CHAPTER 28 – CASPIAN
I don’t remember crossing the room. One second I hear Antonio’s choked, terrified voice and the next second Ryan is airborne. He hits the floor with a sound that’s more disbelief than pain. He scrambles back on his elbows, the color draining from his face.
“Hey, man, relax.”
I bend, grab him again, and lift him with both hands.
His shoes scrape for purchase. His throat bobs, his pulse frantic.
“You touched him.” My voice is calm, but dark fury boils underneath, ready to erupt.
Ryan made Antonio afraid. He invaded his space. He blocked his exit. He touched him. Antonio was paralyzed with fear because of this spineless jerk.
I slam Ryan into the shelf. Books rain down.
He yelps.
His eyes dart around, searching for witnesses. There are none. He chose the quietest time to harass Antonio, and karma is a bitch.
Out of the corner of my eye, I register Antonio.
He’s watching, utterly still, but he doesn’t look as panicked anymore.
How many times has Ryan done something like this to him? How many years?
Ryan swallows. “Come on, Stone.”
A part of me wants to really hurt him. Break, cut, bruise—whatever would cause the most pain.
But I’ve sworn I’ll never be like my father.
I’m a stone that shields, not the kind that crushes.
“You don’t even know what this is about,” he says, his voice getting whinier
by the second.
“You don’t know him like I do. He likes—”
I shove him again, hard enough to rattle his teeth.
“Careful, Rutherford,” I say quietly. “I’m trying to find a reason not to break your bones.”
He makes a choked sound and wets his lips, blinking hard.
“It was just harmless fun.”
“Shut your fucking mouth. You were harassing him. You think that’s fun? You make me sick.”
I grab his face and force him to see the disgust I have for him.
“You stay the hell away from him, got it?”
He nods. Drops his gaze.
“Say it.”
“Yes,” he chokes out.
