Face the Music (A Brothers of Rock - GONE BY AUTUMN - Novel) by Karolyn James Read Free Book Online Page A

he growled. “On purpose. You didn’t want it, did you?”
    “Chad… please…”
    “Don’t fucking please me.”
    “You’re drunk. And angry. The company is doing fine, okay? This quarter we’ll…”
    Chad made a fist and hit the side of the building just an inch away from Jocelyn’s head. She stiffened and let out a cry.
    “You know how I feel,” Chad growled.
    “Stop this,” Jocelyn said. “It’s my company, too.”
    “You don’t know what you’re doing. Without me, you’d be broke. You’d be home with your daddy. You know I’m right. So if I say we’re going to get investors, then you shut up and listen. You bring your best stuff and you fucking sell it. Look at what you’re wearing. You look like a bum, Jocelyn.”
    Jocelyn swallowed hard. Her bottom lip quivered. “I like… how…”
    “Shut up,” Chad said.
    “Maybe you should shut up,” Jocelyn said.
    She regretted the words as they poured from her mouth. She regretted it even more when Chad’s hand swung at her. The slap was met with a stinging pain. Jocelyn turned and grabbed her cheek.
    “Want more?” Chad yelled.
    She felt him grab her shoulder and stand her back up against the wall. His hand remained on her shoulder, inching closer to her neck.
    He’s never choked me before… but what’s to stop him now?
    “What the fuck are you doing?”
    It was a third voice, a saving voice.
    Jocelyn turned her head and blinked away tears to see who it was.
    Holy hell, it was Asher. And he was charging toward Chad.
    “Don’t,” Jocelyn said.
    “Get out of here,” Chad said. He took his hand away from Jocelyn. “Mind your own damn business. Go play a song or something.”
    “Are you okay?” Asher asked, ignoring Chad.
    Jocelyn didn’t respond.
    “Did you hear me? Asshole?”
    Chad grabbed Asher’s shoulder and pushed. Asher turned and threw a right fist, connecting with Chad’s face. Jocelyn had never seen Chad get hit before. He spun, blood spraying, and dropped to his knees.
    “Don’t touch me,” Asher said.
    He then looked at Jocelyn. When he reached for her, she flinched. She hated being so afraid right now. Asher put his hands up.
    “Whoa, it’s okay, love,” Asher said. “Are you… Christ, did he hit you?”
    Jocelyn touched her cheek. It burned.
    “Asher…”
    Jocelyn couldn’t stop him. Asher turned and Chad was looking up at him.
    “You hit her?” he asked.
    “It’s none of your business,” Chad said. “You have no idea who I am.”
    “Yeah? And you have no idea who I am.” Asher swung his foot and hit Chad in the gut. Chad let out a growling cry and fell to his side. “You don’t ever fucking touch a woman, asshole. Not like that. If you ever hit her again… I swear…”
    Jocelyn caught herself smiling. She found strength and reached forward, grabbing at Asher.
    He spun back around. For a split second, Jocelyn saw herself kissing him.
    But she didn’t.
    “Are you okay?” he asked, again.
    “No,” Jocelyn said. “I…”
    “Come with me,” Asher said. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
    Jocelyn let Asher take her by the hand. When he moved, she moved. They started to head down the side of the building. Jocelyn looked back one time, her hair drifting into her face. She saw Chad getting to his feet, staring at her. Blood on his face, he looked winded and hurt.
    Good. You bastard. Hurt. I want you to hurt…
    She then turned back around and kept following Asher. To where? She had no idea. All she knew was that a perfect stranger had just shown her with one punch how a real man is supposed to treat and protect a woman. And all she wanted right now was to know more about this man.

(6)
     
    Asher never thought a time would come when he’d feel thankful for not drinking too much. But tonight was the night. Truth was that his hand had started to bother him again. The ice had melted and the glass of whiskey had all but worn off. He didn’t want to show any signs of weakness in front of the