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It’s only a few text messages. No one has to know.
I grunted a response to Wyatt and kept walking. I sure as fuck didn’t need her idiot brothers souring my already piss-poor mood. The metal back door of the Grudge swung open, and aclang rang out as it hit the brick wall. Lee shot both arms in the air as he sauntered out of the back exit and across the lot. His eyes were glassy, and his smile widened when he saw Royal and Whip.
Fuck.
“Well, hey, boys! Just came to stretch my legs.” Lee shot a thumb over his shoulder and grinned. “Had to turn down your sister in there. Man, she was desperate.”
Whip took a step forward. “The fuck did you say?”
I knew that glint in Lee’s eyes. He was fucking with them and itching for a fight. “Lee.” I ground out the warning.
My little brother ignored me as he took a step toward the Kings. “Said I had to tell your little sister I couldn’t tussle. Broke the poor girl’s heart, I think.”
“Lee, shut your mouth and get in the car.” Wyatt sounded as pissed as I was, but Lee ignored him too.
“Back up,Bill.” Lee stared, coming nearly chest to chest with Whip. The man was born William, but everyone in town knew him as Whip. Lee loved to call him Bill, just to get under his skin.
Whip inched closer as Royal hovered nearby. The tension in the air was thick, and it was about to get ugly. Wyatt and I stepped up, flanking Lee.
I glanced at Royal. “He’s drunk. We’re leaving.”
Whip lifted his chin. “Yeah, go home before I lay you out.”
The corner of Lee’s mouth tipped up. “Nah, man. That’s your sister’s job.”
The sentence wasn’t even out of Lee’s mouth when I grabbed the back of his shirt with two hands and pulled him backward. Whip’s fist swung wide, missing Lee but landing with a crack against my face. The force of it snapped my head back, and Lee tumbled to the ground.
I steadied my legs, hunching until I surged forward, wrapping my arms around Whip’s body and slamming him intothe side of Royal’s truck. A surge of anger coursed through me as I braced for the impact of Whip’s fist against my ribs. I gripped the back of his neck and shifted my hips, tossing him to the ground. I glanced quickly enough to see Wyatt in the middle of a shoving match between Royal and Lee. A small bit of blood trickled from Lee’s lip.
I was done with these assholes thinking they owned this town—tired of working my ass off for it to meannothing.
Whip was in my face, and I dodged a left hook. Limbs tangled as voices yelled around me. Our fighting began to gather a crowd. As Whip and I wrestled, my knees bit into the gravel. Anger and adrenaline consumed me as I straddled Whip and landed a blow to his side while his forearms covered his face.
Chaos filled the dark parking lot. Onlookers chose sides and yelled, amping up the charged atmosphere. My teeth ground together as Whip bucked his hips, tossing me aside. We rolled, and hands grabbed at me, pulling me and preventing me from charging Whip again. Royal stepped between us, shoving Whip backward. Wyatt’s arms clamped over mine, pinning them to my sides as I struggled to break free. I sucked hot breath through my nose, and my heart hammered between my ears. Behind me, Lee bounced on his toes and laughed, wiping away the drop of blood trickling from his lip.
I wrestled my arms free. “I’m fine!”
Royal shoved Whip back a second time and wrenched open the passenger-side door before shoving his brother inside. As he rounded the hood, he pointed at us. “This isn’t over.”
I spat blood on the ground and stared at him.
You bet your ass this isn’t over.
Wyatt pulled at my shirt. “Let’s go before someone calls the cops.”
My jaw clenched as I scanned the crowd, but I didn’t see her. My ribs ached, and I had to tamp down the overwhelming urge to punch something again.
Wyatt dropped Lee off at his apartment and drove me back to the farm in tense silence. I was relieved when he didn’t bring up the texts again. Things with the Kings were getting out of hand. Harmless pranks were escalating to physical assaults, and a dark part of mecravedthat release—to take my frustrations out on someone. Anyone.
I hated myself for it, but it had felt damn good to temporarily stop stifling my feelings. I checked my phone, and there was a missed text that made my chest ache.
Daryl Hall
Did you leave? I can’t believe you missed it! I finally convinced the band to play a Hall and Oates song!
Bile rose in my throat. She had no idea why I missed the song.
Daryl Hall
