Page 10 of Inflame Me
I try to move, but the grip is still around me.
I have to stop the angry man.
“Wait, please. She’s hurt really badly. Please don’t hurt her anymore. Take it out on me, not her,” I say in a rush, the words coming out like verbal vomit. I’ll take the hits for her. I’ll take whatever this big man has if it will protect my mother.
He halts, turning to me. “What do you mean she’s hurt?”
I bow my head and shake it. I don’t want to say it, but … “Her fiancé beat the shit out of her.”
“Son-of-a-motherfucking-bitch!” he explodes. “You”—he points to me—“come with me. Rhys”—he points to the man behind me—“talk to Pops. Get this shit closed out.”
The strong arms leave me, and coldness invades my body. I immediately miss the comfort and turn to him, but he’s already heading to the door.
“I’ll tell Pops and be right out.” As he leaves me alone with bandana man, I don’t know why, but I want him back. I want him to protect me from this man who is so angry I’m not sure even my wonderful mother will be able to bring him down a few notches.
“Come on,” he says, leaving the room.
I stand there for a moment, shaking my head, and then hurriedly follow him—well, to the best of my abilities.
He pushes his way through the crowd, yelling names as he goes. However, the music is so loud I can’t make them all out. I think Cruz or GT or something.
We step out into the night and shoot to the parking lot. I have to take twice as many steps as him to keep up with his long stride.
“What car?” he barks.
“The blue one on the end.” I try to get a step in front of him, but he’s quick—I’ll hand him that.
He knocks on the passenger side door, and I immediately jump in front of him, blocking him from my mother. I already stepped up to James for her; scared or not, I’ll do the same for bandana man.
“Stop!” I scream, bumping him with my hip.
“Girl, you’d better watch how you talk to me,” he says as my mother’s wide eyes stare at me through the window.
“Stop it. She’s been through enough. If you want to talk to her, fine, but she’s hurt badly, and I can’t take her to the ER, so just give me a minute,” I lash out at him as the fear recedes, and my protective instincts kick in. No one hurts my mother.
I open the door.
“Cameron,” my mother breathes.
I turn to bandana dude. He’s my father? What the hell? He couldn’t have just told me that?
I GLARE AT him then turn back to my mom. “He wants to talk to you, okay?” I tell her.
“Yeah,” she whispers softly, her eyes still wide in shock.
I step to the side of the door as Cameron steps closer, the fury bouncing off him. Then he takes a look at my mother. “What the fuck happened?” His words are so cold, menacing, and scary that goose bumps form on my arms.
“Cameron,” my mother says in a calm tone, surprising me. She must have come out of her shock.
“Do not call me that. It’s Dagger. Second, tell me what the fuck happened to you? Tanner here said it was your old man?”
I close my eyes at the words, remembering only a few hours ago.
“Dagger? Really?”
“Not now, Mear. Tell me.”
Mear?I’ve never heard anyone call her that. Ever.
