Connor smiles. “You’ve never had Irish whiskey if that’s what you think is good.”
“You do know this is my family’s label.” I cock my head and eye him from head to toe.
“I’m aware,” he says.
This fucker just insulted my family to my face. I’m about two seconds away from smashing the bottle over his fucking head when he starts walking towards Aurora. I see that prick Zara is with reach out and grab her. Aurora pulls Zara back and shoves at his chest. Then he does the stupidest thing a person can do. He punches Aurora in the face.
Rage fills me. Before I can reach them, Connor is there. When I see Aurora try to step between the two, I wrap my arms around her waist and haul her backwards.
Aurora jerks her head and connects it with my nose. “Fuck, Aurora, calm down,” I yell into her ear, my hold on her tightening.
“Let me go!” she yells back.
“Do not let her go,” Connor says before returning his attention to Zara’sdate.
I’m keen to see what the Irish kid has in him. Judging by the look in his eyes, the guy on the floor isn’t leaving here walking. I watch as Connor jumps on top of him, landing blow after blow to his face. Then he grabs hold of the guy’s head and starts smashing it into the ground. Repeatedly. Somehow Connor gets hold of a rock and starts using it like a hammer, beating against the fucker’s skull like he’s trying to flatten it out.
“Ares, let me go. He’s going to fucking kill him.” Aurora manages to escape my hold. She grabs her boyfriend’s arm and tries to stop him.
I can see it in Connor’s eyes. He’s not going to. He looks from Aurora to the guy, and then at the rock in his hand. People inthe crowd are screaming. Some running from the scene, others watching in fascination. Or fear.
When I realise Connor really is going to kill this guy, I spin around. “Get the fuck out of here, all of you. Now!” I scream and watch everyone clear the scene. Except Zara.
“Connor, you’re going to kill him. Stop!” Aurora tries again.
“That’s the whole point, princess.” Connor smiles at her.
Fuck, maybe these two lunatics are a match made in hell. Because right now, I see it. He’s just as insane as Aurora is. He yanks himself free of her hold and brings the rock down on the guy’s head one last time.
“I don’t think he can get any more dead, mate.” My dad’s voice has me turning around. He’s surrounded by other men. One of them being Lorenzo Valentino, Aurora’s brother.
“Wasn’t me this time, Dad.” I smirk.
“Yeah, I can see that.” He looks from me to Connor to the now-dead teenager in front of us.
Lorenzo walks over to Aurora, inspecting her face that is now sporting a bruise from where the asshole hit her. If Connor hadn’t just killed him, her brother would have.
“What the fuck were you two thinking? How in any fucking universe is this staying out of trouble? Staying hidden?” Lorenzo asks, staring at Aurora and Connor.
“It’s not his fault. I wanted to come. He just followed me,” Aurora explains.
“I have no doubt about that,” Lorenzo says before looking to Connor. “Is he dead?”
“Yep,” Connor replies. I look at the body. The fucker’s not just dead. He’s a human pancake. Or at the very least, his skull is.
Lorenzo glances around. His hand comes up and then three of his soldiers appear. “Get rid of that. Make sure there’s no evidence that my sister was here,” he orders them.
“On it.” One of the soldiers nods, and all three walk away.
“I’m sorry. He was being an ass to Zara.” Aurora’s words have me looking at Zara, who appears paler than usual. She’s not from the same world we are. She might be exposed to the families, but she’s never seen this level of violence. She’s lived a very sheltered and protected life. One I’d much rather her keep living.
Lorenzo turns to Zara. “Does your father know you’re here?”
“Of course he does,” she says. But she doesn’t even believe herself.
“I’m taking her home.” I grab Zara’s hand. She’s fucking trembling. It’s slight and not all that noticeable unless you were paying attention. And when it comes to her, I’m always paying attention.
“Make sure there aren’t any stops along the way!” Lorenzo calls out to me.
