fist into my gut before I’d even had time to recover from Rafe’s punch. “Deny it!”
I grunted, doubling over, but managed to keep to my feet. Vaguely, I was aware of a woman crying out in protest. Ginny? Dear God, was she actually in the room? Desperate, I tried to turn toward her. James hit me next. Not with his fist. No, that would be too easy. Instead, his entire body connected with mine, throwing me to the floor with a thud that shook the room.
“Stop, you idiots!” Ginny demanded.
It was as if they hadn’t heard her. I was flipped over, James atop me, his fist raised. The other three men hovered behind him, ready to take his place. It certainly wasn’t a fair fight, but I’d go through hell to get to Ginny.
“Fight back, you coward!” James growled.
I wouldn’t. Let them take their ire out on me. I knew it was the only way to get through their protective gates. The only way I’d see Ginny. If I hurt one of her brothers, she’d never forgive me.
“Let him be!” Ginny cried out, throwing herself between us. “Stop this nonsense!”
I grunted as she landed atop me, her elbow digging painfully into the spot where William had punched me only moments ago. But it didn’t matter. None of it mattered because she was here, in my arms, her wonderful, familiar scent swirling around me, and it felt like I’d finally come home. Everything was right with the world.
“Evie, move!” James demanded.
I gripped her waist and rolled over, protecting her with my body. “Don’t you dare touch her.”
James looked startled for a moment. “You bloody idiot, do you honestly believe I would harm my sister?”
Rafe shoved me to the side. William caught her around the waist and pulled her to her feet before I could stop him. My hands curled as I resisted the urge to attack. I would not do anything to endanger her life.
“Stay out of it, Evie,” William said.
She fought him, hellcat that she was, but he wouldn’t relent. “Let me go!”
A low growl rumbled in my throat. They were upsetting her. Controlling her. She hated when people told her what to do. I jumped to my feet and started toward her, but Oliver shoved me back.
“Evie, don’t get involved,” Rafe said. “You’ll be hurt.”
“Don’t get involved?” she snarled. “This is about me! Not you! It’s none of your concern. None of you! Gabe and I are the only two people who should be in this room right now.”
“Over my dead body will I let you be alone with that man,” Rafe hissed.
“Evie, calm down,” William said, holding her tight.
“Don’t touch her,” I demanded, shoving aside Oliver’s hand. “She doesn’t want you to touch her!”
That comment stirred them into action. Rafe’s fist found my face. I stumbled back. Stars danced through my skull and for a moment the room faded away. Christ, they weren’t going to relent until I played dead, or fought back.
“He’s right!” Ginny screamed.
“He’s right about what?” Whitfield demanded.
She was so small compared to her brothers, but the fierceness with which she confronted them was to be admired. I had a feeling they underestimated her. It was obvious they were surprised by the stubbornness within her now. “I went to him willingly. I wanted him, damn you!”
She’d heard my comment.
William released her. Rafe cursed and paced across the library. Somehow, I managed to regain my balance now that the floor had stopped spinning. She stood there in the middle of the room, completely alone, and there was nothing I wanted to do more than go to her. But I couldn’t. Not yet. She had to come to me. Her face was flushed, her eyes pleading. Her hair had fallen down so that she once again resembled the defiant woman I’d come to know two years ago.
“I slept with him because I wanted to.”
Rafe started toward her. “Evie, you didn’t know what you were doing. He took—”
“She’s lying,” I snapped. I wasn’t sure why I changed my story, all I knew was that I couldn’t let her shame herself for me. Or perhaps, deep down, I felt guilty about the way I’d pursued her. “I took advantage of her.”
“Enough!” she cried out. “I was not some naïve fool of a girl!”
Jamie’s jaw clenched. William shifted, dragging his fingers through his hair. Oliver hadn’t said a word the entire time. Rafe still looked like he wanted to kill me because he knew, knew, I was at fault. Aye,