Page 125 of The Reluctant Hero

That feeling pokes my chest.

“Bullshit,” I mutter.

South backs away from me slowly. Her head turns to watch the three women as they approach.

I’ve gone from irritation to anger in seconds. And somehow I notice that none of them even look at South. It’s creepy as hell, but my mind focuses on my enemy.

“Mandy! Where have you been?” Janine squeals happily.

I raise an eyebrow at the excited act. She’s practically skipping toward me. Beth and Jessie share a resigned look and then put bright smiles on their faces.

She’s in my face, hugging me as if I’m a long-lost relative that showed up suddenly. I don’t bother raising my arms to return the gesture. She draws back as if she didn’t notice.

“I’ve missed you!”

“Uh-huh,” I reply in the dryest tone I can muster.

“I didn’t know you were dating already,” Beth inserts herself into the conversation with a smile. “Who was that guy? And are you sure you’re safe with him?”

I blink slowly with no intention of answering. Janine, I know for sure is bad news, but Beth and Jessie might be innocent. Annoying as hell but innocent.

“Where’s my Cade?” Janine looks around with a sly smile. “I’ve missed him too.”

I don’t know what happens. One second, I’m irritated, and the next, Janine is on the floor with Jessie trapped underneath her. She’s clutching her face and staring at me with wide eyes. My knuckles hurt.

I glance down and find them red and starting to swell a little. Then I turn my face to the trio of men with raised brows.

“I take it back. You aren’t useless as fuck as an instructor,” I tell Asher with surprise.

“A good hit,” South comments without emotion. “But if you let her get up, the fight will turn against you.”

That snaps my attention back to where it belongs. I may not remember hitting her, but I’m not done yet.

Janine is struggling to get up, and Jessie is whining underneath her. Beth is staring at me in a mixture of shock and disgust.

Before she can get to her feet, I plant my foot in her chest and knock her back down. My weight versus her scrawny ass? No competition.

I follow her body’s downward movement with a little hop to keep the pressure on her chest. When she’s prone, I put as much weight on her as I can.

She tries to gasp for air and fails, her face turning red. Her nose is bleeding and crooked. I take a moment to admire the swelling and the black bruise that’s hurrying to come up. Pretty soon, she’s going to look like a raccoon, and I’m here for it. Her hands scrabble at my foot, trying desperately to shift my weight off of her.

“You’re going back to Loser, I meanBlake, and letting him know that my fuckfest or lack thereof is none of his business. My life is notyourbusiness. You aren’t my friends. I have photographic proof of at leastyougetting pathetically humped by Blake, Janine. By the way, your orgasm face looks like you’re constipated as fuck, and your eyes cross.”

I lean down and brace an elbow on my knee, feeling the power of the position and how good it is to let the rage out. Why was I afraid to be myself around these people? It’s pathetic.

“By the way,” I add with a menacing smile. “Have you had an STD check recently? The ex has been a very busy little leg humper. I didn’t see a condom, Janine. And I’ve seen his dick planted inside at least twenty other pussies. Mine came out clear but you might want to get checked if you’ve been at it recently.It would be a shame if the only useful portion of yourotted off, wouldn’t it?”

I stand tall and use her as a step to move forward. The satisfying sound of her straining for air is worth every second of this.

I make it two steps before Janine is sputtering with rage.

“You bitch!”

Her words are cut off when Beth’s disgusted voice blurts out. “You? He’s fucking you too?”

My feet pause, and then I spin with wide eyes.

Instead of focusing on me, Janine’s attention goes to Beth with disbelief. Jessie has managed to slide out from under her and is catching her breath.

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