He reached for her waist.
Bonnie moved before she even thought about it—years of muscle memory from her older brothers’ lessons kicking in.She grabbed his wrist, twisted hard, gave him her back, and drove her elbow straight into his solar plexus.Kyle doubled over with a wheeze as she stepped away.
“Touch me again,” she said, voice low and ice-cold, “and I’ll break your fucking arm.”
He gasped, eyes wide with shock.“What the hell, Bonnie?I was just—”
“You were just trying to get in my pants while I’m trying to run a rehearsal.”She kept her fists loose at her sides the way Remy had taught her.“We’re done here.Pack your shit.”
Leo had already stood up, bass slung behind him, ready to back her up if needed.The guitarist, Marco, just shook his head and started unplugging his pedals.Smart man.
Kyle straightened slowly, rubbing his stomach.His face twisted from surprise to ugly anger.“You’re a real bitch, you know that?I drove two hours to be here.You think you’re hot shit just ’cause you got a pretty voice and a tight—”
Bonnie didn’t let him finish.She stepped in fast, grabbed the front of his shirt, and used her leverage to slam him back against the wall.Her forearm pressed across his throat—not choking, just enough pressure to make her point.
“My brothers taught me how to handle guys like you,” she said quietly, inches from his face.“The Dupont boys don’t raise delicate flowers.They taught me where to hit so it hurts longest.You want a demonstration?”
Kyle’s eyes darted sideways.He was bigger than her, but he wasn’t stupid enough to test her when she had him pinned and clearly knew what she was doing.
“Get the fuck out,” she said.“Don’t come back.And if I hear you bad-mouthing me or my band around town, I’ll make sure every promoter from here to Louisville knows you can’t keep it in your pants even during rehearsal.See how many gigs you book then.”
She let him go.
Kyle stumbled toward the door, muttering curses under his breath.He slammed it behind him hard enough to rattle the windows.
The warehouse fell silent.
Bonnie stood there for a long moment, breathing hard, adrenaline still buzzing through her veins.Her hands were shaking.She hated that they were shaking.
Leo cleared his throat.“You okay, boss?”
“Yeah.”She rolled her shoulders, trying to shake it off.“Sorry you had to see that.”
Marco snorted.“Sorry?That was badass.Remind me to never piss you off.”
She managed a tired smile.“Just pack up.We’re done for tonight.”
They worked in silence, breaking down the minimal gear they’d brought.When everything was loaded into the van, Leo hesitated at the rear door.
“You sure you don’t want us to stick around?Make sure he doesn’t come back?”
“I’m good,” she said.“Go home.I’ll see you guys Thursday.”
Once they got into their cars and their taillights disappeared, Bonnie climbed into the driver’s seat and just sat there.The parking lot was dark except for one flickering security light.She locked the doors and finally let herself sag against the steering wheel.
“Fuck this industry,” she whispered.
It wasn’t the first time a drummer, or guitarist, or bassist, or even a sound guy had assumed her talent came with an open invitation.She’d lost count of how many times she’d had to shut it down.Some backed off politely.Others, like Kyle, pushed until she pushed back harder.
Her brothers had made sure she could handle herself.Remy, the oldest, had taught her the wrist lock when she was fourteen after a boy at school got handsy.Beau had shown her how to use someone’s momentum against them.Luc had drilled into her the pressure points that worked best on bigger men.They’d done it because they loved her, but also because they knew the world wasn’t kind to girls who chased dreams in dirty bars and smoky clubs.
Bonnie reached into the glove box and pulled out the small notebook she kept there.She flipped to a fresh page and started writing, the pen moving fast and angry across the paper.
He smiled like a promise, hands like they owned the stage
Thought my fire was an invitation, thought my rage was just a phase
But I learned early on how to stand, how to bite, how to break
