Dark New World (Book 2): EMP Exodus by J.J. Holden, Henry Gene Foster
Authors: J.J. Holden, Henry Gene Foster
Ads: Link
to do so now. Ethan felt his initial fear turning into anger, and a deep need to get Amber away from Jed. Right now. “Jed, I know you’re angry, but she didn’t do anything wrong. There’s no need for this. Just take a step back, and don’t do something you’ll regret in ten minutes.”
Jed’s eyes flicked back to Ethan, and his face was flushed red. “You threatening me, boy? Please say you are.”
Michael had been watching the exchange passively, but apparently came to a decision because he reached his hand out and put it on Jed’s chest, restraining him and even pushing him back a little. “Jed, it ain’t worth it. Not here, not now, and not in front of the whole damn clan. Kids, Jed. They don’t need to see this.”
That seemed to get through to him. Ethan saw Jed slowly and deliberately unclench his fists as he took half a step back, away from Amber. “This ain’t over with, geek. Not by a mile. Stay away from my bitch, y’hear?”
There was a commotion outside the lean-to, and Ethan saw the rest of the adults shuffling into view, all asking the same questions at the same time. What was going on, who did what, the usual questions.
“Well, I was talking to Amber about a castle raid my guild did in a game I played a lot before the lights went out. Jed here seems to think it was more than that, and wants to defend his wife’s and his honor, but Michael points out that the kids don’t need to see us fighting. That’s all, so far.” Ethan’s eyes never left Jed’s. Let the redneck take a swing, Ethan thought, and he’d find out what Hapkido could do against a brawler… How dare he talk about Amber like that.
Michael frowned and said, “Well, Amber, it doesn’t take a Marine Scout to notice how you two have been rather cozy lately. If it was Tiffany and Ethan, I’d probably have already taken him out back to work out who’s right.”
Amber stiffened. “We’ve done nothing wrong, Michael. There’s no law against talking, and that’s all it’s been. I’m married, after all.”
Frank coughed once, and all heads turned to him. “Ethan, no one’s going to fight here. Not over this, not yet. But you must understand what it looks like, and how a husband would feel about his wife being overly friendly with another man.”
Ethan clenched is jaw and paused a second to consider his words. Then he said, “Frank, Jed, Michael. I can understand how a man might feel about that if that man wasn’t doing the same thing with a beautiful young woman who isn’t his wife, and if there was anything going on between his wife and another man. But Jed, you spend more time with Jasmine than Amber does with me because she respects you as her husband. Maybe she was just feeling a little left out and needed someone to talk to about something other than your relationship issues. Maybe Amber’s feelings are hurt, and maybe she’s insecure what with you spending so much time with Jaz. Either way, though, I swear to you that she’s done nothing to violate your trust.”
Jed slowly unclenched his fists, and took a deep breath.
But then Ethan narrowed his eyes and added, “Can you say the same, Jed?” The prick had probably at least kissed Jaz, he figured, considering how those two made goo goo eyes at each other all the time.
Jed roared and leapt toward Ethan with a snarl on his face.
Before he could get within striking distance, however, Michael grabbed Jed around the waist and by sheer strength dragged him away from Ethan. “Jed! Stop this. Right. Now!” barked Michael, and the iron tones of military discipline in his voice brought Jed to an abrupt halt.
Cassy stepped between Ethan and Jed, who was a couple yards away with Michael, now. “Stop this at once! You’re both acting like you’re in goddamn high school. We’re a clan, right? So act like it. Ethan’s right, Jed—you do spend all your time with Jasmine. You and Amber had problems even before the lights went out, right? So maybe just
Jed’s eyes flicked back to Ethan, and his face was flushed red. “You threatening me, boy? Please say you are.”
Michael had been watching the exchange passively, but apparently came to a decision because he reached his hand out and put it on Jed’s chest, restraining him and even pushing him back a little. “Jed, it ain’t worth it. Not here, not now, and not in front of the whole damn clan. Kids, Jed. They don’t need to see this.”
That seemed to get through to him. Ethan saw Jed slowly and deliberately unclench his fists as he took half a step back, away from Amber. “This ain’t over with, geek. Not by a mile. Stay away from my bitch, y’hear?”
There was a commotion outside the lean-to, and Ethan saw the rest of the adults shuffling into view, all asking the same questions at the same time. What was going on, who did what, the usual questions.
“Well, I was talking to Amber about a castle raid my guild did in a game I played a lot before the lights went out. Jed here seems to think it was more than that, and wants to defend his wife’s and his honor, but Michael points out that the kids don’t need to see us fighting. That’s all, so far.” Ethan’s eyes never left Jed’s. Let the redneck take a swing, Ethan thought, and he’d find out what Hapkido could do against a brawler… How dare he talk about Amber like that.
Michael frowned and said, “Well, Amber, it doesn’t take a Marine Scout to notice how you two have been rather cozy lately. If it was Tiffany and Ethan, I’d probably have already taken him out back to work out who’s right.”
Amber stiffened. “We’ve done nothing wrong, Michael. There’s no law against talking, and that’s all it’s been. I’m married, after all.”
Frank coughed once, and all heads turned to him. “Ethan, no one’s going to fight here. Not over this, not yet. But you must understand what it looks like, and how a husband would feel about his wife being overly friendly with another man.”
Ethan clenched is jaw and paused a second to consider his words. Then he said, “Frank, Jed, Michael. I can understand how a man might feel about that if that man wasn’t doing the same thing with a beautiful young woman who isn’t his wife, and if there was anything going on between his wife and another man. But Jed, you spend more time with Jasmine than Amber does with me because she respects you as her husband. Maybe she was just feeling a little left out and needed someone to talk to about something other than your relationship issues. Maybe Amber’s feelings are hurt, and maybe she’s insecure what with you spending so much time with Jaz. Either way, though, I swear to you that she’s done nothing to violate your trust.”
Jed slowly unclenched his fists, and took a deep breath.
But then Ethan narrowed his eyes and added, “Can you say the same, Jed?” The prick had probably at least kissed Jaz, he figured, considering how those two made goo goo eyes at each other all the time.
Jed roared and leapt toward Ethan with a snarl on his face.
Before he could get within striking distance, however, Michael grabbed Jed around the waist and by sheer strength dragged him away from Ethan. “Jed! Stop this. Right. Now!” barked Michael, and the iron tones of military discipline in his voice brought Jed to an abrupt halt.
Cassy stepped between Ethan and Jed, who was a couple yards away with Michael, now. “Stop this at once! You’re both acting like you’re in goddamn high school. We’re a clan, right? So act like it. Ethan’s right, Jed—you do spend all your time with Jasmine. You and Amber had problems even before the lights went out, right? So maybe just
Similar Books
