Page 30 of Rush

A second later, I see a shadow to my right, and then Kyle is moving, being pulled away from me and tossed backward where he stumbles on the lower step, falling on his ass.

Ares.

And I’ve never been so relieved to see him.

“Are you okay?” he asks, his face lit with anger.

“Yeah.” I swallow. “Yes, I’m fine.”

His eyes move to Kyle, who’s just scrambled up to his feet.

“I know who you are.” Kyle points a finger at him. “You’re that quarterback…Kincaid…who plays for her dad’s team.” Kyle looks past Ares to me. “You with this prick, Ari? Hooking up with Daddy’s players now? Being the good girl?”

“Shut up, Kyle.”

“You seriously want this guy over me?”

“Are you fucking deaf, dickhead? She told you to shut up,” Ares barks at him.

“Ari…please…I know I messed up, but I love you. So fucking much. I didn’t press charges when you smashed up my car. The cops wanted me to, but I didn’t. I wouldn’t. I told your dad when he came to see me—”

“I’m sorry, what?” I step around Ares to stand in front of Kyle.

“Your dad. He came to give me money to fix my car up.”

“And you took it?”

He looks sheepish. “I needed to fix my car up.”

“So, that’s why you didn’t press charges. Because my dad paid you not to.”

Kyle says nothing.

“How much did he give you?”

Still nothing.

“How much?” I yell.

“Ten grand.”

I almost choke. “And that’s all gone now, right? That’s why you’re back here, sitting outside my apartment. You need more money.”

“No.” He lunges toward me, grabbing me again. “I need you! I love you.”

“Get your fucking hands off her.” Ares shoves him back away from me and advances on him, looming over him. “You don’t put your hands on a woman ever, dick face. And especially not her. If I hear you’ve come near Ari again, they’ll be finding parts of you all over the city.”

Kyle tries to straighten up, lifting his chin, acting like he’s not afraid, but I know him better than that. “You threatening me, quarterback?”

Ares looks at me and lifts his shoulders. “Did you hear me threaten him, Ari?”

“Nope.” I shake my head, staring back at Kyle.

“You’re a fucking bitch,” Kyle spits at me. “And you, quarterback, you’ll get what’s coming to you.”

“What did you call her?” Ares takes a menacing step forward, his foot stomping on the ground, and Kyle takes off running.

It would be almost comedic, if it wasn’t so pathetic.