Rebel Roused (Untamed #5) by Jinsey Reese, Victoria Green

long to get here, I knew. Not on his motorcycle, and especially not when he was pissed. So I only had to hang on for—
    “You’ve ruined my life, you selfish bitch!”
    Pain flared up my right arm as Jackson’s fingers dug into it with the strength of a vice grip. I tried to pull away, but he only held on tighter. He spun me around to face him, his other hand clamping onto my left arm.
    Gone was the charm and ease he’d been wearing upstairs. All that was left was craze.
    “Do you have any idea how fucking hard I’ve worked on your father’s campaign? How many hours I’ve put in? How much of my fucking life I’ve had to give up for that overblown douchebag?”
    “No, and I couldn’t care less.” His hands squeezed tighter and I winced. “Jack, you’re hurting me. Let go of my arms!”
    “GOOD, you fucking cunt. Everything I’ve worked for is gone because of you. You’ve fucked with my career and you’re going to pay for it.”
    “I’m going to pay for it? Are you fucking kidding me?” Pain was replaced with fury, and if he hadn’t been holding my arms I would have punched him in the face. “I’ve been paying for it for seven fucking years already, you asshole. YOU ruined MY life. If things are going bad for you now, consider that payback for what you did.” Seven years of anger and humiliation flowed out of me. “I’m tired of being ashamed of what YOU did. I’m tired of hiding.” I held his gaze with mine. “And I’m not going to do it anymore. As soon as I leave this place, I’m going to report you to the police like I should have done all those years ago. You’ve gotten away with it for too long, but not anymore.”
    He suddenly released both of my arms, taking a step away from me as I stumbled back. Too late, I realized my mistake as his face contorted in maniacal rage.
    I was already running when he shot after me.

sixteen

    H er screams hit my ears as soon as I cut the engine on my bike. A moment later, I was flying through the doors, wondering why I couldn’t hear her anymore.
    And then I saw them.
    Jackson was on top of Ree, his hands around her neck. Some guy in a maroon uniform was trying to pry him off.
    I launched myself at Jackson, tucking my head and ramming it into his stomach. The momentum sent him tumbling backwards, throwing him off Ree. And then I was on him, fists flying, hardly feeling any impact at all as my punches connected with his jaw and cheekbones. So I hit him harder and harder, anger eclipsing all of my senses. Blood sprayed from his battered face, spattering my clothes.
    And still I hit him. Over and over again.
    Suddenly Ree was in front of me and someone was pulling me off the bastard. Jackson’s hands covered his face as he rolled onto his side and just lay there in an unmoving, bloody heap.
    The guy who had hold of me shoved me away from Jackson.
    “Pierce!” Ree got in between us. “Leave him alone. Dare just saved my life.” She lifted her chin and I could see the bright red marks around her throat where the prick’s hands had been. My rage reignited, but she put a hand on my chest. “Don’t. It’s over. You’ll kill him.”
    “With pleasure.”
    “No, Dare.” She wrapped her arms around me, squeezed me tight. My own arms enveloped her instinctually. “If you did, you’d go to jail. I can’t bear to be without you anymore.”
    “He’s going to jail as it is,” Ree’s father said, his face livid. “He just attacked the son of a senator. Jackson will press charges, and this one will be sent where he belongs.”
    “ What?! ” Ree whipped around before I could even open my mouth to respond. “ Jackson will press charges? Are you fucking kidding me?” She stormed over and stood her ground, practically nose to nose with him. “Jackson raped me when I was fifteen years old, and you swept it under the rug.”
    A crowd of people was growing in the lobby, all dressed like they’d come from the party. At Ree’s statement there was a