I hear a door open behind me, and Deke reaches out for me. I spin around to run but hit a human wall. I squeal as my thumb presses a button on the black box. A buzzing noise has me jumping back. I then look down to see Kellan on the ground tensed up into a ball.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
COLE
“Wwhhhhaaatt … thhheeeee … fffucckkk.” Kellan growls as he lies on the floor of the clubhouse.
Deke stands beside me, bent at the waist laughing his ass off while Kellan shakes from the Taser Austin just zapped him with.
I just stand here thinking maybe this was a bad idea. If she doesn’t get herself killed, she’s gonna kill one of us.
“What was that?” she asks, spinning around to face Deke and me.
“You just tased his nuts,” Deke tells her, still laughing.
“What?” She gasps wide-eyed. “Why would you give me a Taser?” she snaps.
“Get up, man. Walk it off,” Bennett says, grabbing his hand.
Deke looks over at me. “I’m gonna keep her gun,” he says, making a joke, and my jaw tightens.
Kellan still lies there, but he has stopped shaking. That’s a plus.
“Why the fuck am I even here?” she demands, and no one answers her.
“Come on,” Bennett says, offering his hand to Kellan.
He gets to his feet, his hands fisted down by his side. He’s breathing heavy, and he glares at the back of her head. He grabs her shoulder and spins her around, then shoves her back against the wall. Her head hits it with a thud, and her eyes close for a brief second. “Bitch!” he shouts as his hand wraps around her throat.
I run over to him and yank him from her. She sucks in a deep breath the moment he releases her throat.
Deke grabs Kellan by the collar. “Whoa, man. It was my fault,” he tells him.
“She fucking tased me!” he shouts, pointing at her.
I stand between them, blocking her. “Don’t ever touch her again,” I say, and I’m surprised how calm my voice is. Because I’m about to rip his fucking head off.
“Fuck you, Cole!” he shouts. “And your new fucking whore!”
I shove Deke out of the way and slam my fist into Kellan’s nose. His head snaps back. “Ffffuuucckk.” Kellan’s cupping his face, so his voice comes out muffled.
“Add that to the mark I gave you the other day.”
“Cole,” Deke growls in my face. His hands grip my shirt. “Go home,” he tells me.
I shake my head. “No …”
“Go home, Cole!” He shouts my name. I look over his shoulder at Kellan. Blood pours from his nose and onto his white button up. “Cole?” Deke snaps, giving me a little shake. My eyes finally meet his. “Take Austin home,” he orders me. His blue eyes drill into mine.
He lets go of me, and I stand there, fisting my hands, breathing heavy. He walks away from me, and Kellan smiles. Blood runs down his nose and over his lips. “Have it under control, huh?”
I step toward him, but Deke slams the black drawstring backpack into my chest. Once again full of the items. “Go home,” he repeats.
I spin around, and my eyes find Austin. She remains standing by the wall, and I can see her body physically shaking. And I realize it’s time to go. I walk over to her and grab her hand, yanking her out of the clubhouse without another word.
She falls into the passenger seat, and I get in, start the car, and take off down the gravel road.
“Are you all right?” I ask her once we hit the pavement.
“Like you care.” Her voice is rough, and I know it’s from Kellan’s hand around her throat.
My left hand grips the steering wheel. “I didn’t know—”
“Just stop, Cole,” she shouts, interrupting me. “Quit acting like you fucking care!” She fists her hands in her lap.
I shut my mouth because she’s right. Asking if she’s okay does imply I care. And I don’t. Not one bit.
As I shift my car, my cracked knuckles remind me that I do. Or I wouldn’t have just hit my friend over a girl. For the second time in as many days.
That thought makes my stomach tighten.
I pull into her driveway and come to a stop. She hasn’t said one word in over fifteen minutes. She has been typing away on her phone. I’ve opened my mouth to ask her who it is a hundred times but managed not to. I have a feeling I know who it is anyway. She reaches for the door. “Austin …?”
She exits and slams it shut before I can say anything else. I sit back, running a hand through my hair in frustration. Then I put the car in gear and squeal my tires, circling the driveway to head home.
I walk into the silent house and make my way up to my room. As soon as the door shuts, my phone rings.