Page 24 of Tight End

He slowly turns his head to look at me and fuck me, it’s scary as all hell, like some inner demon has taken over his body and mind. If his head starts spinning, I’m getting the hell out of here.

“I’m not done yet,” he says.

It’s a risk but I yank him to his feet. The bald guy collapses back on the floor but those damn phoneskeep flashing.

“Get your fucking hands off me. I don’t need your help. And I don’t fucking want it.” His voice is low but I hear it damn clearly.

Forcing a smile, I tighten my grip on his arm and bring my head close to his. “If you don’t want to end up in jail tonight, then you’ll walk the fuck out of here now before the cops show up.”

“Fuck jail. I didn’t do anything wrong. I was defending my friend.”

I wave a hand around me. “You think all those videos are going to tell the same story?”

Brixton glares at me but allows me to nudge him toward the exit.

“Take them through the back. Don’t go to the front. We don’t need any more hassles,” Rex says, scrubbing a hand down the front of his face.

Sirens blare in the distance and once of the bouncers rushes us out the door.

“Shit,” Ben mutters behind me.

“That motorcycle club has been giving us a lot of trouble over the past few months. Always starting shit. I hope this’ll get rid of them for good.” The bouncer checks up and down the street before letting us out. “You’ve still got time.”

Three Escalades wait in a line. I peer over my shoulder. Chase is in the back with the rest of the band.

“Hurry up and get in,” Rex says to us, giving me a quick shove toward the first truck. I jump in the back, followed by Brixton, Ben, and Rex.

The door slams closed.

“Drive to the hotel,” Rex says. “Now.”

The Escalade speeds out of the lot and down the dark street. Once we get to the corner, flashing red lights fly past us in the oppositedirection.

I let out a shaky breath and shoot off a text to Chase letting him know I’ll meet him back at my place after we get dropped off at the hotel.

“Fuck, that was close,” Ben mutters, pulling out his phone. He lifts an eyebrow at Brixton. “You want to tell me what that was all about so that I’m prepared for the social media fallout that I’m sure is only seconds away?”

Brixton lounges back against the leather cushioned seat. “Mr. Clean came at Lane for staring at his girl. I walked out of that hallway and saw him smash Lane in the jaw. Lane went down and I went after the guy and his buddies. I was defending my friend. Fuck anyone who tells it differently.”

“It’s all perception,” I say. “You know what happened to Jase and Lucas. What makes you think you’ll be saved when you just beat the hell out of a guy so bad, he couldn’t even get himself off the floor?”

“He’s lucky I didn’t yank out any of the metal hanging off his face.” Brixton’s lips curl upward into a nasty smirk. “Next time I bet he’ll think twice about taking a punch at someone. His dick must be the size of a peanut to be that wound up over a skanky ass girl checking out another dude.”

“You’re really twisted, you know that?” I roll my eyes.

“Whatever, choir boy. I protect the people I care about. Wouldn’t you have done the same thing? I mean, you are a do-gooder, yeah?”

“Screw you. How the hell am I the one on trial when it’s you who assaulted that prick?”

“It’s not assault if you’re defending someone,” he shoots back. “It’s self-defense.”

“How the hell is it self-defense when nobody attackedyou?” I narrow my eyes. “Although, if you’d given the guy a minute, I’m sure he’d have found one of many reasons to pummel your ass, too.”

Rex snickers. “Can’t argue that.”

“Brixton’s actually right,” Ben says. “California law permits you to act in defense of not only yourself but others.”

Brixton chuckles. “Gotta love this state. And fuck you very much, Rex. Just so you know, I’m not gonna defend your scrawny ass if someone comes for it.”

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