Thomas staggered backward, his hand flying to his jaw as pain erupted like a wildfire across his face. His fingers came away slick with blood, and the metallic tang filled his mouth, bitter and acrid.
For a moment, the room seemed to spin, the taste and smell of his own blood fueling a rage so intense it nearly blinded him. His glare snapped to Christopher, a fire igniting in his eyes, promising retribution.
“You’ve lost your damn mind, Christopher!” Thomas roared, his voice cracking with fury. He straightened his posture despite the throbbing ache in his jaw, his hand curling into a tight fist. “What gives you the right to hit me?”
Christopher didn’t flinch. Instead, he took a deliberate step forward, his broad shoulders squared and his presence suffocating. His normally calm, busines
