Page 138 of Wrong Pucking Jersey

I tense up from the stomping footsteps of Jayce’s approach, but Damien just holds me tighter.

“You’re safe, Jagiya,” he whispers in my ear.

Those stomping steps come to a stop, but I feel Jayce isn’t as close as he should be, as though he stopped a few steps away.

Damien takes advantage of the opportunity.

“There’s a difference between fearing your world is crumbling down because of the pressure the world delivers at every angle and allowing the walls to close in on you at every direction, even though you have the power to press the stop button,” he reveals with words far wiser than I can fully grasp. “Unlike Maddox, I don’t have time to help someone who has the power in their hands to control whether those walls close in or remain completely still.”

I feel his lips press against the top of my head before he rests his chin on that spot.

“However, I won’t stand here and tolerate you scaring my Jagiya.”

“S-Scaring? She’s not—“

“Scared?” he questions. “Look at her hands and say that boldly in my face again.”

I can’t check my hands because my face is firmly pressed against Damien’s chest, but I know without a doubt my hands are trembling.

If it wasn’t because of the soft musk with a hint of pine and rosemary cologne Damien is wearing, I’d be having a full-blown panic attack after the overwhelming confrontation with Jayce.

That’s still happening, just with a different target.

“I… if…”

“I don’t want to hear your excuses,” Damien cuts to the chase with his stern, heartless voice. He’s had enough. “I don’t care what you were talking about with Jagiya, but I swear, if I ever see you insult, scream, or intimidate her again, we won’t be exchanging words, Winchester.”

I’ve never seen Damien threaten someone. Nor have I ever seen him involved in a fistfight.

“Now, you’re going to be the golden boy you are and quietly walk away,” he instructs dangerously. “For I’ll be kind enough to warn you, Maddox is downstairs in the parking lot, ready to tear this place down if he doesn’t have Mikayla in his grasp, and I can bet with my life that the moment he sees you and a trembling Mikayla, all he’ll see is red as he punches you into bits.”

I’m surprised Jayce hasn’t countered him yet.

“Now get going,” Damien orders.

Jayce mutters something under his breath, something along the lines of ‘stupid Korean shit’ before I hear his shuffling footsteps fade with every step.

“Oh, I suggest you go the opposite way,” Damien surprisingly announces.

Those steps come to a stop.

“News outlets are crowding the entrance. Unless you want to go viral on TikTok or emphasize your ‘story’ with what happened on 15th, you should take the back entrance,” Damien says as if it’s not as important as it is. “Only employees and admitted patients take that entrance, and there are taxis waiting at the curb.”

He’s helping him?

“Tsk,” Jayce makes the noise with his teeth before I hear his stomping footsteps. They come to a stop, and I feel with my entire being Jayce is on my right.

“If you think I’m letting you or Maddox stop me from claiming what I desire, you’re delusional,” he announces with pride. “The Winchesters always get what they want. This won’t be an exception.”

I don’t know what to say.

Actually, I can’t believe this is even occurring.

“That’s wild to me,” Damian whispers. “The Owens are no different.” His voice drops even further. “Only, if we don’t get what we want, we won’t hesitate to spill blood to take exactly what we desire from our enemies’ grasp.”

I hold my breath while my gasp gets stuck in my throat. I’m glad I did because this insane atmosphere is so congested with tension, I’d probably struggle to breathe if I stood between these two men.

“Are you threatening me?” Jayce whispers.