Page 50 of A New Era

JJ steps aside and I move into his space and get into Jonah’s face.

“If your old lady has left you that’s your fuckin’ problem. You accusin’ my old lady of anything makes it my problem. You think I’m gonna let that slide?”

“Prez, I didn’t mean any offence. I just need to know where she is,” he groans painfully.

“Well, I’m fuckin’ offended. If Holly told you she had nothing to do with Beth running, then you thank her for her time and move the fuck on. I invite you to my wedding, and this is how you show your respect?”

“Leo, I’ll get this under control,” Wyatt urges.

“Nah, I’ll get it under control… unless you think I’m not capable?”

He pales and takes a step back. I look back to Jonah and silently debate how to put him in his place.

“You’ve got me all jacked up now and if you want this settled, you’ll step outside.”

Defeat plagues him and he’s the first to lead the way. JJ slaps my back as he walks out behind me, and I crack my knuckles.

“Break his fuckin’ nose, for sure,” he murmurs for me only to hear.

“I intend to,” I quip.

Brothers form a circle around us, but I don’t plan on giving them a show for long. I want to check in on Holly. Brothers thirst for blood booms around us and Jonah stands still, accepting his fate.

Rolling my neck, I launch forward and smash my fist into my nose, feeling it crack and break as I throw a second punch and then a third. His blood stains my knuckles and drips down his face.

“Is that enough for it to sink in to respect my old lady or do I need to continue?”

He holds his hand up, and says, “I got it. I’ll apologise the next time I see her.”

“No, you stay the fuck away. She walks into a room, you walk the fuck out. You lay eyes on her, I’ll pluck them out with my fingers.”

He nods, his blood dripping from his chin. “I deserve that.”

Fuck yeah, he does. Not meeting anyone’s eye, I walk through the brothers and head for home.

Wyatt jogs up beside me. “You gotta understand, Leo, his love for Beth is more of an obsession… a toxic, polluted, obsession. He will track her down and he’ll be a nightmare till he finds her.”

“Still, it’s not my problem, nor my old lady’s.”

I wave him off dismissively and continue walking past the bar. Holly’s necking a glass of wine and jumps when I storm into the house.

I hate how she’s now flinching in her own home. She holds my gaze before her eyes drop to my right hand.

“Why are you covered in blood?” she asks, reaching for a towel.

“I heard what happened when you got back from town. I made him see the error of his ways. He won’t approach you again.”

Her lips part but nothing comes out. I wash the blood off my hand and turn back to her.

“I’m guessing you took her into town, maybe to the bus station?”

She nods. “I had to. I was sitting in the bar, and he took one of Zara’s friends up to a room. The so-called love of his life was only a two-minute walk away!”

“Do you feel like you did the right thing?” I ask her.

“Yes.”

“From what I’ve seen and heard, I agree with you. I told you, I’ve got your back, babe.”

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