Page 137 of Brutal Savage

A large crowd of people is already seated in the stands, and we take Brody to join his team. As we do, he looks at a boy and immediately makes sure not to stand near him.

That has my radar up. What’s going on there?

I want to ask him, but I’m distracted by Tynan talking to me.

“Wanna go get a seat while I get us something to eat?”

“Sure.”

My attention remains on Brody as Tynan heads for the food truck, and when that sweet boy turns toward me, there’s fear in his eyes.

What the hell?

Maybe he’s just nervous.

“Good luck, sweetie,” I whisper so as not to embarrass him in front of his teammates. I know how kids can be.

I move to the side of the fenced enclosure, wanting to make sure everything is okay. Maybe mention it to Tynan when he returns.

Brody remains standing at the end of the bench, and the boy he tried to avoid walks right over to him. This kid is bigger than Brody, maybe even a few years older.

I start closer as soon as he leans into Brody’s space.

“Hey, dumbass.” The kid laughs.

I gasp in shock, ready to rip his head off.

“Do you even hear me, or are you too stupid to understand what I’m saying?”

Brody’s little body trembles.

Oh, that’s it.

I’m rushing past some of the coaches on the team. They have to have heard. Yet they pretend not to.

Despicable.

“Excuse me. Where are you going?” one of them asks.

I give them a dirty look and rush past them just as I hear the little demon say, “Your daddy isn’t here to protect you, is he? Oh, wait. He’s dead. And your mommy hated you so much she killed herself.”

“Hey, you little shit!” I snap as I appear right behind him.

At first, the boy doesn’t realize I’m talking to him.

“I’m talking to you.”

He finally turns to me. “Who the hell are you?”

Brody’s eyes grow.

“I’m Brody’s friend. And you are a little asshole. Who do you think you are, talking to Brody like that? What are you, ten?” My eyes narrow. “Haven’t your parents taught you not to be a bully?”

“Hey!” A woman with long blonde hair rushes toward me. “Don’t you talk to my son like that! Who even are you?”

Glaring at her for a moment, I glance around the stadium, realizing all eyes are on us. And I notice it’s quieter than it was when we first got here.

The head coach approaches. “What’s going on here?”

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