Excerpt of Georgia Summer by Heather Colleen

Georgia stared at Landon. She almost didn't recognize him in normal civilian clothes.

"You okay, Georgia?" Landon called out, not looking at her as he kicked Jace in the gut.

Jace yelped as Landon's foot met his stomach, and his body curled up into a ball in the dirt.

Georgia nodded, her eyes wide, not knowing if she should get up and run away or stay where she was. She felt dizzy, like she was watching an all-too-real action movie with Millie barking nonstop in the background.

"You think it's okay to just corner a woman and take advantage of her? You filthy piece of shit," Landon snarled. He took Jace by his shirt and lifted his shoulders up off the ground. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't finish you off this time," he said through clenched teeth, his tone acidic.

Georgia's shock turned to confusion as she stared at Landon and Jace. What was Landon talking about?

Jace sneered at Landon. "She's not a woman. She's a whore, just like her sister." He then turned his face and spat in the direction of Georgia.

Landon didn't miss a beat and punched Jace almost automatically, but he didn't stop there. He continued to strike him repeatedly, with Jace's head flopping backwards like a rag doll.

Georgia grimaced as she saw blood spurt from Jace's face, the consistent blows from Landon leaving gashes now in his skin. She covered her eyes. She couldn't bear to see this. Peeking through her fingers over her eyes, she saw Jace losing consciousness as Landon continued to beat him to a bloody pulp. "Stop!" Georgia yelled, surprising herself. She was crying now. "Please! Stop! Landon, he's not worth it!"

Landon stopped and looked over at her. His eyes were blazing with fury.

Georgia almost didn't recognize the Landon she saw now. Gone was the calm, collected man she had met at the funeral service, replaced by an enraged, nearly unrecognizable person.

Landon let go of Jace's shirt and Jace dropped back onto the ground, moaning in pain. Landon stood over him, looking at him scornfully.

Jace rolled onto his back and looked up at Landon. A disturbing smile spread across his face, revealing his teeth that were outlined in blood. He spoke, his voice hoarse, "Yeah, Landon. I'm not worth it. Remember what happened last time?"

Landon froze, gazing down at Jace in disbelief.

Jace laughed, his tone raspy. "You do remember, don't you? If I remember right, you were beatin' me down over some other whore. What was her name again?" Jace paused, feigning forgetfulness. "Oh," he said, his lips stretching into a ghastly smile. "Emmarie. That's right. Emmarie."

Landon's lips curled with wrath as Jace repeated her name.

"Don't worry, Landon. I kept our little secret," Jace said as blood dribbled from his mouth.

Georgia furrowed her eyebrows. What secret was he talking about? Who was Emmarie?

"But I'd be careful if I were you," Jace went on. "This time your daddy ain't around to save you, so you'd better think twice before you finish me off." Jace giggled. It sounded almost diabolical coming from his swollen, pulverized face. "Actually, maybe you'd better, so I can take our little secret to the grave with me," he added, his mouth widening into a revolting, bloody grin.

Georgia swallowed hard as the questions raced through her mind. Had this happened before?

Landon stood there for a few moments staring at Jace, and Georgia could feel the hatred emanating from his body as he balled his hands into tight fists. A few moments of silence passed before Landon finally spoke, his voice seething with anger, "She's right. You're not worth it, Jace." He looked down at Jace with utter disdain. He turned and began to walk over to Georgia, but then stopped. He turned back around again, and delivered a swift, hard kick into Jace's side.

Jace shrieked with pain, rolling over onto his side as he clutched his stomach.

Landon then bent down and yanked Jace up by the scruff of his shirt, dragging him to his feet as Jace whimpered. Holding Jace up by his shirt, his feet barely touching the ground now, Landon glowered at him. He spoke, his voice low and threatening, "Let that serve as a reminder that if I even so much as hear a rumor that you pulled this shit again with another woman, I will finish you off and make it look like an accident." Landon paused, his breathing heavy. "I've shown you mercy more than once now. Next time, you won't be so lucky."

Jace stopped whimpering and looked up at Landon, this time with more fear than contempt in his eyes.

Landon glared at Jace, and then let go of his shirt, dropping him to the dirt.

Jace fell, disoriented as his feet hit the ground. Catching himself, he stumbled backwards and began to run, looking back at Landon to make sure he wasn't following him.

Landon didn't move a muscle as Jace continued to run like a coward, his bloodied shirt standing out in the otherwise peaceful, serene park.

It wasn't until Jace was completely out of view that Landon finally moved and went over to Georgia. "Are you all right?" he asked as he bent down to help her up.

Georgia let him help her stand, his strong hands helping her to her feet once again. She didn't respond and kept her eyes down as she dusted the dirt off her shorts and shirt, not knowing what to say.

Georgia then heard Millie whining as she tugged against the leash, desperate to reach Georgia. Forgetting about Landon, Georgia hurried over to the tree and unhooked Millie's leash from the branch. No longer held captive, Millie bounded into Georgia's arms, licking her face and neck with equal parts relief and joy. Georgia hugged Millie and stroked her fur, calming her. "It's okay, girl," she whispered.

When Millie seemed placated, Georgia stood up again, this time allowing herself to look at Landon who was still standing there, watching her. He had been so quiet that she had almost forgotten that he was there. He was dressed in dark wash jeans and a navy t-shirt, his clothing still surprisingly clean after the scuffle that had taken place moments ago. Landon gazed at her thoughtfully, studying her as if he were attempting to read a book in a language he didn't know.

Georgia looked back at him, not knowing what she should say. Her mouth felt suddenly dry. She swallowed, moistening her throat. "I-I-I don't know how I can even begin to thank you," she said hesitatingly, unsure as to how to give a proper thank-you to the man who had just rescued her from Jace Montgomery. Georgia looked down, shaking her head. "I don't know what I would have done had it not been for you…Landon." She looked up at him again as she said his name, her eyes meeting his.

Landon didn't say anything, and the silence ballooned between them.

Georgia stood there, waiting for him to respond.

Landon shoved his hands in his pockets and looked down, appearing to be embarrassed by her thank-you.

Georgia gripped Millie's leash tightly, nervous as she searched for the right words. "Um…I guess I'd better head home. My dad will be wondering where I am," she said, realizing that her hour was most likely almost up. The last thing she wanted right now was to hear the police sirens blasting through the park as they tried to find her. She didn't doubt her dad would send them after her if she didn't come home on time. "Thank you…again, Landon." She turned and stepped back onto the path that would lead her to the exit of Maple Leaf Park.

"You can thank me properly by letting me walk you home."

Hearing him finally speak, Georgia stopped, her back to him still. She slowly turned around, secretly glad to have an excuse to look at him again. "The last time I let a boy walk with me, it didn't work out that well," she said, gesturing in the direction of where Jace had run off. Landon raised his eyebrows, with amusement or slight offense Georgia couldn't tell.

He drew himself to his full height. "Well, I'm not a boy. I'm a Marine. They don't let boys join the Marines," he said, a note of pride in his voice.

Georgia didn't say anything, still unsure as to whether she should let Landon Young walk her home.

In response to her thoughts, he asked again, "Let me walk you home, Georgia." He paused for a moment, looking at her intently. "You can trust me."

Georgia gazed at him, studying his grey blue eyes for that dark aggression she had seen only moments ago when he was pummeling Jace. Seeing none, she gave in. "All right," she replied, hoping she wouldn't regret her decision. "But I have to hurry. My dad will be wondering where I am." Georgia briefly considered reminding Landon of the fact that her dad was Sheriff Summer, but decided against it.