Seeing so many people here—all of them the sons of rich and powerful families—while she and Phoebe were alone, Linda grew anxious. She stepped forward to try and de-escalate the situation. "Mr. Chambers, please, don't do this. Phoebe really is the third young lady of the Faulkner family. I've met her brother. He adores her. If he finds out about this, he'll be furious."
"Furious? Her brother will be furious?" Zeke scoffed, then backhanded Linda and sent her flying with a kick. "I'm the one who's furious right now! If you know what's good for you, you'll stay right where you are! I'll be damned if I don't break this girl today. She dared to disrespect me? She's got a death wish!"
"YEAH! Get her! Get her! Zeke, if you don't tame this little chick today, don't even think about saying you're part of our circle!"
"That's right, get her!"
