My heart drops, and I can’t look away from the scene as my much smaller emo brother man-handles a jock who could crush a man’s head between his palms.
Those types of people never learn not to underestimate Aiden. He may not be buff like them, but he’s quick and knowswhat to do with his hands in more ways than one. He knows how to win a fight with men three times his size.
“It was just a joke!” Jake screams. “Don’t tell me you’re gonna let some mid female make you fight your friend.”
“We’re not friends.” Aiden grins, then yanks Jake’s arm. The jock shrieks, his legs trembling beneath him and threatening to give out. Aiden cackles and puts more of his weight on Jake’s arm.
“What was that?” Aiden cocks his head and eases Jake’s hand backward to add more strain through his wrist. “It’s just a joke, since we’re being funny now. C’mon. Tell the joke again.”
A crowd gathers around us, and nobody stops Aiden. I could if I wanted to, but I don’t.
Is it wrong of me to enjoy this side of my brother and how he’s standing up for me and punishing a man for being a piece of crap? Maybe. I don’t care and never did; he’s done it hundreds of times before.
As if he can sense where my thoughts are, Aiden’s dead eyes flick up and meet my gaze. His lips curve in a smile that holds more emotion than moments before.
I tilt my head. Tears stream down Jake’s reddened skin, snot dripping from his flaring nostrils, and he grits his teeth so hard I hold back a wince of sympathy.
Ialmostfeel bad for him.
Aiden follows the direction of my stare, his features slackening and lacking emotion once more. “Apologize to her, Jake.”
Jake whimpers and bares his teeth in a grimace as my brother applies more pressure to his arm. “I’m sorry!”
Aiden raises his head, his empty gaze falling on me, checking if I accept Jake’s apology.
I purse my lips and fold my arms over my chest.
Keeping his stare on me, Aiden says to Jake, “Say you’re sorry and fucking mean it.”
Jake’s face turns a deeper shade of red, and he peeks at me, malice burning in his teary eyes. “I’m sorry,” he chokes out.
Aiden searches my expression for a sign that Jake’s apology is good enough. After a moment, his focus drops to Jake.
“Talk about my girl like that again, and I’m cutting your tongue out.” He releases Jake while kicking him in the ass with his boot.
Jake tumbles to the floor, and his face breaks his fall. He pants and rolls onto his side, glaring at Aiden with tears in his eyes.
“Get the fuck out of here. If I catch your face at any more parties, my buddies and I will make sure you can’t ever ride your stupid fucking bike again.” He glances at me for a split second, rethinks whatever he was about to say and grinds out, “Or use your dick.”
Aiden chuckles and sweeps his fingers through his hair. “Such big words for a man who just screamed like a little bitch.”
Movement behind Aiden captures my attention. Three jocks rush into the room, their expressions hardened and sights set on my brother. Aiden can take on one, maybe two, but he can’t take all of them by himself.
“Let’s go home,” I say, and leap past Jake as he struggles to his feet.
Aiden barely budges when I plaster myself against him and try to walk him backward. His dead eyes remain on Jake, and I know the look in them. He’s not done fighting.
I glance past Aiden and wince as the jocks close the distance between us. The guy in the middle drops his hand out of his pocket and flicks his wrist, and a blade springs out of its sheath.
My eyes widen, and I loop my arm through Aiden’s, then haul him out of the room. “Come on, pretty boy. We’ve gotta go.”
On our way out of the house, I lock eyes with Jake across the room. He smirks and holds up two fingers and his thumb in a gun gesture before turning away and disappearing into the crowd.
I don’t know what he meant by pretending to shoot us, but it can’t be good.
TWENTY-FOUR
NOVA
