Marshall’s face darkens when he notices Julien sitting on the sofa next to Elijah. His leering gaze finds me sitting on Julien’s lap and his lip curls up. “Damn girl. You fucking both brothers now? Or did you swap one for the other not caring who is who since they look the same?”
Julien braces me so he can stand up without me falling out of his lap, and hands me off to Ryder who tucks me protectively behind him. Ryder entwines our fingers together, silently warning me not to move. “Fuck off Marshall.”
“How’s the leg feeling, shithead?”
The guys with Marshall snicker.
“It feels like it wants to kick your sorry ass.” Julien warns him, moving forward. Elijah slams his arm back to hold Julien off from lunging at Marshall.
Marshall’s grin goes full-out when he sees Ryder holding me behind him. “Oh, I see now. The rumors must be true. You’re fucking all three of them. What’s it like?” He looks back at Julien. “One takes each hole.”
“Watch your fucking mouth!” Ryder roars.
“Or what motherfucker?”
“Or I’ll make you,” Ryder threatens.
“Ryder, no,” I say at his back placing my hand on his arm.
“I think I hit a nerve, boys. You.” he points to Elijah. “We have unfinished business. I owe you a beat down.” The three other guys, football players from the look of them, step forward.
“Liz, go inside,” Ryder says, looking back at me.
“No.”
“Shit’s about to get serious. Get inside now.”
“I said no. I’m not leaving any of you out here.” I may be a girl but having three guys as your best friends my whole life has taught me one thing - how to protect myself. Jayson, Ryder, and Julien showed me how to fight, and how to fight dirty. They wanted to make sure I knew how to protect myself against future assholes who thought they could put their hands on me without my permission or from guys who didn’t listen to the word no. I’ve only kneed one guy in the balls before, but I’ll happily do it again to this asshole.
“You may want to listen to her. I’ll gladly take your whore and give her the ride of her life once we finish with you three pussies.”
Before anyone can make the next move or say the next word, a large blur flies past us and tackles Marshall down to the ground. Elijah, Julien, and Ryder instantly jump in and take the other three guys. I feel Maria run up behind me and grab my shoulders to pull me away, but I shake her off.
My first thought is, where’s Jayson? I get my answer when I hear him bellowing in anger. “Don’t you ever fucking talk about my girl like that again you piece of shit!” I realize the large blur that streaked past us was Jayson. He’s on top of Marshall pounding fist to face, blow after blow after blow, unrelenting in his attack. Jayson straddles Marshall, pummeling him with words and punches. My mind has trouble processing everything. I see Julien, Ryder, and Elijah fighting the other guys. Ryder steps away from the guy he just took down but gives him a swift kick to the ribs before stepping back to help Julien. With Ryder’s help, it’s easy to take the second guy, and the third guy gives up, hands in the air backing away from Elijah. Marshall’s body isn’t moving anymore. He’s clearly unconscious, but Jayson doesn’t stop wailing on him. It takes all three of the boys to pull Jayson off of Marshall.
Of course a crowd has gathered on the back patio, screaming encouraging words for the fight to continue. Fallon makes his way out, Jacinda and Samantha following close behind. They look to where Jayson is struggling against the three sets of hands holding him back as he is clearly wanting a second go at Marshall who’s now making moaning noises.
“Goddamn! What a mess,” Fallon says coming forward out of the crowd of onlookers. He looks behind him at two guys. “Get this fucker off my lawn and take him to one of the guest rooms.” They immediately do as Fallon commands. “Shit. You guys just took out two of our defensive linemen,” he chuckles putting his arms around Jayson and Ryder. “I think that deserves a drink, don't you?”
Ryder removes Fallon’s arm and searches the crowd until he finds me. Jayson appears too pumped up with adrenaline to notice anything and lets Fallon lead him stumbling back inside. Jacinda latches on to Jayson’s side as they disappear through the doors, but Jayson doesn’t do anything to remove her hold from his body. Samantha turns to me and gives me a scathing smile before slipping in behind Jacinda.
What the fuck? “Jayson! Jayson!” He just left me out here? Are you kidding me right now? Maria pulls me back once again. “Lizzie. Let him go inside and calm down.”
“Fuck that!” I spew, livid now. He gets into a fight and leaves me out here by myself with Jacinda and Samantha hanging all over him. I don’t think so.
Ryder, Julien, and Elijah find me and Maria. “Liz, are you and Maria alright?” Julien asks. He wipes blood off his cut knuckles and curses when they sting.
“I’m good. We’re ok.”
“Where did Jay go?”
My angry eyes look over at the patio door hoping to see Jayson, hoping he came back out to get me.
“Fallon took him inside.” I grit my teeth and hiss, “He went with Jacinda.”
Ryder cups his bruised hands around my face. “Let’s go find him then, yeah? We’ll find our boy.” His touch calms my anger somewhat and I nod yes.
“Jesus, Ry. She doesn’t need you to babysit her all the damn time,” Maria snips at him.
