Chapter 34
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
BECK
Ididn’t like the way he was looking at me.
Not because he was angry, or loud, or trying to prove something, but because he wasn’t doing any of that, standing there just inside the doorway with a kind of steady, measured focus that didn’t belong on someone who had looked half-dead not long ago.
There was no hesitation in it.
Just an assessment of me as a man. The last words he’d spoken still rang in my ears, making him a problem.
I adjusted my hold on Taryn, pulling her closer so she was more secure against my chest, her head resting against my shoulder as the heat from her skin pressed through my shirt, her breathing uneven but still there.
“I’m waiting on your answer.” The bastard had the nerve to say, as if I was just some rando off the street.
I exhaled slowly through my nose and turned my head slightly to get a full view of him, mirroring his gaze as he studied me — noticing the intensity in his eyes and the possessiveness he showed toward my Fox.
“You have about five seconds,” my voice was low and steady, masking the temper about to explode out of me, “to explain who the fuck you are and why it’s any of your business.”
Could he be an old boyfriend from her past?
I didn’t think so, because the guy looked too old for Taryn.
He had that rich, smart look, a guy who knew just what he wanted and had no problem getting it.
The joke was on him because I didn’t give a shit who he was.
This girl was mine, and I wasn’t going to give her up to anyone.
Max shifted in front of me, as his growl deepened, not liking either of our tones with his precious mistress in my arms.
Good.
The more protective of her he became, the better I liked the mutt. At least something in this situation made sense.
He stepped forward, not much, just enough to close the distance between us slightly, but it wasn’t the movement that caught my attention.
It was how fast it happened.
“I’m her stepbrother, and she— is—mine,” he growled the last part, and this time I heard something dangerous beneath his words.
Mr. Calder shifted on the porch, the subtle movement drawing attention back to him just long enough to remind both of us he was still here, still watching. Ready to put a bullet in either of us if this went the wrong way.
“Both of you assho—” he started.
I didn’t hear the rest because the guy claiming to be her stepbrother moved.
He surged straight for Taryn, closing the distance faster than he should have been able to, his hand cutting through the space between us as if I weren’t even there.
I moved at the same time, turning with him, shifting her weight and pulling her just out of reach by inches, my body already stepping into his path before he could correct.
I moved to Ben. Not wanting to give Taryn up, but knowing this guy needed his ass kicked.
“Take her.” The words came out sharp as I shoved her toward him, trusting he would keep her safe.
He was her father after all, even if I thought he was shit at it.
I hit the dick before he even knew I was there. My fist connected with his jaw, a solid crack that should have dropped him or at least slowed him down.
It didn’t.
His head snapped to the side, blood splitting his lip instantly, a thin line of red trailing down his chin as he turned back toward me with a look that wasn’t surprised, or shaken—just pissed.
He hit back just as fast, his fist cutting across my mouth with enough force to split my lip open on impact, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth as my head snapped sideways.
It barely registered. This fucking guy was going to find out just who the fuck he was messing with.
I smiled, dragging my thumb across my mouth and looking at the blood, then winked at him.
He scowled, and we moved again. Faster this time, both of us closing the distance like neither of us had any intention of letting the other breathe, our shoulders colliding hard enough to knock the air out of my lungs before I forced it back in and shoved into him harder.
I hated to admit it, but I was enjoying pushing my body to the limit, finding out what I was capable of since waking from the fever.
He gave just enough to regain his footing, then came right back at me, grabbing my shirt and slamming me into the side of the porch with enough force to rattle the frame and send a sharp flare of pain through my back.
I answered without thinking, driving my forearm into his throat just long enough to break his hold before he twisted out of it. His movements were too fast, too precise for someone who wasn’t as experienced in fighting as I was.
I swung again, aiming lower this time, catching him across the ribs with enough force to feel the impact travel through my arm, but instead of folding, he absorbed it, shifting with it like he already knew how to take the hit.
We slammed into the railing together, the wood cracking under our combined force as it splintered and gave way, both of us going down hard and rolling across the porch in a tangle of movement that didn’t slow for more than a second.
Ben backed out of the way, “That’s fucking enough!”
Neither of us listened.
He came up first, but only seconds before me. Catching me across the cheek this time, snapping my head back as more blood filled my mouth.
I returned the hit, harder, driving my fist into his jaw again, feeling something give slightly under the impact as his head jerked sideways, more blood spraying this time as his lip split further.
It still didn’t stop him. At this point, I don’t think either of us could.
Every movement after that came faster, sharper, and cleaner, like the space between thought and action had been stripped away completely, leaving nothing but instinct and force behind.
He adjusted to everything I threw at him, matching the speed, matching the strength, his body moving like it already understood mine, like it didn’t need time to figure anything out.
That’s when it clicked.
This wasn’t just some guy who got lucky and managed to keep up with me. This had to be someone who survived the fever as I had.
I hit him again, with everything I had, pushing it, testing it, and he answered me without hesitation, the same force, same precision, and the same lack of restraint.
That’s when I knew I was right.
We both survived the change. Knowing that I wasn’t the only one reinforced my belief that Taryn would too.
Behind us, the dog barked again, this time louder and closer, but it remained near Ben, who was still holding Taryn and looking at us both with disbelief.
“Enough, Adrian!” Ben’s voice wasn’t quite as strong as it had been just minutes before.
We didn’t stop.
Couldn’t.
I drove Adrian—it sounded like the name of a pretentious asshole—back.
He dragged me down—
We hit hard and fast.
Then—
Something in the air shifted.
Mr. Calder staggered, and his breathing became labored.
I broke off first.
Then Adrian did the same.
We both turned to see that Mr. Calder was still standing, but his face was flushed. No more than half a second later, his grip shifted.
Taryn slipped in his arms, her body flopping to the side. He tried to correct it. Tried to stay standing, but his knees gave out.
He dropped hard onto the porch, one hand bracing against the wood, the other still locked around her like letting go wasn’t something he was capable of.
“Ben—” Adrian started.
No response.
His head dipped forward, shoulders tightening as if he were fighting something inside his own body and losing ground with every passing second.
Max moved immediately, stepping in closer, placing himself between them and us, his growl dropping low and dangerous again, deeper this time, more certain.
Seeing that dog, feeling he had to protect her from me, gave me pause, and suddenly I felt ashamed. I’d enjoyed the fight, forgetting everything that was at stake.
I didn’t deserve my evil queen…but damn if I was going to give her up.
“Take her. I can’t fight this anymore.” Mr. Calder laid Taryn gently on the porch, then turned slowly to us. “Get your shit together. If my daughter means as much to each of you as you claim, it’s time to prove it.”
He braced himself against a post and stood, “If I turn, I expect you to end me.” Mr. Calder glanced down at Taryn, “Tell my daughter I love her.”
Then he staggered into the house and out of sight.
As we both moved simultaneously to the girl lying helpless on the porch, guarded by a dog that would give his life for her. I knew this wasn’t over.
Adrian stared down at her. “For now, we’re going to have to work together. With Ben sick, I’ll need more than just myself to keep her safe.” The words were forced out of him between clenched teeth.
I could have been a dick, but instead just nodded my head in agreement.
He was right. With everything going on out there, the more people keeping my Fox safe, the better.
I knew things were going to get much worse. The way he stood there, bloodied and unyielding, made it impossible to ignore that she had more than one person willing to burn the world down for her—and for the first time, I wasn’t sure that was a bad thing.