“Not if she says no,” I hurled back, just barely containing my fury.
Mark continued laughing. “And what are you going to do about it?”
I snapped.
All the panic and anger inside my body twisted together as I swung at him.Kappy kept trying to separate us, but both of us got a solid punch in on the other. His nose was bleeding. I could taste blood in my mouth.
“Boys!” Hans yelled. “Knock it off! Knock it off right now or you're both out of here.”
Breathing hard, I let Kappy push me back.
As my senses cleared, I could hear Ali crying harder, and I hated myself for it, but not as much as I hated Mark Rossi.
“Get back to work, Rossi.” Hans’ throat veins bulged as he yelled. “Now.”
“He started it,” Mark shouted, throwing his arm up at me.
“Go,” Hans demanded sternly.
Mark glared at him like he wanted to fight the old man, but he couldn’t do that considering Hans was his fucking boss. Mark stormed away without even saying a word to Ali.
Motherfucker.
I was about to yell at him, but Hans cut me off.
“Jameson,” he said sternly. “Are you okay?”
“I don’t know why you hired that fucking guy,” I growled.
Hans gave me a warning look, making my shoulders drop. I hated when he was disappointed with me. I cracked my neck and looked away.
“Are you okay?” he repeated.
I nodded stiffly.
Hans shook his head, looking anything but pleased with me before turning his attention to Ali. Kneeling beside her, he shared a few hushed words with her before patting her good hand.
Using my t-shirt, I wiped blood from my mouth, and I could practically feel Hans’ disapproving gaze on me.
“Emotions are running high right now, but you need to keep your head. Her dad’s coming, keep an eye on her,” Hans demanded.
Swallowing hard, I nodded.
He pointed a finger at me. “I’m serious. Stay with her.”He ran his tongue over his teeth. “And you know why I had to hire Rossi.” He gave me one last disappointed look before leaving.
Fuck. I scrubbed a hand over my face. Yeah, I did know. His mother was now the program director of the figure skating club and Hans had to play rink politics to keep her happy.
Blowing out a frustrated breath, my eyes dropped to Ali crying on the bench, and I felt lower than low.
“Ali, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have… I’m sorry.” I tried to settle my breathing, but my body was amped up and shaking from the fight.“You told him not to touch it, and when he did, I just lost it. I’m sorry.”
“I know,” she said, still crying.
“I don’t know why you’re with that guy,” I huffed out.
“He was just worried about me.” She sniffled. “I can’t. Not right now,” she begged.
“Shit, yeah, I'm sorry,” I said, immediately feeling like an asshole for bringing it up at the worst possible time.
