Free Furious by Susan A. Bliler

sick to her stomach.  “I knew you were his whore, but I can only assume that embarrassment is why you would try to deny it.”  
    Before she had a chance to defend herself, Warren had crossed the room to stand behind her and wrap both arms around her. 
    Having had enough of the charade, Lucia struggled to free herself from Warren’s embrace.  “Damn it Warren, let me go.  I’ve had enough of this.  Draken, Warren and I are not lovers, we never have been.  He’s asked me to make you believe as much, but I don’t see what there is to gain from lying.” 
    Warren refused to release his hold on her.  He took the charade further by sweeping the hair from one side of her neck and bent to place a kiss close to her ear. 
    Lucia’s confession had the opposite effect that she had intended. 
    Draken now appeared twice as upset as he spat, “You lying bitch.  You two are perfect for each other.  You’re exactly the same.” 
    Draken turned to leave, but Warren couldn’t help but take a parting shot, “Be sure to close the door behind you mate, my lady and I have some pleasurable business to attend to.” 
    Lucia didn’t have time to protest the statement as Draken spun and closed the distance between them so quickly that Lucia barely had time to jump out of the way. 
    Draken slammed Warren to the ground and was pummeling him in an angered frenzy that had Lucia’s heart thudding to a halt.  Warren, a large man himself, was no match for the strength and size of Draken. 
    As Warren attempted to return punches, Lucia jumped into the fray, grabbing Draken by the shoulders, “Draken stop!  STOP!” 
    Draken refused to relent and fearing for the life of Warren, Lucia scrambled to her feet to quickly retrieve the bat that she’d been toting earlier.  Quickly she returned to stand over Draken who was still brutally beating a near unconscious Warren.  “Draken, PLEASE STOP!” Lucia screamed. 
    With no response to her plea, she lifted the bat over her head, closed her eyes, and swung the bat down on Draken with all her might.
     

Chapter 10
    When Lucia opened her eyes, she saw an unconscious Draken sprawled over top of a disoriented and bleeding Warren.  Instantly, she dropped the bat and rushed to Draken.  Rolling him off Warren, she checked to make sure he was breathing…he was.  She ran her hands through his hair to make sure he wasn’t bleeding from his head.  Before she had closed her eyes, she aimed for his back, hoping to stop him without hurting him. 
    She moved her body so she sat directly above Draken, with his head cradled in her lap. 
    Warren, with great effort, got to his feet.  Bleeding profusely from his nose, mouth and a cut below his right eye, Warren quickly scanned the room and retrieved the bat that Lucia had discarded. 
    He reared back with the bat, ready to strike the helpless Draken when Lucia looked up and screamed, “NO!”  Quickly, she covered Draken’s body with her own as she looked up at Warren, “What are you doing?” 
    Warren gritted through bloody teeth, “Move Lucia.  It’ll be better for all of us if I end this now.” 
    Stunned, she raised a hand to shield herself and Draken as Warren again cocked back, “NO WARREN!” 
    Draken began to stir and tried to sit up, but Lucia grabbed his head and buried it under her body as he had yet to regain his strength.  She turned from Warren and buried her head in Draken’s shoulder, using her hands to cradle his head, “Just leave Warren, please just get out,” she sobbed. 
    Without looking up, she heard Warren sigh, “This was our best chance to get him out of my life forever.” 
    Then she heard the bat drop to the floor and the door close as Warren left.  When she heard the screech of his tires outside as he departed, she knew he was gone for good. 
    Sitting up, she looked down at a barely alert Draken.  As her tears fell down on his face, she rocked him back and forth, “I’m sorry Draken…I’m