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"Ew Max, leave her alone!" Amanda hissed, and I pulled away from him

"I said no, you need to back off" I turned back to Ao find Tyler and Gage, but Max gripped the top of htto htened and was past the point of being painful; that id seconds before I started shaking uncontrollably

"Max!" Awith you?! Go sober up in your truck, alone!"

His hand had loosened slightly and I let Arasp, it tightened as ain Only this time Amanda had a hold onpulled by both sent a sharp pain through o and I stu the pain in my shoulder to intensify as Max yanked on the arh I tried to keep it in, a short cry of pain escaped ;too hard as I subconsciously waited for the blows to start All I could sees quickly flipped through one and Tyler was directly in front ofmy chin up so I would look at hi, but I couldn’t hear hi, runts, and my mom’s moans

Tyler pulled me up and half carried, half walked er seat, he stood just inside the open door and betweenache onht softly

"okay, I’ve got you Never again, Cassi, they’re gone, they can’t touch you here You’re okay, I’ve got you I’ll always have you, Cass They’re gone--"

"Is she okay?!" Gage’s voice broke throughme

"She’ll be fine," Ty responded, and went back to whispering, "I’ve got you, you’re going to be okay, sweetheart"

Next thing I knew, Gage was in the driver’s seat of the Jeep and talking directly behind ht? Tellthis Didn’t want hia full-on ently squeezed the back ofcontinued, over and over I wrappedagainst his chest His lips pressed down on htly

"That’s it, sweetheart, you’re okay I’m here, I’ot you"

"Ty--man, what happened?"

I felt Tyler’s head shake as he continued whispering

"Holy crap, Gage!" Amanda said loudly "You knocked Max out cold I think you busted his noseagain"

"Ae hissed, "Shut up, Manda!"

My body started shaking harder, and I pulled e I didn’t want to hear that, I didn’t want to think about what had happened between hies wouldn’t put theet her back to the house," Tyler said, still speaking softly "Are we good to go?"

When the others agreed, he er seat as well and pulled me onto his lap My head instantly dropped to the crook of his neck and I let his large arms, warm scent, and soft words continue to soothe ave ently pushed me into the bathroom I took a quick shower; dressed in his shirt, which cahs; andthere with Tyler, but after one look at me, his expression turned worried and he didn’t say a word as I walked past him and went to the sofa bed in the far corner of the bedrooet in her own bed, and once she was asleep Tyler was slipping under the comforter with me My rockmy best friend I didn’t knohat I would ever do without hihter into hi safe in his ar slowed to a stop and I drifted off to sleep

Chapter Six

GAGE