Page 98 of John + Siena: The Complete Duet

“Say something about her again, and see what I’ll do.”

“John,” Siena murmured.

He wasn’t hearing her at all. His blazing gaze was locked on a group of idiots, and yet, his hold on her hadn’t loosened a bit.

“She isn’t worth it, anyway,” the guy said with a laugh.

It kind of sounded like he meant it to be dismissive. A way to back away from John’s threats, and yet still keep some kind of pride with his friends.

Siena knew it was a mistake before he even finished talking.

She felt it in John’s body.

Saw it in his eyes.

Heard it in the clench of his teeth.

“Don’t,” she whispered.

Siena barely got the chance to blink, and she was on the other side of John. She spun around in just enough time to see his fist crash into the face of the guy who had been talking to her. One single punch, and the man was down.

One of his friends moved forward.

John hit him, too.

Somebody’s face was bleeding.

Somebody else wasn’t moving.

Shit.

She was pretty sure John wasn’t supposed to be getting in trouble while on parole. And yet, he didn’t seem to think about that at all as his fists rained down, and another guy jumped into the mix.

It was like his judgement was gone, right alongside his inhibitions. Did he even realize that getting caught up in an assault charge would probably revoke his probation? Did he think about that at all?

Siena didn’t know.

“John!”

He didn’t hear her the first time, so she moved in to physically put her hands on him, and see if that would help. She grabbed the back of his jacket, and swore she could feel the way his muscles coiled tighter.

“John, that’s enough!”

He spun around fast, and damn near knocked Siena off her feet. His gaze landed on hers—wild and pissed—but he relaxed. Not a lot, but just enough to take a fucking look around.

At the security coming closer.

At the girl behind the counter on the phone.

At the cameras up above.

“Shit,” he hissed, “we have to get out of here.”

Yeah, she figured.

“Siena,” John murmured from behind her.

She ignored him as she unlocked the door to her apartment. Sure, she wanted to talk. Oh, she had a lot of things to say to him.