Page 143 of Unraveling Rain
That sleazy bastard widens his smile like it’s going to charm me, but I recoil like he just pulled a weapon.
My confusion vanishes in a flash of heat.
“You!”
I take two hard steps forward, rage already surging in my chest.
He lifts his hands in front of him, like it’ll make a difference.
“You broke her, motherfucker.”
I grab him by the lapels and yank him off the ground.
He yelps, eyes wide in panic.
But I don’t care.
I’m snarling in his face, every inch of me vibrating with rage—for what he did to Rain. For the pain. For the damage he left behind.
“Xander, hey—let him go,” Matt says quietly, stepping closer.
“There’s no fucking way. This piece of shit hurt Rain, and now he wants to crawl back into her life.”
Dennis is squirming, trying to pry my hands from his jacket, but I’m stronger—and I’m not letting go.
“I know, man. I know,” Matt says, lowering his voice. “But if you hit him, there will be repercussions. You don’t want to be benched—or worse. He’s not worth it.”
He’s right. I know he is.
But letting this bastard walk away like it’s nothing? That feels impossible.
“Hijo, what’s going on?” my dad asks as he approaches. “Who’s this guy?”
The motherfucker has the nerve to speak. “Please, sir. Tell him to let go of me. I just want to talk to Rain. That’s all.”
I tighten my grip on his lapels, pulling him harder. He yelps again.
Dad shoots me a confused look.
“This asshole hurt Rain many years ago,” I say, voice low and shaking. “Now he wants to talk to her.”
Dad’s eyes widen. I nod.
He snaps. In a second, he’s beside me.
“Let him go, hijo. I got him.”
He pats my back.
I lean in, face inches from Dennis’s. Hewhimpers.
“Do not ever try to contact her. And if I ever have the misfortune to cross paths with you again, I won’t let you off so easily.”
I release him. He stumbles back and hits the floor.
He dusts off his jacket as he stands, already smiling at my dad—until Dad hauls him up and punches him square in the jaw.
Dennis crashes to the ground, face first.
