Page 124 of Risking it for the Cowboy

“Stop, Jason!” in the distance.

Charlie was trying to wrestle her arm free in the faint halo of a streetlight.

“Yer … You’re gonna tell them … I’m … yer gonna take back that restraining order!” Jason Thompson was pulling her down the mostly empty dirt road where his truck was parked in the shadows.

T.R. bolted forward.

“No!” Charlie fought, yanking on her arm and digging in her heels, terror radiating off of her every grunt.

Boots pounded pavement as T.R. ran.

“Yer gonna get rid of that … that lawyer … who’s fucking up everything!”

Jason’s palm opened.

Lifted.

A haze of red blurred T.R.’s thoughts.

Charlie pleading, now kicking at him.

A roar rose on T.R.’s lips as that palm came down and… “No!” he roared, as it cracked her cheek.

He sprang. Pounced.

His fist connected.

If Judge Mitchell had done his fucking job instead of letting this red flag walk around with impunity, she’d have been protected.

Fist cracked jaw again as he knotted Jason’s shirt at his throat, pinning him down.

Daisy would have been spared the heartache and feelings of abandonment if Mitchell would have put the law above his own selfish coverup.

But you also wouldn’t get a chance to do this—

Thud.

He thought of his sister, cowed and desperate. Thought of Daisy, and the way she’d blanched when this man had pounded on their door. That slap to Charlie’s face, replaying like a sick joke in his mind. He barely felt the retaliatory blow that knocked his nose.

Stale whiskey huffed from Jason as T.R. straddled him.

Thud.

Fist landed again. If Mitchell wasn’t going to do anything about it, he was—

“Thaddeus…”

His name, distorted beyond that red haze, slowed his fist raining justice, thirsty to vindicate—

“Thad, please…”

Her voice, melodic, that sang harmony to his heart, poked holes in his rage at Jason for taking his weaknesses out on her.

A hand touched his arm. “Don’t be like him, please.” A desperate plea. “Please don’t be like him.”

He whirled around, bouncing to his feet, as if snapped out of a nightmare. Wide jade eyes, pooling with tears, blinking down her face. A damning handprint he wished he could kiss away.

Jason groaned, and what he’d done came rushing back as he looked down.