Page 41 of The Scars of Us

Taking another drink of my beer, I swallowed deeply. “Yeah—she’s not like all the girls we run game on all the time.”

“You think she’ll be at the club tonight?” Drew asked as he came and sat on the end of the couch.

“I don’t know. Kaiya says she and Nori go there almost every Friday, but I don’t know if she’d want to go out after last night—she was pretty upset.”

“Even if she doesn’t, we can still get drunk and hook up with some hotties, right?” Drew said as he punched my bicep.

“Yeah,” I replied halfheartedly before taking another long pull of my beer. I didn’t feel like hooking up with anyone else; I just wanted Kaiya.Don’t be such a pussy. She can be replaced.

I almost laughed at myself. I’d never find anyone else quite like Kaiya. She wasn’t like the sluts that threw themselves at me all the time—there was more to her than that, something deeper that she didn’t let anyone see.

After finishing off a six pack of beer, we left Drew’s in separate cars. We arrived at the club a little after midnight. The club was so crowded that you couldn’t turn around without brushing up against someone. Music blared as we waited at the bar to order drinks, and I searched the room for Kaiya. Within seconds, my eyes zeroed in on her. My jaw twitched and my fists clenched—she was completely wasted, dancing all over some guy in the middle of the dance floor.

My blood boiled as I angrily stalked through the crowd, making my way to where she was grinding herself against him.

Lightly grabbing her arm, I pulled her to me as I glared at the asshole dancing with her. “Fuck off,” I seethed, holding back from knocking him out right there on the dance floor.

I turned my attention to Kaiya, who was swaying in her heels. I cupped her chin and forced her to look at me. “What do you think you are doing?” I growled.

Her glazed eyes narrowed as she angrily slurred, “Why the fuck do you care? You got what you wanted already, remember?” She weakly shoved my chest.

Fuck.I knew she wouldn’t let what happened go so easily, but I didn’t think it would have affected her that much.

My grip on her eased as I softened my tone. “Kaiya, I—”

She pulled out of my grasp, basically falling into the dickhead’s arms. “Leave me alone, Ryker.”

The bastard smugly grinned at me as he wrapped his arms around Kaiya, resting his hands on her ass. I balled my fists as I took a deep breath so that I didn’t end up strangling the guy. I kept trying to tell myself that she wasn’t mine, that I had no claim on her, but everything in me screamed that she was.

Fuck this shit, I’m leaving.I pushed through the crowd towards the exit, getting cussed at as I forced people out of the way.

When I reached my truck, I hesitated as I was about to get in.Don’t let that asshole punk you out and take your fucking girl from you. Go back in there and get her.

My eyes scanned the room when I went back in. Kaiya and the tool she was with were in the same spot on the dance floor. As I wound through the mass of bodies, the guy leaned over to whisper something in her ear, then led her towards the back of the club.

Increasing my pace, I followed after them, shoving people that got in my way.Fuck this shit.I’d drag her over my shoulder if I had to; I wasn’t going to let her do something I knew she’d regret.

As I reached the door, I stopped.What are you doing? You’re acting like some stalker. If she wants to hook up with some guy in the back alley of a club, then let her—she’s not your problem.

I tried to turn around, to walk away, but I couldn’t. She meant more to me than that. I’d only wanted a one time fuck, but she changed things, made me want something more.

I pounded my fist against the door and cursed, “Fuck!”

As I warred with my thoughts, dull voices from outside interrupted my internal debate.

“Come on, baby, you know you want it,” the jackass urged.

Really, guy?

“No. Stop, please,” Kaiya pleaded, the desperation in her voice snapping something within me. Sounds of a struggle followed, and both fear and rage consumed me at the thought of someone hurting her, constricting the air in my lungs as my heart beat increased. I shoved open the door, sending it to slam against the wall as I stepped into the alley. Darting my head from side to side, I searched for Kaiya in the dim lighting behind the club,but I couldn’t find her.Where are you, baby?

I heard shuffling to my left, along with the guy’s voice again. “You’ve been all over me all night—I know you want it.”

Following their voices, I rushed in the direction that Kaiya was speaking now. “Get off me!” she shrieked before I heard a slap.

I could see them in the distance now, on the other side of a dumpster.Real classy, asshole.

“Oh, you like it rough, huh? I’ll give it to you rough, then.”

---