Page 138 of No Rules

“No big deal?” he retorts with a joyless laugh. “You just got TJ into deeper shit.”

Sam doesn’t really try to free himself, as if silently submitting to the leader of the Pack. Seeing the hold that Tucker has on the others is impressive, a little creepy, too.

Dan must be thinking the same thing I am. He gets up from the old chair on my right, creaking it, and walks over to Tucker, looking puzzled.

“Give him a break, man. He acted stupidly, but I’m sure everything will be fine.”

Tucker doesn’t listen to him. Instead, he tightens his grip a little more. What the hell is he doing?! I feel like I’m looking at a new person. And I don’t like it. I should keep quiet, sit quietly like the others, but I can’t. I straighten up, analyzing Tucker’s tense shoulders under his T-shirt. His back is contracted, knotted from the tension that doesn’t leave his body.

“You should listen to Dan,” I begin softly.

The only response I get is a muffled curse. A low sound echoes in his chest.

“You know what, fuck you,” I retort.

I know he didn’t really insult me, but I insulted him. At least his attention is now on me. I cross my arms over my chest. Tucker seems surprised for a second. I get it, he’s not used to people opening their mouths. Well, with me, he’s going to need to get over it…

“You had to know that something was going to go wrong,” I point out. “Yeah, Sam acted stupidly, but smashing a car wasn’t a great idea either.”

“Shut up,” he orders me, squinting.

His gaze and his tone admit no contradiction.

I raise my eyebrows and tilt my head to the side. “I’m not some little thing that will break under your gaze, Tucker. In fact, at this moment, I just want to fuck with you.”

He squints his eyes a little more. Yeleen stands up behind him. She has a weird look on her face, like she’s telling me to shut up.

“You’re not going to fix this by threatening or choking Sam,” I continue.

A silent minute passes.

All eyes are on me, but mine are still on Tucker. He doesn’t appreciate me putting him in his place in front of everyone. He purses his lips, but no sound comes out. Finally, he looks at Sam before reluctantly letting go.

“Get out of here,” he mumbles through his teeth.

He runs his hand through his brown beard and, dropping into the couch on my left, says to the Pack, “Get out of here, all of you.”

Sam doesn’t say a word before dashing out, Yeleen and Sarah leave quickly too. Contrary to what I would have thought, Dan also leaves.

“He needs to be alone,” Dan whispers to me as he walks by.

I start to follow Sanchez then glance at my back. Tucker is leaning forward, elbows resting on his knees, head pressed against his palms.

His body is as tense as ever. I know that thoughts are swirling in his skull and that he is angry. I know he wanted to take care of TJ, to protect his cousin, and things got out of hand. He couldn’t control the situation the way he wanted to. Giving him time to calm down would be the best thing to do.

But he also seems weary, downcast. I can’t leave him like this.

“You coming?” Sanchez asks me, waiting at the bottom of the old stone staircase.

I stare at him for a second, my gaze meeting his. He looks exhausted with his long, tangled locks of black hair. I take a step in his direction then finally shake my head.

He frowns, glances at Tucker, and then nods silently as if he totally understands the situation. How could he when I don’t understand it myself?

I turn and slowly walk over to Tucker. He doesn’t hear me, his head still pressed into his palms. I stop a foot away from him, not really knowing what to do.

“Are you okay?” I whisper stupidly.

He slowly raises his head and plants his different color eyes directly on me. He wrinkles his lips.

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