Page 18 of Marked By Night

“You know what, both of you can back right the hell off. Now.” Ash rushes forward in my defense. “Sadie has already moved on to much greener pastures than your ass, Tyler.” She levels her glare on Ben next. “As for you, why are you even here? You can’t actually enjoy letting Tyler drag you around by the balls.”

Ben’s face contorts in rage and he steps forward.

Kaos surprises the hell out of me by stepping in between us. “You heard the ladies. I’m inclined to agree with them. Why don’t you head on back to wherever you came from.” Not a question, a statement.

Swoon. I mean, uhh… I don’t swoon. Nope, all badassery over here.

Tyler’s eyes flick toward Kaos and then Dante, dripping with disdain. “Who the fuck are you?” He puffs out his chest like he’s about to have a brawl in the middle of a metal festival. Bad idea, bud. Knowing this crowd, they’d think it’s the start of a mosh-pit and join in. Then we’d have chaos on our hands. Heh, literally.

A dark chuckle brushes along my spine, setting my nerve endings alight. But not in a bad way. Quite the opposite really. “No one you need to concern yourself with, prick. I’d suggest you run along and leave Sadie alone before we really decide to get involved,” Kaos says, his voice reminding me of the sharp edge of a knife.

Tyler’s face morphs from mad to murderous. His cheeks and neck turn red as his anger level rises. I know that look and it’s not one I want to be on the receiving end of ever again. I flick the blade down on my switchblade as inconspicuously as possible. If he wants to come at me right now, it’ll be one hell of a fight, but at least I’ll be able to maim him or screw up that pretty little face of his.

I’ll never understand what I saw in him. He may have never sexually assaulted me, but he sure didn’t mind getting physical. There’s a monster lurking under that tanned skin and perfect baby blue eyes of his and he hides it well.

Now I know better.

And nobody messes with Tyler Maynard and walks away unscathed.

The air shifts and I feel a fist coming my way before I see it. Dante snatches Tyler’s wrist out of the air before I can blink. When his fiery amber eyes meet mine, they’re hard as ice. His jaw is clenched, and he stands there holding the appendage like it’s a personal affront to him and not me. What is it with strangers saving me this week? Step it up, Sadie.

Tyler tries to pull his fist away and Dante’s fingers tighten around it like he can strangle the life out of him through his hand. Tyler grunts trying to yank his wrist back, but it doesn’t budge.

My ex levels those dangerous baby blues on me, and I already know I’m in trouble now. “You cheating bitch,” he snaps, eyeing me like I’m a butterfly he wants to squash under his boot. Kind of ironic really, considering the position he’s in right now. At the mercy of two strangers that feel the need to jump in at my defense.

“Pot meet kettle, asshole.”

Ben charges forward to back up his buddy but he doesn’t stand a chance. Kaos flips him over his shoulder and onto the ground like he’s nothing and hasn’t been trained in hand to hand his entire life.

Kaos sneers down at him, keeping his large boot in the center of his chest. You know what they say about big feet.

Yep, big socks.

Tyler’s nostrils flare when he sees his friend on the ground, then his eyes dart between all of us like he’s sizing us up before they land on me again. “You wouldn’t fuck me, but you’ll fuck these two dicks you don’t even know?” His lip curls in disgust like the idea of my having a threesome repulses him, even though I’ve seen his porn history.

If men don’t have shit else, they have the Godsdamn audacity.

“What is it with men and their toxic mindset when it comes to sex?” I grumble. “Why can you screw whoever you want, and it’s no big deal, but a chick does the same thing and it’s suddenly such a sin? Fuck that, and fuck you, Tyler.”

He chuckles. “I always knew you were a secret slut, Mercedes, but this is a new low. Even for you.”

“She already told you to call her Sadie,” Dante interjects, shaking Tyler’s wrist until he groans again. “And that’s no way to speak to a lady, is it?”

“This isn’t over. Mark my words, Mercedes,” Tyler whispers ominously, clearly realizing he won’t get anywhere with me with my two unexpected bodyguards around.

“Yes. It is,” Kaos responds, a hint of finality in his tone. “Come near her again and you won’t like the ramifications.”

Before anyone else has a chance to speak, Ash darts forward, grinning like a maniac as she kicks Tyler straight in the balls with her combat boots. Fairly sure she flashes her hoo-hah while she’s at it, but she doesn’t look like she cares.

“Dammit! Why didn’t I think of that?” I pout as Tyler howls in pain, dropping to his knees. Dante still has a hold of his wrist, so he doesn’t go far. His arm makes a strange popping sound, making him bellow in pain and hop back up.

She smiles. “I’ve been wanting to do that for so long. Ever since you brought that jackass home.” I have to admit it’s nice to see him finally getting a taste of his own medicine.

I watch Dante whisper something in Tyler’s ear before he finally releases his wrist and Tyler stalks off, blending into the crowd without a backward glance. Kaos removes his boot from Ben and he’s up in a flash. Watching them disappear I realize that somehow the silence seems more deadly than Tyler’s outright threats.

His words echo through my mind, tainting my thoughts.“This isn’t over.”

Something tells me he’s right.

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