They look worse now than two hours ago as they stare at me, waiting for my move. Cody wasn’t bleeding inQ,but he is now, his lip split, knuckles bruised.
It’s nothing compared to what Brandon Price looks like, standing between Colt and Conor, face swollen, nose broken. Large blood-mixed tearsslide down his cheeks, creating a Halloween-worthy mess.
He’s not looking at me, his gaze glued to the floor, both arms held by my brothers, though I doubt he’d run.
He wouldn’t get far.
Anger barges into my battered mind like a Soviet icebreaker, diminishing the composure I’ve assembled thus far. It’s overwhelming without Mia by my side. Without her magical ability to pacify the worst kind of fury.
But she’s not here. She’s upstairs, asleep after suffering what no woman should ever suffer, because of this fucker who stands in my living room, crying.
I don’t give a damn about his remorse.
A soul-burning, primal madness buzzes in my head, burrowing into every muscle. “Shawn,” I grind out, teeth gnashing between my lips, eyes searing into the fucker responsible for Mia’s hurt.
In my peripheral vision, I catch Shawn leaning forward, either to see me better or get ready to do as I say. “Yeah, bro?”
“Get out.”
He’s off the clock now, no longer in uniform, but heisa cop. I don’t want him watching what’s about to go down and turning a blind eye. He would. He did in the past when I took my anger out on Jared and when Logan battered Asher a few years ago. If any one of us asked, he’d fucking do it, but jeopardizing his career isn’t my intention.
A distressed whimper builds in Brandon’s throat. His hands ball at his sides, and he has the fucking audacity to open his mouth.
“Sayonefucking word, and I’ll make sure it’ll be your last,” I snap. “Get out of my house, Shawn. Now.”
I can tell by how his knee nervously bounces that he’s torn. On the one hand, he has Jack, Josh, and his job to think about; on the other, he wants to have my back and maybe stop me going overboard.
Neither Logan nor Theo will get in my way unless things get out of control, and their definition ofout of controlis different from Shawn’s.
“I’ll stay,” he says, leaning against the couch. “I’ve got a shitload to deal with, Nico. I don’t want to be back here in an hour, detaining your ass, and we both know your brakes will give out without me.”
Cody and Colt shove Brandon forward. He stumbles over his legs—a sight to fucking see... the almighty quarterback almost falling to his knees. Not so cocky today.
His attitude betrays he knows I’m unpredictable. At least, I used to be while I was with Kaya. No one could stand toe to toe with me and say he won.
I broke too many bones back then.
And I’m about to up the number. Mia broke his nose, but I intend to snap his fucking spine.
“Man, I’m sorry. It was just a prank, alright? Just for laughs, you know? How—”
“Just for laughs... Was Mia laughing when you forced her into your lap at the Spring Break party? Was she laughing when you told her she had to fuck you for the broken nose?”
My restraint dies a sad death two sentences in. I spring to my feet, and my older brothers do the same, ready to either grab me or help me. Two will help for sure. The verdict’s out on Shawn. He might be the mellowest of the Hayes, but he has an unpredictable side.
Neither one reacts when I grip Brandon’s collar, shoving him against the wall. The sound of his head bouncing off the brickwork flips my stomach. It’s dangerously close to the sound of the ceramic water tank cover connecting with Jessie’s head.
“Was she laughing when she was harassed? When she had to knee some fucker in the balls, so he’d let her go?” I ask, getting in his entitled face. “Was. She.Laughing?”
“No.” He clears the clog of fear lodged in his throat. “No, she wasn’t. No one was supposed to touch her unless she allowed it.”
I shove him back again. It’s fucking unnatural that I’ve not knocked him unconscious, that I’m controlling myself even though Mia’s calming magic is two floors up.
But the thought of her works, too. To an extent.
My elbow falls back, and my fist connects with Brandon’s already broken nose.
I wouldn’t be myself if I didn’t land at leastonepunch.
