Page 31 of Protect Me
Killian
Hot rage pummels my veins as I leave D behind and close the distance between me and those fuckers who just caused Sway to fall onto the ground.
“Killian,” Liv calls to me, but I ignore her. She hurries off, probably to find Duncan or Bracken. Or worse, chase down D and tell him to get his ass back here after he just left. The fact that he was in the Big Top at all during rehearsals is out of the norm, but when he heard Sway was up and about, he snuck in at the last minute to watch her impromptu performance. She hadn’t been up there two fucking minutes before he said, “Tell her she’s in.”
I hadn’t been able to summon words to acknowledge him, such was my awe at watching her move up there.
Now, having watched her perfect performance, and then her dangerous fall, thanks to these assholes, I’m speechless for a different reason. Logically, I know it was an accident, but something in me snapped when I saw it, and now, I don’t care. There is no logic eating through the anger, just the desire to destroy those who caused her pain.
“Killian!”
Her voice stops me in my tracks moments before a slender hand grips my arm. Her touch is warm—no, scalding—on my flesh. Sway swims into view, her panicked eyes the only thing that cuts through my anger.
“They caused you to fall.”
“No. My own weakness caused me to fall. I’m still a bit worn out, and I misjudged.”
I narrow my gaze on her face. Her pulse quickens, an easy tell of the lie. They did cause her to fall with their jarring applause, but her fear for them is also evident in the paleness of her face and the way she’s gripping my arm as though she can keep me rooted where I am.
“Misjudged?” I question.
“Yes. Can you help me up to my room? My ankle is a bit weak, and I don’t want to try to make it alone.”
More like you don’t want me bashing skulls the moment you leave the practice arena.“Fine.” Without asking for permission, I scoop Sway up into my arms.
“What? No. I can walk.” She squirms.
“I know you can. But you’re not going to.” I start walking, glaring at the performers who clearly don’t realize just how fucking close they came to death.
The only ones who do seem to realize it are Brad and Kleo. And they know better than to say a fucking word against me.
The only people who will be touching Sway besides me are Duncan and Bracken.
Sway remains silent as I carry her up the stairs to the second floor. I stop once we reach her door then set her down as she reaches into her bra and withdraws her key. My need stirs at the sight of it. Never, in my entire fucking life, have I wanted to be an inanimate object more than I do right now.
“That’s where you’re keeping your key?” I ask.
“Do I look like I have pockets in these things?” she tosses back, and my gaze flicks to her tight shorts that couldn’t cling more if the fuckers were painted on. My dick hardens as I study the curve of her ass in that thin material.
Sway’s too busy sliding the key into the lock to notice, so I tuck my erection as best I can while I wait. After unlocking the door, she opens it and limps inside. I follow, my anger stirred all over again at the sight of her injury.
“Let me see your ankle.”
Her brow furrows. “Not necessary. I’ll be fine.”
“I’m not asking.” I shut the door with more force than necessary, and Sway flinches.
Shit. The fear I saw in her downstairs is back, and my anger dissolves instantly at the sight of it.
“You don’t have to be afraid,” I say.
“I’m not.”
Lie.
“You tried to protect them. Even though they caused you to get hurt.”
“It was an accident. They don’t deserve—”