Chapter 48

Caleb staggered back, his hand clutching his cheek, the pain in his eyes now mirrored by shock at the unexpected turn of events.

Darian's eyes blazed with a protective fury as he addressed Caleb, his voice dripping with authority. "You don't speak to a lady like that, especially a lady that is mine."

He didn't give Caleb a chance to respond. Darian's fist struck him across the face once more, and he repeated, "Especially a lady that is mine."

He kicked Caleb's stomach so bad that Caleb coughed at blood. Darian's mind was off wire.

Caleb's face was now battered and bloodied, the pain etched across his features. With each punch, Darian delivered a stern warning. "Never, ever, ever talk to Althea again."

The violence of the situation was escalating, and it took Althea's intervention to halt the brutality. She reached out to touch Darian's arm, her voice desperate as she cried, "Stop."