He heavily emphasized her as though I was prone to selfish acts like him.
I nodded. “I know. I was just going to go and do something about solving that problem.”
“What?” Cassidy asked. Her voice came out high-pitched and full of worry. “What do you mean by that?”
“It’s exactly as it sounds,” Dallas answered for me.
I frowned at him, leveling my gaze on his so that he understood how little I appreciated him answering my questions.
Cassidy gasped and looked at me as Dallas continued, “He’s going to take it upon himself to kill your ex-boyfriend.”
She shook her head, tears filling her eyes. “But I don’t want him dead. I just want him to leave me alone. A concept that you three seem to be having some difficulty understanding as well.”
“There’s not a chance I’m letting you out of my sight unless it’s to do this,” I said. “Now, I’ll be right back.”
Malachi stood and took a couple of steps closer. “And what makes you think you are the man for the job?”
“What—rather, who—says I’m not?” I asked, staring him down, almost daring him to call me out on what he believed was his right.
“What if I wanted to do it?” Malachi asked.
“I think you’ve done enough, haven’t you?” I asked, barely nodding toward Cassidy. It was enough of a movement he would see it and get my point.
“Jesus,” Cassidy muttered. “Not this again.”
Dallas stood and stepped forward as well. “Maybe, it should be me. I should be the one to go. Have either of you thought about that?”
“Why?” I asked. “So, you can just sarcasm and joke him to death?”
“Funny,” he retorted and crossed his arms over his chest. He stared at me with his dark blue eyes. “So, what if that was the case? What are you going to do? Smart him to death with that big brain of yours?”
“You always think you’re better than everyone else because you’re smarter,” Malachi added.
I rolled my eyes and sucked in a deep breath. I held up my hands to stop the continued berating my two friends seemingly felt that I needed. “Look, I’m not going to argue about this. I’m going to go find him and make sure he isn’t a problem anymore. That’s all.”
Cassidy groaned and scooted herself against the wall even more. Dallas and Malachi surrounded me. We were already neck-deep into another argument, and I realized she hated that. But there was nothing I could do, and there was no way around it. Until she made a decision on who she wanted to be with, this was what life with us was going to be like. A huge competition for her heart. And I refused to back down and let these two assholes have her. I wasn’t letting go of her. Not without a fight.
To the death if that was what it would take.
“Perhaps, we should leave it up to Cassidy to decide,” Malachi said. “It is her ex-boyfriend, after all.”
Cassidy shook her head, setting her bright blue eyes on us. “Please don’t include me in your squabble. Besides, why are all of you fighting to be my champions in the first place?” she asked then stood from the floor. “You guys fighting over me is pure insanity. This whole night is ridiculous. I can’t even begin to process the idea that you want to kill my ex for me. Just stop. All of you.”
“Well, like it or not, until you make a decision this is what it will be,” I said, pointing out the obvious.
“Like hell,” Cassidy said. “I’m not going to do that.”
“I should go,” Dallas said, facing her. He acted as though she hadn’t spoken. She set her glare on him.
“Please,” Malachi muttered, pulling her attention to him.
Dallas continued as if Malachi hadn’t spoken. “If anyone should have the chance it’s me. Because I’ve never seen the world as clearly as I do now. You have given me purpose and you somehow ground me. Defending your honor seems like a good start on proving that.”
I wanted to gag. Dallas could play words to his advantage when he wanted to, but his silver tongue wasn’t doing him any favors this time. I would give him a zero out of ten for his lack of creativity.
I snorted. “Please. Don’t make me laugh.”
Cassidy blinked. Her cheeks reddened. I huffed, unable to believe she was actually buying that crap.