Waking the Beast(54)

“And look what your love has done to him. Look at him.” His hand cupped her head and forced her face to turn toward Tah. “You’ve managed to do what even a war couldn’t do. You’ve taken a great man and brought him as low as he can go. Broke him to the point he prefers lying here, instead of waking up and being with us. Are you fucking proud of yourself?”

Abby sobbed. She tried to reach out for Tah’s chest, but Reno wasn’t done. He pulled her away from Tah, and that was when real terror kicked in. She could feel her heart pounding furiously in her chest.

“He doesn’t deserve you, Abby. Not a woman like you. You need to stay the hell away from him. I’d say he’s making it pretty fucking clear he doesn’t want you or the kid Cody seems to think you’re carrying.”

“No!” she screamed. “He loves me.”

For a brief second, she thought she saw sorrow in Reno’s eyes, but it was quickly replaced by anger as he glanced toward Tah’s form on the bed.

“He loves you?” His laugh was cold and cruel. “I can see how much he loves you. He lays there sleeping while you cry. While I do whatever I want to you.” She watched his Adam’s apple bob as he backed her up until she was trapped against the wall. “He sleeps or whatever the fuck he’s doing while I have my hands on you. Think he’d mind if I tried you out, Abby? If I slipped my tongue in your mouth, fucked my cock inside you?”

“Oh, God.” Abby almost screamed. Where was everyone? Someone had to be around to hear her, hear what was happening? Surely Reno wouldn’t rape her!

“Tah’s gone, Abby. I’ve seen the way you two go at it. You need a man in your life. I’m going to be that man.”

“No!” she shouted as Reno leaned into her. “Tah!” His name was a cry of pure terror.

A roar rocked the room. One minute Reno had her trapped and the next he was flying across the room and hitting the opposite wall. Tah crouched in front of her. His eyes were full yellow, and she knew it was more animal than man who’d come awake to protect her.

Reno rose slowly to his feet. Tah roared again where he was squatted down guarding her, his eyes never leaving Reno.

“Letting the animal do the man’s job, Tah. I expected better of you.” Reno’s voice was hard as steel.

She watched Tah shake his head. Glancing down, she caught the shift of brown and yellow, physical proof of the battle taking place inside him.

“Mine.” Tah’s voice all but roared the claim.

“And this is how you protect what’s yours? Fighting with yourself and leaving her on her own?”#p#分页标题#e#

“Mine.” A full roar this time, but Reno showed no fear as he moved from the wall.

“Then deal with your shit and don’t leave her alone again.”

Tah eased to his feet and crossed his arms over his chest. Neither man seemed to care that Tah was naked. Abby tried to slip around him to at least get him a pair of his black boxer briefs, but Tah wouldn’t allow it.

“You’re lucky I didn’t kill you.”

“Never going to happen,” Reno assured him with a cocky smile.

“Don’t ever threaten my woman again.”

“I’ll do whatever it takes to bring you back.”

“You terrified her.”

“And her terror brought your ass awake.”

“You’re the best friend I’ve ever had, Reno, like a brother to me. But if you ever make me feel like you’re a threat to Abby, I will kill you.”

Reno nodded. “I told Abby she didn’t deserve you, and I meant it. She doesn’t deserve the person who lay in that bed. She needs a man who will be around to protect her, to love her. Either be that man or let her find someone who will.”

“Mine.” Tah’s voice was so close to the animal Abby felt a chill race down her spine.

“And I’ll protect what’s yours with my life if needed. I’ll protect her even against you when needed.”

Tah’s head dropped to his chest. Abby leaned against his back, tilting her head so she could see Reno across from them, as she wrapped her hands around Tah’s waist.

“You don’t have to protect me from him,” she whispered against Tah’s flesh.

Tah just nodded his head. “Thank you.”

“You’re fucking welcome. Don’t ever make me do it again. I don’t mind being the bad guy when I need to be. But I don’t like scaring a woman. Ever.”

“I know. I owe you.”

“You do, and I’ll collect it someday. Now take care of your woman. Take care of whatever fight is going on inside you, and let’s figure this shit out. I’ve got a twitchy feeling in my neck I can’t explain or shake. Don’t fucking bail on us again.”