Page 55 of Pretty Black

“River said those were from your father.” It took me a minute to understand what Caspian meant.

“Most of them are,” I said coldly, my face on fire.

“Why the fuck would you do that to yourself?”

“Get out,” I screamed, trying to pull my arm back, but he wouldn’t let go of it. I shoved him, and he shoved me back. I brought up my fists, and he did the same. “Hit me then.”

“You’d really like that, it seems,” Caspian snarled.

I wheeled around, punching the mirror, then I cleared the table and threw the chairs on my way out of the dressing room. I had to find River. He’d keep Caspian off my back.

“Where the fuck are you going?” Caspian said at my heels.

“What’s going on?” Lowe asked, grabbing me out of nowhere.

I hadn’t even seen him. “I’m fine. Where’s River?” I barely managed the words between shaky breaths.

“Woah, you don’t sound so good—or look so good.” Lowe tightened his grip on my arm. “What happened?”

“I’ll handle it,” Caspian said, coming up behind Lowe.

“No,” I said through my teeth.

“You can’t fucking hide behind other people. You have to speak to me eventually,” Caspian screamed.

“It’s a waste of time telling you anything. You don’t fucking listen,” I screamed back.

“What’s going on?” River asked.

Great, it was going to be a whole thing.

“No fucking clue,” Lowe said when no one spoke. “I came out here and found them getting in each other’s faces.”

River glanced between us. “Is this done?”

“Far from,” Cas said.

“It’d be done if you got the fuck out of my way,” I said, backing away from him and Lowe.

“You know I’m not doing that.” Cas crossed his arms over his massive chest, like he was going to prevent me from leaving.

“Caspian, does this need to happen right now? We had a great show, and you’ve got to be jet-lagged.” River met my eyes, frowning. He wanted to ask what had happened. How we’d fallen so fast.

“He and I have things we need to discuss,” Caspian said through his teeth, getting closer, but Lowe grabbed him.

I stood my ground, refusing to let him think he’d get an inch from me.

Cas aggressively shoved Lowe, and they gripped each other’s shirts, throwing each other around, vying for dominance. I’d never seen them put hands on each other.

River got between them, putting his face right next to Caspian’s. “Enough.”

Lowe stepped back, fixing his clothes while glaring at Cas. He wore a leather jacket with gold zippers and a button-down askew, showing off his pecs and chest.

“You on your way out?” River asked.

“Was about to, but I’ll cancel if you need backup.”

“Saint here?” River asked.

---