Page 23 of Broken By It

It’s not long before Toon struts in and over to us. I thought she would call one of those ride-share companies. No, she calls a Hellion. Not just any Hellion, but the Hellion she is hopelessly in love with, and he won’t give her a chance. Granted, if I was aman, a Hellion at that, no way I would even consider looking at Dia Crews twice. I know my dad is a tough one when it comes to dating me or my sister, but Tripp is next level. Plus, it’s not just Tripp a man trying to date Dia has to get through, it’s BW, her older brother. I swear he would kill a man for looking at her too long. Toon is nice, but he’s not stupid. Dia is stubborn. She sees what she could have with him and is determined to show him how great it can be. She is not about to let her dad, her brother, or the club hold her back. It’s like dynamite between them and she’s ready to light the fuse while he is avoiding the explosion.

“Be still my heart, my knight has arrived,” Dia singsongs sliding off the bar stool and half hanging on Toon.

Like all the Hellions, he has a demeanor about him that screams don’t fuck with me. The I don’t give a fuck if I go to jail attitude, they all carry stands out more with Toon. He is always aware of everyone around him. And like a ninja he can pop up without a sound. He doesn’t talk to any of us much, just the brothers in the club. I think that’s why Dia likes him, the mystery.

The challenge to get to know him. She is always calling him, seeking him out, and frankly pushing his buttons. He doesn’t take the bait though, ever. The man is a saint. He simply reminds her that it won’t happen and continues on.

“Your chariot awaits, Princess,” he mutters to her dryly.

I can’t help but laugh. I’m drunk and Toon isn’t even phased by Dia draped against him. He doesn’t seem amused, but he isn’t mad either. It’s like he knows this is Dia and she has obviously reached her limit. I don’t know why this is funny to me, but it is.

In a matter of moments, he has all three of us buckled in his car and headed home. The lushes we are, none of us had the coordination to buckle our seatbelts. Toon to the rescue. I’m sure he’s cussing us out in his head or wishing he called a prospect to take us home instead. Either way, he apparently hasstepped up to the task. Maybe Dia was right and he’s our knight in shining armor. I wonder, can we share a knight? None of the fairytales talk about sharing him. Hmmm, yes, I am indeed drink to even think this shit. Hey, I don’t get out often. Might as well go big before I go home. That thought is why the entire car is spinning and he has parked for what seems like eternity.

At our complex, Toon opens the door and helps each of us out. Dia whispers, but it’s more a yell. “I don’t feel so well, Mariella. Don’t let me embarrass myself and puke on Justin.”

Quickly, my sister squeezes her best friend’s hand. “I got you girl.” She looks to me. “I’m gonna crash at Dia’s.”

I nod acknowledging her.

“Dia,” Toon says getting her attention on him. “That beast put up?”

We all giggle as drunk women do from time to time. The reference to Dia’s current rescue dog is funny. In the soberness of daylight, it’s far from funny, but right now it’s hilarious. Dia has a soft spot for animals. After losing her beloved chow-chow Sheba she encountered a new fur-baby.

Skye. The beast. The holy terror. The fear of mankind. Or as Dia calls her, just the baby. Whatever she’s called, she is a Dogo Argentino. The all-white mastiff doesn’t even have the trademark pirate eye patch some in the breed have. She is a snow-white monster. The dog is half blind, half deaf, and half stupid. But she’s loyal and fiercely protective of Dia.

Dangerously so.

For any of us to go to Dia’s place, she has to crate the dog. There is a reason for this, and BW had to learn it the hard way and for everyone.

BW is Doll’s older brother, he got worried once when Dia didn’t answer her phone. He rushed to her place, used the key he has to get in, and immediately found himself with an additional appendage as Skye latched onto his arm and wasn’t about to letgo. Luckily, he didn’t need stitches, but the wounds took forever to stop bleeding and then weeks to heal fully.

He wasn’t mad like I expected him to be. As soon as Dia came out from her bath, she had been soaking in wrapped in her robe to call Skye off, he found a way to laugh about the whole thing. He learned a lesson in patience that day and we all learned exactly how far Skye will go to protect Dia.

“Yeah, goober is up. Your balls are safe, Justin.” Dia mutters as her face clearly shows her struggle to keep the contents of her stomach down. “I love you too much for her to get the prize family jewels,” Dia slurs.

“My balls, huh?” Toon counters.

Mariella and I both laugh before I answer, “Dia is determined it’s time to teach Skye to sic balls for any man that enters.”

Toon halts in place stopping us all as his eyes grow wide in seriousness. “Why in the fuck would any of you think that is funny? She tried to turn BW’s arm into a tug toy and now you are teaching her that balls are the number one target. There is something wrong with this.”

Dia pats his chest, “Oh Justin, I want your balls safe and sound. I promise she won’t get you.”

He rolls his eyes, “I feel so much better.”

We begin walking again making our way up to the building we live in. I branch off giving a quick hug to my sister in which Toon immediately stops.

“You get inside, and I’ll continue on. Not until you cross that threshold, and the door is closed and locked will we move on.”

I smile, “you’re a good man, Toon.”

“And you’re drunk, Maritza. Don’t tell me you love me. Just get inside.”

Getting inside my condo, I lock the door behind me and code the alarm to set for me being inside. My entire body is relaxed.I lost count of our shots and drinks, but I am definitely feeling great.

Hopping in the shower, the water teases my skin. As I get out and glide the towel against my naked body, heat flushes me. Going to my room, I climb in my bed after dropping the towel to the floor.

Twisting and turning, I can’t get comfortable. My phone beside me, I pick it up to see my screen picture of Hollis and Dillon. It was a beach day and Hollis is flexing his arm muscles with Dillon doing the same behind him.

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