But her hand tugging on my shoulder has me stepping back from the brink.

I slowly release Paul, and he sidesteps me, coughing as he glares at Hendrix, his voice hoarse when he speaks. “This isn’t over. Not by a long fucking shot.”

I step into the space between them. “Good,” I taunt while I force my hands to unclench and not give in to the urge to plow it into his face. “I’m always down for a good ass-kicking. Until then, Paul, it’s time for you to leave.”

Paul hesitates, his jaw clenched, motivation clearly undecided, before nodding and then going out the door.

Hendrix exhales shakily. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for you to—”

“To protect you?” I turn to face her fully, temper still running hot. “That’s my job.”

“No. It’s not. That was my fault and—”

“And if you apologize again, I’m going to get even angrier than I already am.”

“Thank you then?” Her cheeks are flushed and her eyes are wide with concern.

I force myself to take it down a notch. Hendrix has never seen me like this, and in some respects, I don’t want her to. “Hey,” I say, my voice softening. “You don’t have to thank me for anything.”

“You didn’t have to step in.”

“Yeah, I fucking did.”

She shakes her head. “No, you didn’t. You have too much on the line. You need to think of yourself. Of why we’re doing this.”

“He was assaulting you, Hendrix. I should be calling the police on the prick. He had his hands on you,” I yell. “And where the fuck is Sammy?”

She throws her hands up in defeat, almost as if she knows I’m going to be upset with what she says next. “I told him to go home. Convinced him I was done so I could have a moment of peace to myself. It’s my fault Sammy’s not here, Jase, not his. Don’t be mad.”

I study her as my pulse races alongside my fury. “I’m not mad but . . . there’s a fucking reason he’s here. To keep you safe.” I reach out to shake her shoulders in frustration but stop myself.

His hands were on her.

The thought sickens me.

“He didn’t assault me,” she lies. I can see it clear as day in those eyes of hers. She was scared. Wasn’t sure what the fucktard was capable of. That makes my blood boil even more.

“Don’t make excuses for his behavior.”

She reaches out and grabs one of my arms with both of her hands. “I’m not. Please. He’s just angry. Going through the emotions of finding out we’re married. That I traded up for a much more successful, sexier man.”

“Now you’re slinging bullshit, Cookie.” But she put a smile on my lips and lowered the temperature slightly.