Protect.

Joy could feel her consciousness give up and her body going senseless with time, finally, her eyes stinging with tears closed.

"Get away from her " she heard someone say, the hold on her neck was jerked away. Her body fell from the force into strong arms.

Coughing her teary eyes open, gently she was placed down.

"Are you okay " she focused her vision to see Gerald's face up close. He looked worried as he gently touched her face.

She flinched feeling pain rush from her back through her body.

"Am, okay " she coughed. His frown showed he didn't believe her. Slowly he helped her sit up.

"Stay put and hold on," he said getting up. Lucian was up again shouting her name.

"Your a devil's whore " he shouted, "Look he even rushed her to protect you...you and Liana are no different, just bitches sleeping with the devil " he laughed.

Gerald walked up to him, "Shut the hell up, you bastard. Taking for granted the people who loved you and using them, & you still have the nerve to hurt them " punching Lucian until he could not get up.

Gerald got up from the bloody scene with his knuckles bleeding and stained with his and Lucian's hand.

"Let's get you inside," he said placing her arms around his neck and carrying her up. They walked towards her home in silence.

...

"Joy hasn't called me since she left, did she reach safely home " Liana stared at her phone.

"Gerald took her so I think she did get home safe," Xavier said.

"But she always calls or texts when she does arrive, but it's been hours and nothing "

"Call Gerald instead and check then," Xavier said.

Liana grabbed her phone and called him. It kept ringing but no one answered.

"He's not picking up " she let out. Xavier walked around the kitchen counter to where she was holding her.

"You need to calm down. Joy can take care of themselves and Gerald is with her so there is no need to worry.