My sigh is heavy. I’m tired of this bollocks, but I know when John is serious and he’s serious now. Enough is enough. Fucking Coral. My mood takes a nosedive as I slowly accept that I need to deal with the remnants of my past. Freja is sorted. Now it’s Coral’s turn. I just hope no more women pop up and declare their undying love for me. Unless it’s Ava. That would be fine. “On my way,” I confirm quietly before I hang up, feeling my mood lift when I spot Ava by the side of the van. I stop. Take her in. Grin from ear to ear. There’s my girl.

But my smile falls like a rock when I see a man up in her face, yelling, making her back into the side of the van. Then he grabs her arm.

He grabs her fucking arm.

My blood goes from cool to red-hot in a nanosecond, my head ready to explode. “Get your fucking hands off her!” I bellow, breaking into a sprint. Mother of God, what is this rage inside me? I have the urge to kill, and that bald fucker holding Ava is going to sate my urge. I see Ava look up, followed by the guy, who quickly releases her and backs off.

Wise man.

But I’m still gonna kill him.

His eyes get wider the closer I get, and I crash into him, taking him out, tackling him to the ground like a rugby player and giving him a few jabs on his nose, ignoring the sound of it cracking. You call this being a gentleman, do you, Ward? Calm the fuck down, for fuck’s sake. You’ll be locked up. Then you’ll never get to see her again. “Get off your fat arse and apologize,” I yell, wrestling his fat body up from the road and thrusting his alarmed form in front of Ava. I can’t appreciate the shock on her face. I’m too shocked myself. “Apologize,” I bellow. Or so help me God.

He stammers his apology as I shake him, hoping to shake my rage away too. It’s not subsiding. I feel lethal.

“Lay a finger on her again,” I breathe, getting my face close to his ear, “I’ll rip your fucking head off. Now, fuck off.” I release him before I do more damage and grab Ava, if only to occupy my hands.

The turmoil and anger within settles in an instant. Gone. Like it was never there. And then I feel her body jerk and hear the muffled sounds of her sobs, and that anger returns. “I should have finished the bastard off.” I look over my shoulder to check he’s gone, praying he has for his own sake. “Hey, stop the tears.” I can’t bear to hear her cry. “I’ll get crazy mad.” Because you’re not already, Ward?