Page 21 of Beyond The Break

“No,” she says, straightening her back and lifting her chin.

She’s the only person I’ve ever met that has the courage to say no to Koa when he gets like this. She’s also the only personI’ve ever met that he’ll listen to. He looks down at her with an angry and hurt expression.

“That could’ve been you,” he says, through clenched teeth.

“But it wasn’t, and no one got hurt,” she says calmly, using her palms on his chest to slowly walk him backwards, away from the scene.

Kairi runs over and stands on the opposite side of Eliana. “Are you okay?” she asks quietly, wrapping her arms around Eliana’s shoulder protectively.

“I’m fine,” she says quietly, watching as Jason stands up, blood flowing from the cut again.

Zale snickers beside me. “Looks like you’re going to need stitches for that cut, bud.”

“You think this is funny,bud?” the round guy from the group asks, approaching Zale while cracking his knuckles.

Zale, being the hot head that he is pulls his arm back before throwing it forward with all his strength, punching the guy’s nose and probably breaking it from the nasty cracking sound that reverberates around the room. He falls to the ground, and I quickly pull Zale away as he goes to lunge at him just as the bartender walks over.

“Alright, boys, time to go.” the bartender says, her brows pinched in annoyance as she rounds up a few older men nearby and they start dragging the bleeding and balding guys out of the bar.

She pins me with a disappointed look before returning behind the bar and pulling out her cellphone.

“We better get out of here,” Kairi whispers, rubbing her hands up and down Eliana’s arms. “She’s Coach’s cousin and I’m almost certain she’s calling him right now.”

Eliana doesn’t say anything as her gaze focuses on the shattered bottle by her feet. Goosebumps crawl up her arms and I’m sure the adrenaline rush must be fading out of her system right now.

“You guys can go,” I say, clearing my throat. “I’ll drive her back after I settle our tab.”

Kairi scowls at me but doesn’t argue as she gives Eliana a quick hug, whispering something into her ear. When Eliana nods, Kairi squeezes her one more time before releasing her and walking over to Zale’s side.

“We’re not driving off until I see her physically get in your car, Fin.” Maliah says in a cool tone as she comes up behind us with a pissed of Koa in tow.

“What, do you think I’d just leave her here after all of that?”

“You haven’t exactly given her the warmest welcome,” she confirms.

“What the fuck, Mal?” Her words sting. “You should know me better than that.”

Guilt flashes in Maliah’s eyes but she quickly covers it up with an eye roll before following Kairi and Zale out of the bar, Koa following closely behind with his hands still bawled into fists. I turn to look at Eliana who is profusely apologizing to the bartender as she pays. I notice her hands still have a slight tremor as she takes the card and the receipt from the pissed off bartender. She slides them into her back pocket and turns to look at me.

“You okay?” I ask, eyeing her.

She nods, looking around self-consciously at all the eyes focused on her from strangers at the bar. She pulls her sleeves over her hands, a giveaway that she’s extremely uncomfortable, so I do the sensible thing and take her hand into mine, intertwining our fingers.

“What are you doing?” She asks, taken aback.

I don’t answer as I begin walking toward the exit, pulling her close behind me. I glare at anyone who is still staring at us and making her uncomfortable until they look away.

The cool night air blows around her hair as we exit the bar and walk to the parking lot. My jeep is parked next to the teamvan where the others are seated and watching us. I clench my jaw as my eyes connect with Maliah, her eyes narrowed as she watches us.

I let go of Eliana’s hand and slow my pace so that I’m walking beside her. “Did you get anything to eat?”

I know the answer, but I don’t want to make it too obvious that I’ve been watching her the whole night.

“I ordered fish tacos, but they ran out of fish. I didn’t get a chance to order anything else before that guy came over.”

“We can get food along the way.” She stops walking and looks up at me with a frown.

“Why are you being nice to me?” she asks.

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