actually feel the rage coming from Connor.
“Don’t do this,” I cry, making another grab for him. I can’t lose him again, and I don’t think I could bear it if they take him away. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that he’s here.
Connor turns to glance down at my tear-filled face, and Carter steals the moment to try and catch him off guard. He swings, knowing this is the only chance he’ll ever get to take Connor down. Connor pulls back a few inches so the fist only grazes his jaw.
I gasp, but all Connor does is smile. “Thank you for that,” he says slowly, confusing me for a second.
“What the fuck are you thanking me for, you dumbass hick—” That’s when his words are cut off by Connor’s fist that doesn’t miss.
Wilder’s arms wrap around my waist, pulling me back. My feet leave the ground, so I have no choice but to go with him, and it all happens so fast. One second Carter is standing there, and the next he’s on the floor with Connor looming over him. He managed to hit him three times before Carter hit the floor. How someone as big as Connor can move so fast, I’ll never know.
To my utter horror, more men in black suits come up on Connor next. Their intent is clear, but they aren’t going to try and remove Connor from the party. Instead, they’re going to get payback for what he’s done here tonight. Carter's mom screams across the room for more security to come, and almost everyone else watches the show. I’m sure a lot of them are enjoying it because I think more people dislike Carter and his family than they’re willing to admit. Everyone pretends to be loyal to them, but they’re all rejoicing in the chaos.
“Put me down. We have to do something,” I plead with Wilder. I know I won’t be able to wiggle myself free from him because he’s as big as his cousin.
“Connor can handle himself,” he tries to reassure me, and although I know he can, I don’t want him killing someone by accident because he’s in a rage.
I watch, unable to do anything as two guards attack him. Within seconds, the two men are on the floor next to Carter as Marilyn kneels down and tries to wake her son.
“Someone call the police!” she shouts again when she realizes her security is nothing to Connor.
“All I wanted to do was collect my girl. Does anyone else want to stop me from doing it?” The room falls completely quiet. The security guards that rushed over at Marilyn’s cry hold their hands up. “That’s what I thought.”
“Don’t think this is over!” Marilyn shouts from the floor as Carter finally starts to come around.
“Mommy?” he mumbles as spittle and blood fall from his mouth.
“I’m here, sweetheart,” she tells him before glaring back at Connor. “I’ll be pressing charges,” she hisses.
“Carter hit him first!” I shout. I’m so angry, tears fill my eyes. “Your security attacked him. He should be pressing charges against you and your pathetic son.”
“You better watch yourself, Evie. I thought you were a nice girl.” She shakes her head at me. “This will be reported to the school board.”
“As it should be,” Connor agrees. “A fancy private school abusing one of their scholarship fosters. I’m sure the Times would love this story.”
“You have no idea who you’re dealing with.” Marilyn’s tone is eerily calm and cool. I don’t know how far this family's grasp might be, and although it might not scare Connor, it does me.
“Let’s get out of here.” I wiggle, and Wilder finally releases his hold on me before I rush over to Connor. I know he wants to say more to them, but I’m hoping I can lure him out of here. “Please, I want to leave with you.”
“All right, little duck,” he agrees but not before giving his own parting words to Carter and his mother. “It’s you who doesn’t have any idea who you’re dealing with.” Connor issues the threat before he wraps his arms around me, tucking me into his side.
People jump out of the way as we cross through the room and make our exit, but we don’t get very far. Two cop cars pull up along with a black SUV. Connor stops walking and turns to me as his big hands cup my face.
“No matter what happens right now, little duck, I’ll be back for you,” he vows. I’ll never doubt that again, and I think deep down I knew he would come.
“Are you getting arrested?” The tears finally break free because I can’t hold them back anymore. I wish I could be stronger for him, but it’s all too much.
He swipes his thumbs over my cheeks and shakes his head. “Don’t fight your tears. As much as I hate them, I don’t want you hiding anything from me.”
“How did you know?”
“I can’t explain it, but I just do when it comes to you.” He brushes his mouth against mine in a soft, quick kiss. “They might arrest me right now, but they can’t hold me long.”
“I’ll call Veronica,” Wilder says. I’m guessing that’s a lawyer.
“We’re going to need you to step away from the girl,” one of the officers says. Connor ignores them and presses one more kiss to my mouth before he drops his hands from my face.
“We were just leaving,” he informs them.
“We’re told you assaulted three people,” a man in a dark suit says. He’d gotten out of the black SUV and isn’t in a police uniform. Though from how all the other officers are looking to him, I’m thinking he’s in charge. For some reason, he looks vaguely familiar.
“Carter swung at him first and then the other two jumped in!” I can’t help but defend him.
“We’ll discuss all this down at the station,” the man says.
“It’s true, Dad.” I turn to see Paige standing off to the side. She’s all dressed up like she was at the party, but I hadn’t seen her inside earlier. “I saw the whole thing. They attacked him. He told Carter to let Evie go, and he wouldn't. Then Carter swung at him first.”
I’m shocked, and I have no clue why Paige is coming to my defense. I’ll take anything to get me the hell out of here.
“Is that so?” he asks Connor.
“Yeah, I only came to get my girl.”
“And this is your girl?” He nods to me.
“Yes.”
“Do you want to go with him?”
“Yes,” I rush to say, and it’s the truth. “Carter wouldn’t let me leave.” I can only pray I don’t have marks on my arm from where he grabbed me. I have a feeling if I do, Connor will be back here.
“All right.” He steps aside, motioning for us to leave, but it feels too easy.
Then I realize they aren’t asking if we want to press charges, they just want us gone too. I’m sure they don’t want to arrest anyone attending this party because that would be a nightmare for everyone. It’s complete bullshit, but right now I don’t care. I only want out of here with Connor.
Connor guides me toward a vehicle and opens the door for me. When we all get in, no one says a word as we pull away from the house and out the gates. I want to ask where we’re going, but I can tell Connor is trying to get himself under control.
He hadn’t wanted to leave, and I think if he was given the chance, he would have beat the hell out of Carter. Instead, he wasn't going to risk the chance of him being taken from me. Thankfully, he made the right choice because I couldn’t have handled that.
When we pull onto the highway, I can’t help myself anymore. I unclick my seatbelt, not caring that Connor wants me to keep it on. I need to be closer to him.
“Little duck.”
“I don’t care.” I crawl into his lap and kiss him, and he groans as the fight leaves him. His fingers sink into my hair as he kisses me back, and it’s my turn to moan into his mouth. I feel his hard cock press against my thin panties, and the tiny dress I’m wearing rides all the way up.
“We have to stop,” he says, but kisses me again.
“No,” I protest, grinding down on his cock.
“I don’t want to kill my cousin because he hears you cum.” I jerk my head up, having forgotten for a moment where we were.
“Right.” I bite my lip as heat rushes to my face.
“Yeah, I’d rather live,” Wilder teases from the driver's seat.
“Do you think we’re in the clear? They can’t do anything to you, can they?”
“It’s not over, Evie. I promise you that.” Connor links our fingers together.
“What do you mean?” I plead. “Please don’t get yourself into trouble.”
“I promise you I’d never let that happen. No one is taking you from me ever again.” His grip on me tightens. “But that boy needs to be handled before he goes after some other girl because he thinks he can get away with it. I’ll handle that later.”
“Okay.” I can’t help but smile.
If I wasn’t sure I loved Connor before now, then that would have done it. He’s right. I don’t want something to happen to another girl who doesn’t have a Connor in their life. Carter pushed with me because he knew he could. He thought no one would come to my defense, and I’m glad Connor is going to find a way to teach Carter otherwise.
“Where are we going?” I ask. I hold my breath, hoping it’s back to the mountain.
“Home,” Connor responds, and I melt into him, burying my face in his neck.
I breathe in his scent and decide that I’m never letting him go again. Someone would have to pry me from his hard body, and I have a feeling Connor isn’t about to let that happen.