Page 61 of Rules Of Our Own

CHAPTER29

RIVER

Red takesover my gaze when my eyes land on the cocky asshole banging on Mia’s door. There’s no doubt in my mind I’m looking at her slimy ex-boyfriend.

What I don’t understand is what the fuck he’s doing here. Sidney called this morning telling us we needed to check on Mia, that it had been days since she’d answered her calls. I had to fight back the sickening twist in my gut when she didn’t answer my messages either.

Sidney and Jax are stuck on their holiday in the Maritimes, and the earliest flight they can get out is tomorrow night. I didn’t hesitate to call up my buddy and pull in the favor he owed me to borrow his private plane.

I’d been an anxious mess the entire hour-and-a-half flight, but nothing prepared me for the pure rage I’d feel toward this sniveling piece of shit.

Alex, always the first to react, has him pinned to the wall by his collar, his face going red with the lack of oxygen.

The asshole smirks and sneers. “Do it. I fucking dare you. I’ll have your ass in jail so fast, and a pretty boy like you won’t like it there.” He looks Alex up and down, and even from his pinned position, he smiles. “Or maybe you would like it.”

Alex pulls her ex toward him, then slams him back into the wall. The asshole grunts with the impact, and his head falls forward. Now Alex is the one with a devilish smile.

“There’s no one out here who will corroborate your story. From what I can tell, you showed up here already beaten. Isn’t that right, River?”

The darkness in Alex’s tone has a shiver running down my spine. I have no intention of stopping him from killing this guy. I have to stop the strong urge to do it myself.

I close the distance between us and dig my fingers into the asshole’s hair, slamming the back of his head into the wall with a sickening crunch.

“You have no idea how badly you fucked up thinking no one cares for her. She’s all that matters to us, and you’re about to learn exactly what that means.” I move to do it again.

“Stop!” Mia looks panicked as she tries to pry herself between us. “You need to stop. Jason will report it. Neither of you can afford assault charges.”

Of course his name is Jason.

Alex’s eyes narrow on the asshole. “I’m not sure about that. Sounds worth it.”

“Please.” Mia’s voice is actually begging, and I drop her ex immediately. I never want to hear that sound again. Not when it’s laced with fear.

Alex tightens his grip, jerking Jason once more before letting his feet hit the floor.

He straightens his collar, trying his best to look unaffected, but all it does is highlight how much his hands shake. “Wait ’til my—”

“Father hears about this?” I let a vicious smile cut my face. “You’re not the only one who knows people.”

Mia tucks herself into my side, and I wrap my arm around her, running my fingers up and down her skin. I can feel the tension leaving her as she sinks further into me.

“Are you going to let him talk to me like that?” Jason snaps at Mia.

“Shut the fuck up.” Alex lunges at him, and the asshole barely dodges to the left.

Mia stiffens before disengaging from my side, taking a step toward him, her chin lifts and there’s a spark to her that has me tuned into every move she makes. She looks fierce with her shoulders back and her head held high. Then she goes and gives him ago fuck yourselfgrin, and I’ve never seen anything hotter.

“Look, Jason. Your dad’s not here right now to back you up. They look like they want to kick your ass. So let me be perfectly clear. You are deluding yourself if you think I could ever want you back. You were a mistake from the get-go, and you dumping me was the best gift you ever gave me. Don’t come by, don’t call me. Don’t even think about me. Because I sure as shit won’t be thinking about you.”

His face flushes red and turns an almost purple color. I don’t like the way he’s looking at her. Like he’s going to put her in her place as soon as he gets her alone. It’s not fucking happening.

“You’ll regret this, Mia.” Her ex goes to move around us to get to the elevator, bringing him within reaching distance of Mia, but Alex blocks his way.

“I highly suggest you back the fuck up,” Alex growls. He’s glaring down at him, chest heaving with the pent-up desire to kick this guy’s ass.

The asshole swallows hard and stumbles back before fleeing out the emergency stair exit.

I watch Jason until the door closes behind him with a bang, and I take several calming breaths, pushing down the rage threatening to bubble over, then look at her. My anger evaporates, turning into concern when Mia’s ragged inhale fills the air.

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