“No.”
“Yes.”
I looked at him. “You really planning to force me into your car?”
His expression didn’t move. “I already answered that.”
“And I told you I’m a fight you don’t want.”
“You’re also the guy who thinks bleeding counts as a coping skill, so forgive me if I’m not intimidated.”
Briggs glanced between us. “For the record, I support removing him from the building.”
“Thank you,” Cade said.
“But I also support him being angry.”
“I didn’t ask,” Cade said.
“I know. My support is unsolicited and emotionally generous.”
Rider pushed away from the wall. “East, go with Ryan.”
I looked at him. “You too?”
“I’m not picking sides.”
“Sounds like something people say when they picked one.”
“No,” Rider said, steady as ever. “I’m saying if you stay here, you’re going to keep looking for ways to hurt her, and every one of them will hit you first.”
That shut me up.
For a second, all I could hear was the party beneath the floor and the blood moving too fast in my ears. I hated how much of myself was showing, the throb in my hand, and the fact Brinley’s lipstick was probably still on my mouth while I fought with Aura.
I hated that Aura had cut me back.
That was the part I couldn’t say.
Aura had gotten the reaction. She had landed the blow. I had tried to make her jealous and prove I could stand there untouched by the history between us, but all I had done was prove she could still destroy me in front of everyone.
Ryan’s voice softened by half an inch. “East.”
I looked at him because he almost never used that tone.
He looked tired. Older than he was. Like Flint Frost road games and whatever life had taught him before KFU had carved out all his patience, leaving only loyalty in its place.
“She fucked you up,” he said. “I hate that she did that, man. I’ve got your back on that.”
Cade’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t interrupt.
Ryan held my gaze. “But you keep doing this, and we’re the ones watching it eat you alive.”
My throat worked.
Briggs looked at my hand again. “Come on, man. You can’t be alone tonight.”
There was no joke or performance in it. Only Briggs looking at me like he could hate Aura for me and still be scared of what hating her was doing to me.
