‘Touch me again,’ I whispered, suddenly pulling her close, ‘and it’ll be me tearing shit up next time.You fucked with the wrong bitch.’
She gasped as I released her, pushing her backwards with both hands instead and watching as she stumbled, landing ass-first in the dirt.
‘Okay, okay, ladies. What’s going on here?’
Two officials arrived, looking between us, their eyes lingering on my body, eyebrows raised as they took me in.
‘She’s fucking insane,’ Chrissy yelled, her friend helping her up as she winced, trying to put weight on her ankle and failing. ‘She attacked me, pushed me down.’
‘Bollocks,’ I spat, aware of someone approaching from the side.
‘Look, we can’t have brawling here,’ the official said, scooping up my hat and shirt and handing them to me. ‘And ma’am, you need to get dressed. This is a family show.’
They stared at me, eyes so diverted by my tattoos that it was suddenly very obvious. Living in London had afforded me a barrier from people like this – quick to judge anyone who looked different. But not here.
‘Oh, fuck you,’ I hissed, ‘you fucking judgemental prick. She attacked me, ripped my shirt in the process. But just because she looks like fucking Rodeo Barbie, I’m the one at fault?’
‘Ow, my ankle,’ Chrissy moaned, her face creased in pain. ‘I think she’s broken it.’
The official gestured towards the gate by the stairs.
‘I think you need to leave,’ he said, just as someone brushed my arm. Startled, I turned to see Clara, Jesse’s sister.
‘I saw the whole thing,’ she said, her voice hard as she stared Chrissy down, then looked at the official. ‘Hestia was defending herself.Shestarted it.’
‘Don’t worry, Clara,’ I muttered, refusing to put my shirt back on as I began to walk away towards the gate, rolling my eyes as Chrissy pretended to cower away from me as I passed her. ‘There’s no point to me being here anyway.’
I kept walking despite the chatter behind me, despite Clara calling my name again. Still clutching my torn shirt as I let myself through the gate, I glanced back. The officials were still watching, one of them using his radio as they helped support Chrissy to a seat.
Lip curling, I balled up the shirt and threw it back over the gate with all the force I could gather. A dust cloud flared as it landed.
Only just resisting the urge to flip them off, and ignoring a series of catcalls from a group of men further up the stairs, I moved to leave, pulling my phone from my back pocket.
‘What’s going on?’
Jesse’s voice was faint at this distance, but enough to send shivers cascading down my arms as I looked up, our eyes meeting for the first time.
As we stared, his eyes wide, mouth dropping open, Chrissy got up from her makeshift seat and limped over as she called to him. He mouthed my name, ignoring her until she yanked on his arm.
My broken heart leaping into my mouth, I put my hands on the gate, knowing that if I went back over, the officials would likely stop me.
Jesse moved towards me, trying to pry Chrissy’s hands away, his eyes desperate as he looked back. He suddenly took in my lack of clothing. I saw Clara tell him something, looking between us as he then spoke to Chrissy.
Instincts kicking in, I backed up from the gate.
‘Don’t go,’ he shouted, his gaze fierce as it held mine – but before he could move, the officials had walked over, blocking his path. The two cowboys he’d been standing with before joined the group, both staring in surprise.
Jesse moved his head to look around the official, and with one more glance, I gave a small shake of my head.
And left.
CHAPTER24
HESTIA
Lottie pulled a T-shirt from my case in silence, holding it up before handing it to me.
‘This one okay?’ she asked, her voice wavering as I looked back at her, knowing my eyes were as blank as I felt.
