“Fucking with what is mine is no joke,” I tell him.
“Cole …” He growls my name as if his tone is gonna get me to back down. I’ve beat his ass before, so you would think the bastard would have learned his lesson.
I lift my fisted hands and smile at him. “I’m gonna kick your ass, Bryan.” He swallows nervously. “I dare you to fight back.”
AUSTIN
Becky and I sit in the back seat of Deke’s Range Rover when we see the guys walking toward us. She opens the door and runs to him. I get out a little slower, knowing Cole and I aren’t like her and Deke.
“Baby,” she cries out, placing her hand on his face. He has a cut across his cheek, and his shirt is stretched out at the collar, but that’s all.
“I’m fine,” he assures her.
Cole’s eyes meet mine, and I glare at him. He ignores me as he climbs into the driver’s seat. I jump into the passenger side as Deke and Becky climb in behind us. They start panting as she crawls into his lap and straddles him while they make out.
I look straight ahead, trying to sober up. I drank too much. I added extra alcohol to every drink he made me plus took a few shots when he wasn’t looking. Now I’m regretting it.
I look at Cole’s hands as they grip the steering wheel. The skin broken and blood smeared on them. His black hoodie sits in his lap so I can see his toned forearms are also covered in blood.
“Did you kill him?” I can’t help but ask.
“What do you care?” he replies; his answer clipped.
“Why are you mad at me?” I demand.
He takes a quick look over at me. His eyes run over me before they go back to the dark road.
“It’s not my fault.” His hands fist the wheel, tightening his bloody knuckles. “I didn’t do anything …”
“I know,” he snaps. “I didn’t say you fucking did!”
“Then why the hell are you acting like it?”
Becky moans, and I don’t dare look in the back seat afraid her jeans may be off.
“Just stop it,” he snaps.
“No. I won’t.” I turn in my seat, the seat belt making it hard, but I yank on it, giving me some slack. “Why did you hit him?” He ignores me as he drives down the dark, two-lane road. “Because you needed the fight?”
“Don’t,” he growls.
“I may be a little drunk—”
“That’s an understatement.”
“But I saw you. You were pissed off before we ever got there. You were looking for a fight.”
“Shut up, Austin.”
“No, I wanna know why—”
“Because I’m not gonna let some punk-ass bitch speak to you like that,” he shouts, interrupting me once again.
“Like you speak to me any better?” I snap. “I may not be a dare, but I am just a fucking game.”
“What you are doesn’t matter,” he says simply.
I hear Becky gasp. “Cole …”
Her words are cut off, and I take a quick look to see Deke has his hand over her mouth and his lips by her ear. She still straddles him, but they’re both clothed. He pulls his hands away, and her narrowed eyes go to Cole.
I look back at him as well. “If I don’t fucking matter, then why didn’t you just let him fuck me?”
He pulls the car over to the side of the road and slams on the brakes. My hand goes to the dash while my seat belt locks up.
He turns to face me. Those clouds rolling in his blue eyes. “If that’s what you want, then go ahead.” He shrugs carelessly. “Walk back to him and kiss his wounds, Austin. ’Cause I fucked him up good.” Then he gets out, slamming the door behind him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
COLE
I walk away from the SUV, not really knowing what I’m doing but needing a moment. Needing a fucking minute to think without her voice in my head. Her words choke me. She’s still there. Ever since Monday night when I pinned her down in the cemetery and told her to fight me. Her words did more damage than her body could have ever done to me.
And what she told me about her mom and her boyfriend? Those words play over and over. Her words make me angry. Remembering those tears makes me hard.
It’s no secret I love a fight. But to fight over a girl? Never happened before except when we threw her that party at my house. I fought Bryan because he put his hands on her. And then he went and dared his friend to fuck her.
I beat his ass. Just as Deke beat Christopher’s. But everyone knows why Deke did what he did. He’s falling for Becky. It’s getting serious. He is completely fucking obsessed with her. I’m just fucking Austin ’cause I can. I’m just using her ’cause it’s convenient and pisses her father off. I’m gonna make that motherfucker pay in every way I can think of. And Austin ups the ante. Mine to control. Mine to fuck. And mine to use.