Page 68 of Stick Handled

I hesitate, my mind spinning, but there’s no point in lying. I’m not sure what he’s seen, but I know one thing. I don’t want to lie to my best friend anymore. I hate it. Besides, looking into his eyes, I think he already knows.

“Yes.” I square my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on.

For a split second, there’s nothing. No sound, no movement. Then Rowan explodes.

His fist connects with my jaw, hard and fast, and I stagger back, barely catching myself.

“You fucking pig!” he roars, charging at me again.

“Shit, man. Wait!”

But he’s relentless. His fists come at me again and again, and I’m too busy trying to block to even think about hitting back.

“How fucking could you?” he yells, his voice raw.

“Hear me out!” I shout, ducking a swing.

His next punch lands squarely on my ribs, and I grunt in pain, stumbling back against the wall.

Rowan doesn’t waste any time. He’s on me in a second, grabbing my collar and shoving me back into the wall. My head hits the hard surface, shooting black spots across my vision, and my breath is knocked out of me.

“You gotta be out of your goddamn mind,” he spits, fists clenched, his face inches from mine. “What the hell were you thinking?”

His voice is raw, the anger radiating off him like a furnace. He’s not the cool, calculated captain anymore. He’s a brother who feels betrayed. And I completely understand him.

“Rowan, calm the fuck down,” I try to say, but my words come out strained.

“Don’t tell me to calm down,” he growls, his hand tightening around my collar. “You’ve been fucking my sister behind my back, and you thinkI’msupposed to stay calm?”

His grip tightens. Every muscle in my body is screaming to fight back, but I don’t. He’s pissed, and I deserve this.

“Did you get bored of sticking your dick in every puck bunny around?” His voice is venomous as he slams me against the wall again, using all of his strength. “You decided to fuck with my family now?”

“It’s not like that.” I grit my teeth, the force of the blow making me lose balance.

“Oh, it’sexactlylike that,” he snaps, dragging me back to my feet. “Do you fucking have any idea of the disgust I feel?”

“I didn’t—”

“Shut the fuck up.” He slams me into a bike, and my head whips back. I don’t fight him. I won’t. Because right now, I’m not the enforcer. I’m just a guy who fucked up.

“Did you tell her that, huh?” Rowan hisses. “That half of LA’s seen your dick? Do you think she’ll want to have anything to do with you after learning what a whore you’ve always been?”

The words hit like punches—each one landing in the places where I’ve been hiding my own damn feelings.

“Rowan, listen to me.”

“No.” His voice cracks, and I see the raw pain in his eyes. “You stay the fuck away from her. I’m telling you now. Never again. You don’t touch her, talk to her, or even fuckinglookat her.”

The door bursts open, and the guys rush in.

“Rowan, man, that’s enough!” one of them shouts, grabbing his arm.

“I’m done here!” Rowan snarls, shoving him away.

“Stay the fuck away from her!” Rowan snarls, his chest pressed into mine. His warning ice-cold.

Dread settles over me, stronger than the pain I feel. I never wanted things to go down like that. I know I have a reputation, so I don’t blame Rowan for lashing out. But it still hurts. Seeing my best friend like that hurts.

---