Page 71 of Malicious Desires

“You going to shoot the man your dear cousin is in love with?”

“You don’t deserve him. You’re a Montserrat, scum of Vemore.”

“You speak of yourself if you take away the love of his life. He will hate you.”

The reality of my words hits him and he drops his gun. Instead he launches himself towards me, knocking me to the ground.

“Take it back,” he taunts in my face, his breathing ragged.

“Relent Tidus, I’m only trying to make peace with you. I love Jasper, and I don’t want to fight with you or your family any longer.”

“But you’ve made him change. That is not love.”

“I’ve not done anything you speak of. I’ve simply fallen in love with my enemy.”

“You’re the fucking enemy!” he growls, punching my jaw.

“The fuck, Tidus!” I screech, shoving him off me. He stumbles, tripping over his gun. Leaning down he picks it up, again cocking it at me. I glance at my best friend, giving him a pleading, help me look.

“Mal, have you nothing to say?”

He shakes his head, then steps up to my side.

“I'm not going to side with either of you. You’re both fighting for the same, both admitting wrong, and I will not be a part of this feud.”

I’m flabbergasted, and admittedly Tidus is too. He scoffs and stares daggers at Malyk before coming at me again. “You will leave my cousin alone, or so help me, I will end this feud with taking your life.”

“Do it, Tidus,” I taunt, daring him to pull the trigger of the gun. He’s barely a metre away from both Malyk and me. If he shoots, we’re likely to both get hurt and die out here on the beach in Capullo territory. I take a step back, still daring Tidus with my glare.

I watch Tidus, my gaze dropping between his intense stare and the finger that pulls back on the trigger. My heart races. This will be the end of me, the last breath I take. Thoughts of Jasper fill my mind and I close my eyes, exhaling the breath as the shot rings out in the air.

“Fuck! You shot me, you dick!” Malyk’s raspy voice screeches from beside me, where he’s dropped to the ground, clutching his stomach. Tidus screams, so loudly the sound bounces off the stone of the ruins surrounding us.

“No! I…fuck!” he bellows, dropping to Malyk’s side on his knees, pressing his hands against his stomach to curb the bleeding. Malyk is gasping for breath. And Tidus is distraught. “Malyk, fuck, Malyk, I’m sorry. I…I fuck…I…” he stammers, leaning down over Malyk as tears stream down his face.

I’m fuming. The feud is not over, and my best friend is fighting for life for something that should not involve him. I drag Tidus to his feet and slap him across the cheek.

“If he fucking dies, I’ll fucking torture you until you’re begging for me to end your life.”

“I’m sorry Reece. I don’t know what else to say.”

The sirens start then, screaming their way towards us. The ambulance pulls up at the far end of the beach, only a metre from my car. I lean into Tidus’ side. “We need to leave now, or his death may very well be on your hands.”

Tidus gives me a nod, but his eyes as he picks up his gun from the ground beside Malyk give me an uneasy feeling. He’s a two-faced prick, and I get the feeling his grievance with me is not over.

* * *

Getting in my car, the moment the Bluetooth connects I speed dial Barth.

“Cuz, what up?” he answers after the third ring, whilst I’m racing off towards Montserrat territory.

“Mal…he…he…got shot,” I stammer, trying to hold back my tears.

“You’re fucking shitting me? Who?” Bartholomew asks, his tone full of malice.

“Tidus fucking Capullo.”

“Oh, shit,” Barth gasps. “Why’d he shoot ya boy?”

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