Fated Mate

Ann pointed a warning finger at her. “Don’t you dare!”

“Ann, I want to be rid of him. I’m not taking any chances with him around Lee.”

Lee shot a glare at Maria. She couldn’t believe she’d thought so little of her. Then again, Lee’s choice in men hadn’t been irreproachable-two out of two turned out to be major heartbreaks. But going back to Steve that would be beyond stupid of her!

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“I didn’t mean it that way. You are vulnerable right now, and he might take advantage of that.”

“She’s right. Bum, I’ll get your bag for you.” Ann walked behind him and picked up his bag. He tried to grab her hand to stop her but she ducked away. She opened the deli door and tossed it out.

She turned around, a wide grin on her face. “Now that the garbage is out, how about we take out the real trash?”

Steve went for her but stopped when she raised her finger and shook it side to side. “I don’t think you want to do that.” She pointed behind him. Steve followed her finger, and so did Lee.

Billy was on his feet, his stance rigid and angry, his dangerous gaze settled on Steve. All Steve had to do was take another step toward Ann to get ripped to shreds.

“Steve, I suggest you leave, now.” Maria looked amused, but she had her patient voice on again. “Ann’s taunts are going to get worse, your temper will then get out of control and Billy will be all too willing to kick your ass.”

Maria had a point, and the guys had seen enough of exactly how pathetic Lee’s life was with Steve as exhibit A. If they told Ash this, he’ll have an even stronger reason to stay away from her.

Lee clapped to get the attention back to her. “Steve, this has been fun. And as much as it was nice to see you again, please leave.”

“Lee…” Steve moved closer to her.

“Steve, I don’t love you and you don’t love me so let’s cut the crap. I don’t have any money to give you, not today, not tomorrow, and not ever! Now get out!”

All of a sudden, he grabbed her and pulled her toward him. His grip on her arms was tight and painful. “Will you stop being a brat? Now give me the keys, the car keys too!”

Lee hadn’t seen this side of him-there was a lot she didn’t know about him and she was finding out too late. It both scared and annoyed her. Ann was about to hit him when Lee stopped her. She knew if she got involved, Maria would, and then Billy and Joe would join in. As much as Steve was hurting her, she wanted him to walk out of there alive.

“Ann, don’t. Steve, get your hands off me. Now.”

He sneered. “Or what? Give me the keys, Lee.”

“Steve, let go of me, you are hurting me!” Lee was wiggling in his arms, trying to break free, but that only made him tighten his grip.

“You want me to let go, you know what to do.” He was smug; he thought he was winning.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

“If you don’t let go of her, you’ll regret waking up this morning.” The voice was dangerously harsh.

Lee looked under Steve’s arm; it was Ash. She hadn’t heard him come in. He was very rigid, his fists were clenched and his body looked tight. His face was grim and red. His eyes stayed focused on Steve. He looked like he was going to pounce on him at any minute.

Steve let go of one arm but his other hand stayed firmly on her left arm. He pointed at Ash and shouted at him, unmoved by his livid posture. “This is none of your business. Go pull a cat out of a tree or something!”

“Ash calm down, I can handle this.” It was like she hadn’t said a word. Ash, didn’t move, his expression still livid.

“I’ll be pulling your hand off if you don’t let go of her.” His lips were moving but he stayed perfectly still.

“Ann, will you and Maria go into the kitchen, please.” Billy spoke softly.

Ann didn’t move neither did she try to protest. She was shocked by Steve’s boldness. Billy went up to her. He pulled her and Maria and guided them into the kitchen, then locked the door. Joe however, remained where he was, his body tense and ready to move.

This was beginning to scare Lee, she didn’t like where this was heading.

Steve was finding this amusing, with a wicked grin on his face, he crushed her arm in his hand. The pain shot through her whole hand like a current. Then he twisted her arm and pinned it on her back, making the pain and discomfort worse.

“Oww!” Lee yelled in pain grabbing at her shoulder.

In a flash, Ash was next to them, his fingers wrapped around Steve’s neck. Ash’s eyes had changed. They were no longer a deep brown. A deep silver color was creeping into his eyes completely submerging the brown.

Lee wasn’t sure what shocked her most, his eyes, or the fact that he was choking Steve.

Steve let go of her and she dropped to the floor, cradling her arm. Ash then lifted him up in the air by his neck, with one hand. His lips twitched on the side, he was more livid than before.

Joe and Billy appeared at his sides, trying to pull his arm and its captive down. Steve was kicking and scratching, gasping for air. He was trying to pry Ash’s fingers open but it was useless. It only made Ash tighten his grip.

“Ash! You’re turning!” Joe sounded urgent, but Ash didn’t draw back.

He then threw Steve across the room like a rag doll. Steve hit the wall with a thud. Lee could swear she heard something break. She didn’t dare move from where she was; she stayed on the floor too stunned to do anything. Steve was wiggling on the floor, crying out in pain and struggling to breathe.

Billy and Joe grabbed Ash’s shoulders, trying their best to restrain him. They were moving so fast that Lee thought she was hallucinating.

“Ash, stop! You are going to kill him!” Billy was the one shouting now. But Ash kept struggling to get free. He heaved forward, and then backward with so much force it sent Joe and Billy flying behind him. He crossed over Lee and had Steve up and pinned on the wall in a second.

Lee was getting lightheaded, everything around her was moving so fast. She raised her good hand and held her head up. Ash was talking, but she couldn’t hear him, her head was spinning.

“I’ll kill you!” Ash whispered in Steve’s ear before he threw him again, this time he landed on the table next to the door. It broke under his weight. Steve’s scream jolted Lee back. She knew he was hurt, bad.