“Is he bothering you, Dani?”
She swallowed hard before she nodded. The damn girl couldn't even catch her breath enough to speak to me again. Her chest jumped with soft sobs, and I had no clue what to do. I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to strangle Benji until his eyes popped out. I wanted to hang him up under a bridge for all the world to see as a warning.
This is what happens when someone messes with what is mine.
“Fucking hell, my goddamn back. Dude, have you lost your shit or something?”
Benji went to get up, but I pressed my boot against his chest, pushing him back down to the concrete.
“Let me the fuck up. Right now.”
I licked my lips. “You’re going to stay the hell away from her from here on out. You hear me?”
He shoved my foot away. “Fuck you.”
I reached down and fisted his shirt as people gasped around me.
“Max, please,” Dani pleaded.
Benji wrapped his hands around my forearm. “Your brother’s going to hear about his.”
I glared at him. “She’s off limits. Understand?”
He glared right back. “We have classes together. The fuck do you want me to do about that?”
I seethed. “Sit in the back row.”
I dropped him to his feet before backing up and standing next to Dani. Shading her from the prying eyes that were wondering what the hell was going on.
“Fuck you, Max.”
I cocked my head. “Want to try that again?”
Benji snickered. “No, actually. I don’t. She’s just some college chick. Some slice of pussy you'll get before dumping her, like you do every other girl. But, me, I’m fucking family. I’m your crew. I’m your flesh and blood. You’re going to choose a bitch over me?”
“Max!”
I didn’t even register the movement until it was too late. Dani yelling my name was the last thing I heard before I felt something warm against my knuckles. It seemed like I blinked, and then Benji was down. In the blink of an eye, my fist had connected with his nose and put him on his fucking back again. Blood dripped down the sides of his face. I looked at my hand and registered the blood splattered against my knuckles. People around us gasped. I looked back at Dani and watched her eyes widen with shock and fear, her hands covering her mouth.
“So that how it’s gonna be?”
I panned my head back around and watched my cousin peel himself off the concrete.
“You and this girl, against everyone else?”
I lowered my fist. “You leave her alone for good. Got it?”
He spat blood at my feet. “Fuck you and your morals. Dumbass piece of shit.”
I lunged at him, but I felt a pair of hands grip my leather jacket. I heard her shuddering breaths as I turned around, knowing damn good and well who was holding me back. Her hands fell away from my jacket. I heard Benji cursing to himself and storming off as the crowd quickly dissipated. And as I gazed into Dani’s frightened eyes, I sighed.
“I’m sorry.”
The shock was evident on her face as her hands slipped to her sides.
“It’s--it’s okay. I--Thank you.”
I nodded. “Anytime.”