Page 63 of Crew
"You good?"
There was some hesitation, but then Race nodded. "I am."
It was almost karmic for Jordan to be nervous now, but a part of me felt for him. Jordan was pushing Race's buttons because he was the new guy, but also because of me. Mostly, however, I think Jordan was doing it because he could.
I started to feel better about this confrontation until Cross stepped forward.
Both his hands were in his sweatshirt pockets, and his shoulders were stiff and taut. Race could fight. I'd seen enough to know it was true, but the one guy who could go toe to toe with him was Cross.
Race's quiet confidence was nothing compared to the air that radiated off Cross.
He was dangerous.
And when Race's chest rose and stayed, I knew he was feeling it too.
Cross was also still furious, but I hadn't figured out the reason--that is until he started speaking.
It was quiet, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
Whether Race realized it or not, he was treading dangerous ground with Cross.
The rest of us stood back and let him talk. We'd learned to shut up when Cross had something to say, when he was in this mood. He didn't strike, unless there was a reason. And there was always a good reason when he did.
"I'm saying that because I see you." He took another step forward. As he did, Jordan backed out, so it was now Race facing us with only Cross in front of him. It was almost a conversation between the two of them, but knowing Cross, he did this to send another message. He didn't need us to back him up. He didn't need us to help him. He could stand on his own just fine and Race swallowed, seeming to get it.
His throat moving up and down. "I get it."
"No." Cross shook his head briskly. "You don't get it. You're around us, a lot. You're around Bren, a lot. You're putting your nose in our business. You're standing up to your cousin for us? We didn't ask you for that. It's to the point now where we have to acknowledge you and the 'help' you're giving us, but that's not how we work. You want to be crew, you straight up say it. We decide then. Not you. You don't worm your way in with us. You don't get to try to weasel your way in." He straightened up, but his hands remained in his sweatshirt pockets. With his hood still on, he was the image of a bad boy facing off against a threat.
Shivers snaked their way down my spine, turning into a throb in my stomach. That throb was moving lower, and I flattened my hand against my stomach. I hadn't felt this before, with anyone.
I moved to the side so I could see Cross' face. I almost couldn't look away. He was entrancing, the way his chin jutted up defiantly and his nostrils flared, how he looked down his nose at Race.
He was pushing back a foe, one maybe we hadn't seen before. Cross was right. Race had been slinking his way in, and as if feeling my thoughts, he looked my way.
He shook his head. "I didn't--I offered to help because I want to help. There's no agenda. I mean it."
"Bullshit."
Race focused on Cross again. "I mean it. I don't want anything from you guys. My parents are divorcing. That's the real reason we're here. The fighting ring is a bonus. It's a way to piss off my dad, to be completely honest. But I do like fighting, and yeah, I mean..." His eyes cast down. He rolled his shoulders back. "God. I don't know. Maybe I did have an agenda. Drake told me to stick close to you guys if I wanted protection. I don't want to join my cousin's crew. They're not the good ones. I've heard them. I've been around them. They're turning into the bad crew." He stopped again, licking his lips, his throat moving up and down. "Shit. You're right. I was trying to weasel my way in." A fleeting panic pulled at his face. "I'm sorry. I am. I know that's how you guys are. I didn't--I wasn't thinking it through. Drake said you guys were the ones to be friends with."
Cross snorted. "Drake was fucking with you." His eyes slid my way again. "He knows we don't bring in strays. He wanted to mess with us."
Us.
I swallowed over a knot.
Me.
My ex wanted to mess with me, and I remembered all his sniping comments about Cross.
He wanted to mess with me and Cross.
I swore. "I'm going to rip his balls off."
Jordan and Zellman laughed.
A faint grin showed at the corner of Cross' mouth. Some of the air lightened too, but he didn't say anything.
