AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Son! Son!” Coach yelled at me.
Footsteps reached my ears before Jagger stood in front of me. He slapped my cheek a few times, then I realized he was saying something.
“Kane. Goddammit, Kane!”
I jerked away from him, the limp body on the ground coming into view.
“Get him out of here,” Coach ordered.
Jagger grabbed my arm and began to run across the parking lot. “Get in,” he said as we reached his truck.
What’s happening?
The roar of the engine pulled my thoughts from my rage-induced fog.
“Where are we going?” I glanced over my shoulder, watching Dad talk on his cell phone.
“Coach had to call 9-1-1. You almost killed him, Kane.” Jagger shot me a what-the-fuck look. “We’re going to my place. I’ll get you cleaned up, then give you a fucking alibi. Not sure what I’ll say yet, but …” His lips thinned, confusion washing over his face. “Jesus, Kane. I would expect that shit from me, but you?”
I stared out the window, trying to piece together what had just happened. One minute, Marc charged at me, and the next, I was backthere. Swallowing over the stench of my past, I glanced at my knuckles. They were slick with Marc’s blood. What the hell had I done?
The gut-wrenching truth stabbed me in the chest over and over. Little sweat beads formed on the nape of my neck, and my pulse throbbed wildly. There was no way that I could hide from it any longer. I thought the hate would protect me, but I was so wrong. I would never stop loving Brie.
ChapterNineteen
Kane
Still in a daze, I followed Jagger into his house. I suspected that Ari had helped spruce up the place. There were a few pieces of artwork along with a coffee table, a matching brown leather recliner, and a couch that complemented the dark wood floors.
“Holy shit,” Ari said, walking out of the kitchen and into the living room. She set her drink down and hurried over to us. “What in the hell happened?” Ari gave us a bewildered look.
“Babe, can you get some ice packs for his eye and lip while he washes his hands?” Jagger placed a kiss on her forehead.
“Of course. Kane, you can clean up at the sink in the kitchen.” Ari motioned for me to join her. “Your eye is swelling. Who did you fuck up?” She gave me a weary smile.
I turned on the faucet and held my hands beneath the warm water, my mind reeling from the events from not even an hour ago. “Some fucker named Marc.” I glanced over my shoulder at Ari.
“Why?” She placed an ice pack and towel on the counter.
“He was messing with Brie.”
Ari’s blue eyes widened. “You’re into Brie? Or … ?”
I appreciated how she kept the question open for another possibility.
“I don’t like how he forced himself on her,” I muttered.Because what you’ve done is better.
“Hmm.” She folded her arms over her chest, studying me. “Does she know how you feel?”
Irritation coursed through me. “I’ll talk to her when I’m ready.”
“I’m not going to say anything, Kane. I swear. I like her a lot, so if some guy is giving her a bad time, I want to make sure she’s okay.” Ari grabbed a hand towel and gave it to me.
“Fuck.” I patted my knuckles dry, surveying the damage. I flexed my fingers. They were sore, but nothing was broken. “I was supposed to stop by Brie’s place to check on her.”
Jagger strolled in, carrying a first aid kit with him. “That’s a no, man. We have to come up with a plan.”
Ari’s brows knitted together. “I’ll go see her while you two figure things out. I’ll let her know you’re with Jagger.”
