If he truly knew me, then he’d know I wasn’t that kind of hacker. That I wouldn’t ever follow through with it. If he kept a hold of me like this, though, I might just reconsider.

“Don’t,” he said, almost a plea. “Please. I won’t say anything. I swear.”

“And you’ll stay the hell away from me.”

He nodded, and I eyed the hands still on my shoulders.

His fingers slid down my arms too slowly, but I sighed.

Finally, I’d faced him.

I’d voiced the fact that I had done nothing wrong. That even if I had had the sexual experience he’d said I had, and then said no, I was still in the right. Because it should always be my choice what I did or who I did it with. No one else’s.

I’d won.

“Get the fuck away from her!” I heard Dean’s voice, the rage in the words, before I saw him fly across the room.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Six

Dean

“Stay the hell away from me.”

Amber’s voice had sounded from inside Jake’s closed door—Hannah had sent me this way saying she’d seen Amber head in there a while ago.

Hand on the knob, I’d turned it, but it was locked.

Before I could blink, before I could think, I’d busted the lock, my shoulder stinging something fierce.

“Get the fuck away from her!” The words had flown from my mouth the second I saw Brandon towering over her.

Red.

Everything was red as I lunged for him now.

“Dean, stop!” Amber, a flash of pink, stepped in front of me, her hand on my chest.

Every sense narrowed to her, the adrenaline in my veins cooling a fraction.

“He’s not worth it,” she said, eyeing where Brandon stood, fists clenched, not a foot away.

“Are you hurt?” I finally asked, taking her face in my hands.

“No,” she said, but I could feel her trembling. She gripped my forearms, holding on to me like I was the only thing that could keep her solid as she craned her head around my shoulder. “He didn’t…” She shook her head. “I handled it.” Her eyes turned to slits as she glared at him. “You won’t bother me again,” she said. “Right?”

Brandon’s jaw flexed, but he shook his head.

“Damn right you won’t,” I said, wanting nothing more than to stalk the distance and make my threat stick. The trembling pixie in my arms stopped me. I walked us to the door. “You step an inch within her space, and I swear to God I will make you disappear.”