Page 65 of Hidden

Just as I took a step forward, a hand clamped over my mouth, silencing my scream, and a menacing voice whispered in my ear: “Found you.”

I fought against him, but he removed his hand almost as quickly as he had put it on me, and stepped back with a grin.

“I didn’t mean to scare you, Gabby. Fucking hell,” he laughed. “You really are a dumb kid, aren’t you?”

“Darren—”

I screamed once more as a fist came out of nowhere, slamming into the side of Darren’s face. I saw the flash of blonde hair, but then a strong hand grabbed my elbow and pulled me backwards, keeping me out of harm's way.

The crack of Luke’s second punch echoed through the alley.

Darren stumbled backwards, swearing, clutching his face as Luke stepped between us.

For a split second, I barely recognised him.

His helmet was gone, his hair windswept, chest rising and falling as he stared Darren down with an expression I had never seen before.

Gone was the playful banter. Gone was the cheerful, happy-go-lucky boy.

And in its place was something furious. Something frightening. And something kind of hot.

God help me.

“You touch her again,” Luke said, his voice low and steady, “and I’ll break your fucking hands.”

Darren spat blood onto the pavement and laughed. “She’s a Rider. I’m entitled to touch whatever, and wherever on her body that I want.”

“Wrong,” Luke hissed, swinging at him once more.

Darren dodged that punch and danced back, out of Luke’s reach. “You’re in the wrong territory, Devil.”

Luke didn’t move. “So do something about it.”

Darren lunged.

The two of them collided hard, slamming into the side of the brick wall. It wasn’t graceful or controlled. This was two teenagers, scrapping as though their lives depended on it.

Luke landed the first proper punch, catching Darren across the cheek.

Darren returned it immediately, his knuckles connecting with Luke’s shoulder before the two of them grappled again, boots scraping against the concrete.

“Fucking prick!” Darren snarled.

Luke shoved him backwards and drove his fist into his stomach.

Darren folded slightly but managed to grab Luke’s jacket, dragging him down with him. They both crashed against a metal bin, the clang loud enough to make me flinch.

For a second they struggled, each trying to get the upper hand. Every second felt like an hour, and I watched in slow motion as Darren got Luke in a chokehold, squeezing the breath out of him. I almost thought he had won… And then Luke’s head snapped backwards, connecting with Darren’s nose.

He spun around, kicking Darren in the stomach, sending him stumbling backwards, and then his arm was up, pinning Darren to the wall by his throat.

“Stay away from her,” Luke snapped, his face dangerously close to the older boy.

Darren tried to swing again, but Luke was ready. He slammed his spare fist into Darren’s ribs, and I heard the wheeze leaving Darren’s lungs from where I was standing.

Darren crumbled and Luke let him fall, stepping back as his body hit the floor. Luke turned his head, his gaze snapping in my direction, glaring at me.

“Fucking Devils,” Darren muttered from the floor, coughing his lungs up.