Her Heart, Her Undoing novel Chapter 5

Avery shoved Jace off and said, her voice thin with exhaustion and disgust, "I told you I was tired. I don't want to."

Jace had been brushed off twice in two nights, and his expression tightened. He looked at her pale face, swallowed whatever he wanted to say, and chose the easy out. "Fine. Get some sleep."

When Avery woke the next morning, she was surprised to find Jace still here instead of vanishing at dawn like he usually did.

"Why were you still here?" she asked.

"Where else would I be?" he replied with an easy smile, then leaned in to hug her. "I made you upset yesterday, so I took the day off to make it up to you. How about that?"

Avery understood at once. Julian couldn't be bothered, so he had sent Jace to soothe her instead.

The thought pricked like a thorn. She opened her mouth to say it wasn't necessary, but Jace was already tugging her to her feet. "You've been talking about that list of one hundred things every couple has to do. Today, we're checking boxes!"

He didn't leave room for a refusal. He took her through a day that seemed romantic. They saw a movie, rode the amusement park, and stopped for dessert. By evening, he steered her into an upscale lounge.

"Have a drink and relax," he said, settling her on a leather couch in a private room. "I'll order and come right back."

He walked out, leaving the room in silence. Avery leaned back, wishing the day would just end.

Suddenly, the door burst open. The reek of whiskey hit first, then three men staggered into the room. They saw her and grinned.

"Well, look what we've got here!"

"Come have a drink with us. How much for the night?"

"I'm not..." Avery lurched to her feet, the color draining from her face.

"Cut the act! We all know what these rooms are for!"

They locked the door and closed in, their faces twisted into leering smiles.

Avery backed away, panic thudding in her throat. She fought and shouted for help, but their drunken weight pressed her down. Hands clawed at her sleeves, and terror rose over her like cold water.

Right then, the door blew open with a kick that rattled the hinges. Jace stormed inside, his eyes going bloodshot at the sight.

He floored the first man with a brutal punch, slammed his knee into the second, and tore through them like a raging leopard.

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