And I slammed right into someone's back.
"Sorry!" I said, reaching out to clasp the man I'd just crashed into
"Cody!" a girl called, trying to get my attention.
But the guy turned and my heart sank. The moment Austin's eyes landed on me, rage took over his face.
"What the fuck are you doing?" he demanded.
"Trying to get out of the fucking arena!" I shot back, puffing up to prove I wasn't scared of him.
He just leaned in, putting his face mere inches from mine. "And you can't take a fucking hint. You got Casey killed. You made me lose sponsors. It's always all aboutyou, isn't it, Cody?"
"Says the idiot who can't realize his actions have consequences?" I shot back. "Cry me a fucking river, Austin."
And he shoved - but this time I was ready for it. I rocked back, caught myself, and pushed right back into his face.
"I didn't do shit to you!" I roared. "I also don't care if you like that I'm here. Get the fuck over yourself, and stop putting your goddamned hands on me!"
But instead of backing off, Austin grabbed the collar of my vest and shoved me back, right into the gate I'd just come in. The look on his face was insane, like there was nothing human left inside him.
"You fucked me, Cody. You ruined the PBR, and you're going to fucking get away with it because as much as I fucking hate having sluts riding with us, the ones in charge hate the fags more. But if I see you again, I will make you pay. I will hurt you..."
I could hear men screaming. I knew people were moving, but even though I tried to push Austin away, he was strong enough I couldn't move him. He also didn't shut up.
"... I will show you what a real man is - and that you aren't one! Don't go in any dark alleys, bitch, because I will rape you, then leave you crying in shame. I will fuckingdestroyyou!"
And then the wall I was pressed against vanished. I staggered, stumbled, then crashed down on my ass, but not before I saw an entire rainbow rush past me.
"Get your hands off her!" That was Tanner, and he sounded ready to kill.
"Break him!" someone else yelled.
I caught black and red in the middle of that, so I knew J.D. was there, but the person who came to my rescue was not the one I was expecting. She was dressed in pink, grasping her phone in her hand, and didn't hesitate at all to dart into the arena to help me up.
"Cody, are you ok?" Isabella asked.
"Yeah, get out of here," I told her, moving her out of the arena, toward the stairs that led back to the seating area.
"Don't touch her!" Tanner screamed, sounding like he'd just snapped.
"Back up!" another man yelled.
Then I heard J.D. "Get him the fuck out of here!"
People were moving. Groups of them, like waves, and the last thing I wanted was Isabella getting caught in the middle of that. So, grasping her arm, I towed her halfway up the stairs - which inadvertently gave me a clear view of the mess I'd just escaped.
Eli, Jake, and Wes were doing their best to separate the groups. Ty and J.D were yanking Austin toward the stairs on the chute side of this alley. Jorge and Isaac had Tanner. One was on each arm, and they were clearly struggling to hold him back.
"Enough!" I screamed - and everyone actually stopped.
"Tanner, go work," I ordered. "Austin, go ride." Then my eyes landed on Derek. "And you keep him away from me, because I'm not alone anymore. Teamwork is over-fucking-powered, assholes."
"Go," Ty growled, adding authority to my directions.
But J.D. saw who I was with. "Isabella, get the fuck out of here!" he snapped.
Which made Austin call back, "Oh, have a fucking buckle bunny on the side, J.D.? Guess you're as easy as your rookie, huh?"
