The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 233

Garnett’s grip on Lavinia’s wrist tightened. Blinded by rage, he was practically crushing her bones.

Blood rushed to Lavinia's head. Instead of begging for mercy, she lunged forward and sank her teeth viciously into his arm.

The cold indifference she had endured for the last two years, the agony of his betrayal, and the sheer humiliation he had put her through—it all erupted in this single, desperate moment.

She fought like a cornered animal, pouring every ounce of her strength into making him feel her pain.

Garnett stared down at her coldly, completely motionless.

His arm went numb from the bite, a twisted sense of mutual destruction settling over him. He didn’t yell for her to stop, nor did he make any move to pull away.

"Garnett," a voice called out evenly from the edge of the alley.

Just as Garnett looked up, a fist slammed into him. He instinctively brought his arm up to block, taking a heavy blow that forced him to release Lavinia.

She stumbled backward, nearly losing her balance. Looking down, she saw an angry red ring bruising her wrist.

Charley stood protectively in front of her, his broad back shielding her from view.

Garnett steadied himself, glanced at where the punch had connected with his arm, and then slowly shifted his gaze from Charley to Lavinia.

"You got here fast," Garnett sneered, his voice raspy. "You and this nobody corporate drone really are attached at the hip, aren't you?"

Charley ignored the taunt. He turned slightly, checking on Lavinia.

Her wrist was bruised, and her eyes were rimmed with red.

Charley spoke with quiet calm. "Your hand is bleeding, Garnett."

Garnett glanced down. Sure enough, two deep arcs of teeth marks scarred his skin, beads of blood welling up from the deepest punctures.

The sight of the blood seemed to snap him out of his haze.

He looked past Charley, his eyes locking onto Lavinia.

She stood in the shadows, just beyond the reach of the streetlamp. He couldn't make out her features clearly, but the shattered, devastated look in her eyes twisted like a knife in his chest.

Charley’s voice cut through the silence. "I've lived over twenty years, and tonight is the first time I've ever seen a person bite a rabid dog."

The implication was crystal clear.

"You look pretty banged up, Garnett. You should probably go get that treated," Charley said coolly.

Garnett’s stare bypassed him entirely, remaining fixated on Lavinia.

"Even if I don't want you, Lavinia, I will never let you be with anyone else. Do you hear me?"

He finally shifted his icy glare to Charley. "If anyone touches her, I won't hurt Lavinia, but I will completely destroy them."

She shook her head.

He delicately lifted her wrist, examining the dark red bruising.

He looked entirely calm, though a dark storm was brewing deep in his eyes.

After a long moment, he gently enveloped her hand in his and guided her forward.

Lavinia kept her head down, watching his long fingers interlock with hers in the quiet shadows. She didn't say a word.

The warmth of his palm against her skin stirred something complicated in her chest.

He led her down the street. The overhead lamps passed by one by one, stretching their shadows long across the pavement until they blurred together as one.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"My place," he murmured, his voice carrying softly on the night breeze.

She didn't ask anything else. Her hand remained safely tucked inside his.

Charley's townhouse was just a short walk from Lavinia's, tucked away one street over.

Once inside, he immediately filled Nemo's bowl with food before gently tending to the bruises on her wrist.