Page 52

“Eh?” Basa said, exasperated.

“Don’t ‘eh’ me, stupid,” Rafael scolded him, swiping a hand out as if he was about to grab his nose. “You’re the one that started hitting a brother for no reason!”

“I had every reason! He jumped on him, so I had to step in!” Basa argued, jerking his chin at Matt.

“Don’t.” Alex pointed a finger at Basa’s scowl. “Don’t dare sympathize with him.” He jabbed a finger at Basa’s chest, making him jerk back. “Don’t encourage him, or it’s gonna happen again. You of all people should know how fragile and dangerous the human mind can be.”

Basa flared his nostrils and looked down at the floor.

Rafael grabbed Alex’s shoulder and stepped between.

“You’re cleaning everyone’s toilets for a week, Tsubasa.”

Basa gasped, and a couple of chuckles scattered throughout the room.

Rafael tapped his finger against his bottom lip. “No. A whole month.”

The whole crowd cheered. A wave of men pushed the mouth-gaping Basa towards the disgusting bathroom in the hole in the wall. Someone yelled at the DJ to start playing the boisterous club music again, and people whooped.

As everyone’s attention went back to partying, Alex strode over to a nervous Matt. A fresh bruise bloomed on his cheek.

“Um, hey, Auggie.” Matt chuckled. “I didn’t expect you to be here.”

“Shut the fuck up! Why are you even here?” Alex chided.

Matt scratched his head. “Uh, I was just meeting up with Tsubasa. He wanted to talk to me about—”

“For fucking what?” Alex exasperated. “Y’all could have just had a phone call or some shit, not meet here where all these fuckers could kill you!”

“It had to be in person—”

Alex pressed a finger to Matt’s lips. “You’re not supposed to be in contact with any Garra. I don’t care who it is. Whoever you thought was your homie, ain’t your homie.”

Alex flicked him hard on the forehead.

Matt flinched, hand flying up. “Ow!”

“You’re banned from their turf. Do this shit again, and Imma fucking kill you myself. Get me?”

“It was supposed to be quick!” Matt cried. “I didn’t mean to cause a scene.”

“I know some of these motherfuckers still have nightmares of your stupid face!” From the corner of Alex’s eye, he caught people talking, their eyes set on Matt. They needed to get out.

He put his hands on his hips and glared at Matt. “Who even drove you here?”

“Myself.”

“In the Altima?”

Matt nodded.

Alex held out his palm. “Keys. Now.”

Like a frazzled twig, Matt reached into his baggy jeans and grabbed his dangling keys with jittery hands.

Alex snatched the keys from him and turned to the crowd, bellowing, “Yo! Who wants a free car?!”

The men erupted—hands up, fingers reaching. Alex cocked his arm and launched the keys into the crowd. While they scrambled, he grabbed Matt’s bicep. “Let’s go.”