My vision blurs.
“You stupid fuckin’—”
Suddenly, Danny is being launched into the air and lands with a thump on the sidewalk beside me. I watch in utter horror as Jagger leans down over him, face wild with rage, and curls two hands into his shirt, hauling him back up. Then, his fist flies out and begins hitting Danny, over and over, crashing into his face with the kind of violence that is terrifying.
“Jagger!” I cry, pushing to my feet.
Danny begins fighting back, and fear grips my chest. Danny is broader than Jagger and is a trained fighter. Danny lands a solid punch to Jagger’s chest, sending him stumbling backward. My yells at them to stop go unnoticed. Jagger bounces back quickly and uppercuts Danny so hard I hear his jaw crack. Before my eyes, Jagger takes Danny’s head in the nook of his elbow and drives six solid punches to his face.
Danny roars with pain as his nose and jaw cracks. Blood spurts from his face, and Jagger drops him on the ground. He leans over him and grips his shirt, leaning close and whispering, “If you ever fucking touch her again, I’ll fucking kill you.”
Jagger tosses Danny to the ground, and straightens, panting, fists by his sides. Angel must have heard the commotion and has come running outside, Ava behind him. His eyes go to Danny, who is pushing up to all fours on the side walk, and then to me and widen.
“What the fuck?”
“Where were you?” Jagger roars.
Angel’s eyes go to the shopping bags, then back to me. “She didn’t tell me she was leaving.”
“He was out here fuckin’ punchin’ into her and you were supposed to be watchin’ her.”
“No,” Angel growls. “She is with you, Jagger. You’re meant to be protecting her but instead you’re out there nursin’ your god damned feelings.”
“Stop,” I cry out, pressing a hand to my pounding head. “I snuck out. I just wanted to get breakfast. It wasn’t Angel’s fault.”
“Honey, you’re bleeding,” Ava says, putting an arm around me. “I need to look at you.”
Danny, who has finally managed to get to his feet, is swaying slightly. He’s dazed, probably has a concussion, and could be in need of some serious medical help.
“Get him out of here,” Jagger bites out. “Before I do something I regret.”
Danny turns before Angel can reach him, and stumbles off down the street. He reaches his truck and falls in. Angel growls, disappearing after him as Ava turns me toward the direction of the apartment. Jagger follows us inside, and when the door has closed, he turns on me. “What the fuck did you think you were doing?”
I open my mouth to answer, but nothing comes out.
“Well?” he roars.
“Do not speak to her like that,” Ava growls, stepping between the two of us. “If you’re so worried, then you should have been here. Get the fuck out, Jagger. Now.”
“I’m goin’ to help Angel, we’re not done talking.”
He disappears out the front door, and when he’s gone, I slump down onto the sofa, pressing my head into my hands. It’s pounding, and there is blood in my mouth. Ava quickly gathers an ice pack and hands it to me to press over my lip, before she inspects my head. “You’re going to have a hell of a bump there tomorrow. You’ve got to stop getting yourself into fights, honey, you’ll end up all scarred and broken.”
“I can’t take much more of this,” I whisper, staring at the blood on the towel as I pull it away from my lip. “I can’t take his rage.”
“Then don’t. You make it very clear that if he’s going to behave like this, then you won’t be around any longer. Stick to your guns. You don’t deserve it, Willow.”
I know I don’t.
And I’m sick and tired of it becoming the norm for us.
Jagger returns ten minutes later, a little less filled with rage this time.
“Who was that?”
His question comes out hard, but not quite as sharp as earlier.
“Danny,” I say, my voice low. “My ex.”
Jagger’s eyes widen. “That fucker was your ex?”
“Yes.”
He growls, but doesn’t say anything more.
“You should go and lie down, I’ll get you some painkillers,” Ava offers, giving Jagger a hard look.
She disappears, and I push to my feet. “I can’t with you right now. If you can’t stop this, I can’t be here. I’m done with your shit, Jagger. Get it together, or get the fuck out of my life,” I say to him, and then make my way down the hall.
Ava comes and gives me some painkillers a few minutes later, and then, when I’m alone, I sit on the end of the bed and close my eyes, nearly reaching my breaking point with this entire situation.
Jagger doesn’t come in.
Not for a long while.
When he does, his face is a little less hard, and his body is a little more relaxed.