Free Dark Destiny (Dark Brothers Book #4) by Bec Botefuhr Page A

Jagger storms over, picking Ace up from the ground and gripping his shirt, before driving punch after punch into his face. The sounds of Ace’s nose breaking and his jaw shattering is something I’ll never forget. It’s me who gets to Jagger first.
    “Stop it, you’ll kill him!” I scream.
    I grip Jagger’s arm and he spins around, fist raised. For a split second, I am sure he’ll hit me, but he doesn’t. Panting, his eyes wild with anger, he drops his fist and shoves me off him.
    “I’m fuckin’ leavin’!”
    “No,” I say, gripping the back of his shirt when he turns.
    He spins around, gripping my arms and lifting me off the floor. I don’t take my eyes from his as he brings us square.
    “Don’t push me, Willow, I don’t want to hurt you.”
    “You won’t hurt me,” I whisper, feeling my entire body trembling.
    “Don’t be so sure.”
    “Hit me then,” I say, finally cracking. “Go on, Jagger, hit me.”
    “Willow!” Angel yells.
    Jagger’s eyes flare with anger and he brings our lips so close I can taste him.
    “You’re walkin’ a fine fuckin’ line.”
    “You want to hurt me, Jagger, then do it.”
    He’s panting so heavily now I can hear it, I can hear the strange heaving sounds coming from his throat.
    “Stop. It.”
    “No, Jagger, I won’t. You tried to kill your own best friend, if you’re so god damned fucked up, if you’re so god damned emotionless, then fucking show me,” I scream in his face. “Show me how much you fucking don’t feel.”
    “Enough!” he snarls.
    “No, not enough. Hurt me. It’s what you want to do, isn’t it? You’re blaming the world for what went wrong, you’re trying too hard to prove I mean jack shit to you, so fucking prove it!”
    I scream it so loudly he flinches. We stand there, him holding me up, our eyes locked, for long, long moments. His eyes search my face and then he rasps, “Fuck you Willow Black, you’re fuckin’ killin’ me.”
    Then he slams his lips down over mine, in a kiss so harsh it hurts, but oh…oh god…I need it. Then he pulls me back, drops me and shoves me down onto the couch before walking off, leaving us all standing in shock.
    “Well shit,” Angel murmurs.
    Shit all right. I spin to Ace, and rush over. Rusty is helping him off the ground and there’s blood everywhere. I drop to my knees, gently taking his face in my hands.
    “Ace, oh god, I’m so sorry.”
    He shakes his head weakly, spitting blood onto the floor.
    “Not your fault,” he rasps. “I hit him.”
    “You need a hospital!”
    “I’ll take him,” Ava says softly, she’s standing in the corner, looking shocked.
    “The kids?” I cry.
    “They’re sleeping, it’s ok, they didn’t hear.”
    “We can’t…god what was I thinking bringing them here?” I cry, gripping my hair and shaking my head.
    Ace reaches out, gripping my arm. “He reacted.”
    “And nearly got you killed!” I yell, more emotionally than angrily. “It was an awful idea!”
    “No,” Angel says, helping me to my feet while Rusty lifts Ace. “It wasn’t.”
    I hear the sounds of smashing and angry yelling coming from Jagger’s room. Everyone looks over at the door, wondering, no doubt, if he’ll come charging back out.
    “I should go in there,” I say in a small voice.
    “That’s a bad idea, Willow, “Ava says, shaking her head at me, a look of fear filling her face.
    “He won’t hurt me, you all just saw that. I have to help him. Guys, you get Ace to the hospital.”
    Rusty nods, helping Ace towards the stairs.
    “Jenny?” Ava asks.
    “She’s not back yet, she went to get my mother,” I sigh.
    “She’ll be worried sick when she finds out,” Ava croaks, rubbing the sides of her head as if she can take the images away by doing so.
    Angel goes over, wrapping his big arms around her. I look away, feeling my eyes well with tears.
    “I’m so sorry, Ace,” I whisper, before walking towards Jagger’s door.
    When I open it, and step inside, I am