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My cousin ages before my eyes. His shoulders droop and his face falls and he looks like he might be in need of a chair. Or some vitamins. Or a time machine.
“Bennet…” he says and then shakes his head and he loses track of the rest of the thought.
Perhaps he was going to insist that I’m delusional. I’ll never know.
His eyes widen and he roars, “ANGUS!”
It’s my fault. I’m so intent on giving Grey an explanation that I fail to stay in self defense mode.
I’ve also forgotten that I’m not the only one in the room with martial arts skills.
Grey hasn’t even finished shouting his brother’s name when the kick lands on my lower back, the blow rendered much more brutal by the attacker’s steel toed boots. The impact sends me into an end table and my reflexes are not too impaired to throw out my hands to brace against the collision. Rather than simply falling into the table while knowing that another assault is already on the way, I seize the small table in both hands, deliberately fall to the side and roll. I land on my back but now I have the table to use a shield when Angus tries to stomp on my head a half a second later. He succeeds only in knocking one of the table legs off and he curses as this latest kick throws him off balance. I’m still unsure if he’s carrying a gun. All bets are off if he is. With a mighty growl I hurl the broken table. It lands a blow to his shoulder, which causes him to stumble and curse some more. In one fluid jump I’m on my feet but Angus has recovered long enough to swipe the broken table leg from the floor.
Everything happens with lightning quick speed and yet it feels like slow motion as I watch the wooden piece swing in my direction. He’s too quick and I’ve had too much to drink. The wood slams into my elbow with a crack and my next kick attempt misses the mark.
But Angus’s doesn’t.
He lands a boot to my chest and that sends me on my ass for a hot second. I’ve still trying to catch my breath and get to my feet when a lick of fire shoots across my ribs as Angus bludgeons my torso with the stick. I’m sure the next blow will be to my head and I lash out with a punch to his jaw. He staggers but I’m staggering too and he gets the upper hand first.
Dimly I hear Grey’s voice shouting in the background but he’s as useless as he ever was. Angus is behind me now and this is bad news because he’s got the length of wood in both hands and he’s using it to cut off my airway. With all my might I’m trying to step back, to flip him, to wrench free, but he’s a strong motherfucker.
“Say hello to your dad,” he hisses in my ear and I know that if I don’t shake him loose real soon the next sound I hear will be the sound of my last futile gasps of air.
In desperation my thoughts careen to my mother. She’s never recovered from my father’s death. Losing her only child will destroy her completely.
And Camden…
I haven’t yet told Camden that I love her. I need to get out of this and tell her that.
Black dots dance before my eyes. They expand and run together. Angus grunts in my ear. Hatred surges in my blood.
Then there’s a loud crash, the distinct sound of glass breaking.
In an instant everything has changed.
Camden
I hear their voices before I see them and I also hear the tension in Ben’s voice. One look at him and I know the situation is bad. These men, whoever they may be, aren’t welcome here. The two of them might be brothers. They definitely look alike.
And, astonishingly, they also look like Ben.
My boyfriend turns at the sound of my voice and I’m startled by the expression on his face. Ben, who faces down knife wielding assailants and backs down from nothing, is afraid. But when he speaks he turns his voice into something low and horrible.
“Thought I told you to get your skinny ass out of here until you can learn how to suck cock properly.”
No. This isn’t really Ben. His words are not serious and I don’t take them seriously. He’s playing a part. I just don’t know why.
“What the fuck are you waiting for? Do I need to shove you out the door myself?”
Whatever he’s doing, he has a reason. He needs me to cooperate with the act.
I stare him down and try to become an actress. “Never mind. I got what I came for. You’re not good for much else.”
I glare at him. I call him an asshole. One of the men breaks out into cruel laughter. After I grab my jacket and purse I stand face to face with Ben. He gives me a barely perceptible nod and I read the look in his eyes.
Trust me.
I’m doing exactly what he wants me to do. To finish the scene I exit and slam the door behind me.
