Page 49 of Delinquent (Academy of Misfits 1)

“Thisismyfight,” I repeat.

“Sonny laid hands on Monk first and now he has to end it. Those are the rules.”

“Rules?”

“Of the Tower,” Ford explains.

“Pink said this place was used to settle scores.”

“That’s right. He insulted you and Sonny decided to defend you. So, let him. It’s about time someone taught that prick a lesson given his own leader won’t,” Ford growls, seeking out Camden, his eyes narrowing when they find him.

“You don’t understand. Monk set uponmeearlier tonight. This reallyismy fight and I want my fucking revenge,” I bite out.

“What the fuck, Asia?” Ford snaps, his gaze focusing back on me. He yanks me around to face him, drawing a snarl from my lips.

“What is with you and manhandling me?” I grind out, glaring at him even though inside I’m on fire.

“Don’t avoid my question. What are you talking about, Asia?” he asks, dropping his hand, but not apologising for grabbing me.

“Monk and six of his gang tried to jump me earlier this evening. Monk set me up, telling me to meet him on the third floor of the annex.”

“Why the fuck would you do that?” Ford snaps, anger darkening his grey-green eyes. “That wasstupid.”

“He had a message from my friend, Eastern. I agreed to meet with him so I could see it. I should’ve known fucking better. So, yeah, fucking stupid. It won’t be happening again. I’ve learnt my lesson.”

A muscle jumps in Ford’s jaw. “So, that’s where he went. I should’ve known. I thought he was with Camden, seeing as he arrived tonight.”

“No, he wastryingto terrorize me.”

“And did he?” Ford asks, searching my face.

“No,” I half lie. He did fucking scare me though, even if it was for just a bit, but I’m not about to reveal that and neither am I going to tell Ford that Camden witnessed me crying about it either.

“Good. Never let them know they’ve affected you.”

Turning away from me, Ford continues to watch the fight. He holds his whole body stiff but makes no move to step in and break up the fight. I’d love to know what he’s thinking, perhaps our sessions with Mr Burnside will eventually open him up enough for me to see beyond his toughened exterior.

Before us, fists fly, knees jab, feet kick. It’s a dirty fight and with no referee to cut in, both sides are injured. Blood seeps from a cut in Sonny’s eyebrow and Monk’s lip is split. When Monk hits Sonny with such force that he stumbles backwards slightly I move forward instinctively.

“They’re going to kill each other,” I grind out. I really don’t want Sonny to get hurt on my account. Ford reaches out once more, but this time instead of grabbing me, he slides his arm around my back and draws me into his side. I’m acutely aware of his thumb hooking under the waistband of my jeans and the gentle, almost cajoling stroke of his fingers against my hip. He doesn’t say a word but despite everything that’s happening, it’s a distraction. Heat swirls outwards from my stomach and settles between my legs. What the fuck is up with me tonight? I’m like a dog in heat.

Monk punches Sonny in the back not far from his left kidney, and the power behind the punch forces Sonny to his knees. For a second Monk just prowls around Sonny spitting blood and spittle on the floor whilst the crowd goes nuts. Everyone bar me, Kate, Pink, Ford and, weirdly, Camden remain closed-mouthed. Monk even has the audacity to look over at me and point.

“You’re next,” he says smiling, his teeth coated in blood.

A rumbling growl releases from Ford at the same time that Sonny pushes to his feet. He’s a little wobbly, but he stands.

“I need to help him,” I protest, trying to step out of Ford’s hold. He tightens his arm around me, refusing to let me go.

“Sonny’s got this. Monk is strong, yes, but he has no stamina or common sense. Wait,” he urges, and for some reason I do. Though it hurts me to see Sonny take the punches. The realisation that I don’t like seeing him hurt is a bit of a shocker, given before tonight I hadn’t even considered Sonny more than an irritating gnat, least of all a friend. Sometime during this evening, that changed.

Across the other side of the room, I can see Camden watching the fight play out and I wonder what he really thinks about this whole display. Earlier today he defended me against Monk, at least I think that’s what he did. But perhaps he was just him reaffirming his power as leader. Yeah, that’s more likely. Now his gaze slips from the violent brawl and lands on us both, specifically me and Ford’s arm wrapped around my back. His attention makes my skin ice over then heat up all in one fell swoop.

“When this is over, Camden and I are going to need to have a little chat,” Ford states. “I’m not down with this bullshit Monk’s playing. One-on-one in a fair fight is one thing, fucking seven on one. No way. No fucking way.”

My response stills on my tongue as Sonny hits Monk square on the nose, blood spraying from his face at the impact. I’m pretty sure it’s broken. Monk falls to his knees ending the fight just like that. It’s been bloody and vicious. Sonny hasn’t come out of it unscathed, but he has won, and that’s all that matters right now. Some of the HH crew crowd around Monk, helping him to his feet and dragging him over to the far side of the space. It doesn’t go unnoticed that Camden doesn’t move towards him, and neither do a vast portion of the HH crew. The division is obvious. A couple of minutes later, the music gets turned up once more, and the crowd fills the floor and begins to dancing as if nothing happened.

“Jesus, that was intense,” Pink says, breathing out slowly as though she were holding her breath the whole time.

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