I’m going to strangle this asshole.
But I can’t storm up there high on emotion. He is still a Sidorov bastard, and there are rules when people like us collide. Nostrils flaring, I reach for the cold, unfeeling part of me capable of smothering my rage. I need to use my head. I can’t kill him, not here and not with witnesses.
But later—
“Shut up, bitch,” Maxim snarls. “You never snitched before, and we both know that isn’t gonna change now. So stop your sniveling and do as you’re fucking told.”
His friends—Ben and Dorian—laugh.
I’ll remember that. But for the moment, I block out the noise and latch onto Maxim’s words.Never snitched before?How many times has this asshole assaulted her? And why the fuck would she stay quiet about it?
The need to put myself between her and this waste of space has me picking up my steps. But, there are three of them and one of me. I’m good in a fight. Great even. Coach says that icy place inside me that I grab onto in a fight turns me into an emotionless monster with brutal intent. I always keep a level head. I make the smart moves because they’re the right ones to make.
And I have to do that now, keep a level head, because three to one are never great odds.Fuck.
I’ll have to reason with Maxim, the unreasonable.
The man has no empathy, so appealing to his sense of right and wrong won’t do shit. My mouth twists before an idea sparks in my mind. We’re not on equal footing here. I’m the heir to the DeAnde Cartel while Maxim Sidorov is the spare. I can work with that, remind the bastard who I am and the power I hold without needing this confrontation to come to blows.
Adrian is on campus still, waiting for me to take him home. One text to my younger brother and he’ll come running. It’d shift things into my favor.
But … I can’t.
Adrian wouldn’t understand. Leticia Castro is the enemy. Daughter to the very family ours is at odds with.
I’m on my own.
Leticia struggles to get to her feet with her arms still held at her back, but it’s Maxim's hand on her shoulder that pushes her back down, keeping her in place. He uses his other hand to unbutton his pants and lower the zipper on his jeans before pulling out his fully erect cock.
You’ve got to be kidding me. I mutter a curse. I’ve seen enough.
I stalk across the gymnasium floor, my sneakered feet silent. Maxim and his dogs are too focused on their quarry to see me coming. But she does. As Leticia rears back, desperate to get away from his raging erection, she catches sight of me closing in on them.
A small gasp parts her lips and I’m so focused on her, I don’t see his move until it’s too late.
Maxim shoves his cock into her mouth, gagging her as he and his friends laugh and jeer at her struggling form, his hands fisting in her hair to hold her where he wants her.
All thoughts of being strategic about this fly out the fucking window at the sight in front me, and Leticia’s tear stained gaze locks with mine. I force myself to look away from her and my fist flies, connecting with Maxim’s jaw.
“Fuck, man—“ He stumbles back, his cock slipping free of her lips. The next hit I deliver is to the friend, Ben, who’s still holding Leticia on her knees.
“Ow! Fuck!” he curses, hands flying up to defend himself.
I grab Leticia from the ground and shove her behind me.
“What the hell, DeAnde?” Maxim curses, tucking his now flaccid cock into his pants.
“Walk away.” My voice is deadly calm. If the man has any sense of self preservation, he’ll pay attention to the threat in my eyes.
He doesn’t.
Chest heaving, Maxim takes a step toward me, his eyes flicking to the girl at my back. I shift my weight, blocking her from his view.
“I won’t tell you again, Sidorov. Walk. The. Fuck. Away.”
Leticia’s fingers curl into the material of my shirt at my back, her body shaking against mine.
The urge to turn around and comfort her nearly overwhelms me, but kindness is a weakness in our world, and I won’t show weakness in front of anyone, let alone my enemies.
