AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You need to calm down,” I warn him. “Before you do something you regret.”
“How could you do this to Eden? She’s achild.”
“She is a grown woman capable of making her own decisions. Maybe if you laid off the sauce long enough, you’d be able to see that.”
Thomas doesn’t respond. Instead, he decks me right in the jaw, the sharp crack of his knuckles connecting with the side of my face. It’s mayhem. Several members of my crew are on us, trying to break up the fight. Annabeth is crying, pleading with Thomas to stop while he curses me up and down. He hits me again and again, but I don’t hit him back.
I refuse to stoop to his level. Apart from the occasional block, I don’t do the smart thing and fight back. He’s not exactly on his A game, drunk off his ass and barely connecting most of his throws. Besides, I welcome the pain.
On some unconscious level, I think I deserve it.
Those who aren’t trying to break up the fight have their phones out, recording the chaos.
I can taste copper on my tongue. I’m pretty sure my nose is bleeding. But I let Thomas have it. The bastard doesn’t have a lot going on in his life, so the least I can do is let him feel like he’s earned a win.
“Dad!” a familiar voice shrieks. “Dad, stop it!”
My heart seizes.
Eden.
I frantically search the crowd for her face while being pummeled by Thomas’ fists. I want to tell her to stay away, to keep back, but before I get the chance, Eden’s somehow elbowed her way between us. She puts her hands up toward her father like she’s trying to calm a wild mare, but Thomas isn’t seeing any sense. He narrowly misses her in an attempt to hurt me, making her yelp in surprise.
I see red.
Beating me up is one thing. Putting Eden in harm’s way is another.
I throw all my weight behind my fist and sock Thomas straight in the mouth. He reels back, delirious and enraged. I’ve split his lip, his teeth stained red.
“Stop it!” Eden screams. “Both of you, stop it!”
I can’t hear her. Not past the thunderous drumming of my heart.
There’s no contest. Now that I’m willingly fighting back, Thomas doesn’t stand a chance in his inebriated state. I manage to knock him out after a quick jab straight to the nose. He falls back, landing on his ass with an unceremonious thud.
“Oh my God!” Eden cries as she rushes over to check on her father. “What the hell were you thinking?”
“He started it, Eden,” Annabeth protests. “Hunter was defending himself.”
“Fuck,” I hiss. “Someone call him an ambulance.”
Eden shakes Thomas’ shoulders. “Dad? Dad, can you hear me?”
Guilt eats me alive.
I run a hand through my hair, my knuckles already bruising. “Eden, I’m sorry…”
She shakes her head. “I don’t want to hear it.”
“He came at me.”
“Just help me get him to the hospital,” she snaps.
Chapter 37
Tip #37: Break ups fucking suck.
EDEN
