Page 161 of Repairing the Wreckage

Remy was right. Everything about this is lose-lose.

“This kind of trashy bullshit is why none of us wanted anything to do with your skanky ass,” Woolly shouts.

“Amen!” Bear Trap adds.

Griff lifts his fist and nods in their direction.

More of the fighters add noises of agreement. Maybe they’re as sick and tired of this being the Griff and Kiki show as I am.

“Who’s trashy?” Naptime yells. “Who y’all callin’ trashy?”

“You.” Venom doesn’t need to raise his voice, his deep rumble easily carries over the other chatter. “And Ring Bunny Barbie over there.”

Venom’s been fairly quiet since I came out on stage. I can’t even see his wife on the other side of his large frame. It’s probably for the best. She didn’t seem to like me much last night. After today, she probably hates me for sure.

“What’s wrong?” Kiki jumps off the couch and steps over Naptime’s outstretched feet. “Little girl can’t speak for herself?”

Is she talking to me?

Yup. Her hot glare burns right into me. I don’t even know this girl. Why does she seem to hate me so much?

After years of living in fear of my father’s unpredictable temper, Kiki’s aggression triggers an immediate response in my body. She’s not my father—she’s a hundred and ten pound-bully in six-inch heels. I spring off the couch, ready to defend myself.

As Kiki invades my personal space, a tug on my pants pulls my attention away.

She’s right in my face, taunting me. “Nothing to say? You just let everyone else speak for you?”

I open my mouth, a fuck off, bitch burning on my tongue.

But her hand lunges forward.

I twist just in time. The blow misses my face but her palm hits my shoulder. Her long, sharp nails tangle in my shirt.

An explosive surge of rage and instinct sends my fist through the air.

Pop! My knuckles hit her jaw. Kiki’s head whips sideways and she collapses on the floor like a bag of rotten apples.

It all happens so fast.

Oh my God. What did I just do?

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Griff

“Oh my God. Oh my God. I can’t believe I did that,” Molly whispers over and over against my neck as I carry her off the stage.

“Here, follow me,” a woman says.

She opens the door to the same room we’d been in earlier. “Take a few minutes to cool off.”

Few minutes. Fuck that. I need to get Molly out of here. I never, ever should have asked her to come with me. How could I let that woman get so close to Molly?

The door closes behind us and I twist the small lock on the knob.

“It’s okay. I got you.” I set her down on the long, green plaid couch. She throws her hands over her face and hangs her head, resting her elbows on her knees. “Take it easy.”

I reach for a side table and grab a handful of tissues. “Come here.” I brush my knuckles against her chin and tip her head up. “You’re going to ruin all your pretty makeup.” I fold one of the tissues into a square and dab it gently over her cheeks.

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