Page 28 of Mistaken Prejudice

“Where’re you rushing to?” His voice was laced with amusement.

While Shay-Lee and his girlfriend seemed unfazed by our arrival, I noticed the two other guys standing nearby. One of them, the redhead I punched the first day, was busy laughing, while the other guy looked like he was forced into the whole matter. He had a strong build with long muscles and a dark buzz cut. Though, the most noticeable part about him was his bright green eyes and beautiful red lips. The guy looked away when the twin who had his hand on my chest pushed me a bit more. I inhaled a deep breath before looking the asshole right in the eyes, taking another moment to think the situation through. What would be the best way to act? It was five against two, so our chances—

“Get the fuck out of my face,” Diesel growled as he pushed between the wall of men and made his way to the truck.

Well, I guess he didn’t need a moment to think through. By the time I managed to move past my obstacle, Diesel’s hands had grabbed Shay-Lee’s shirt and yanked him away from the girl and pinned his back against the truck. Shit, that’s gonna leave a dent in my baby.

“What the hell, you freak!” the blond girl yelled as she tried to hit Diesel with her manicured nails.

Diesel, who gave her no attention, tightened his hold around Shay-Lee’s neck. Surprisingly, Shay-Lee didn’t resist. Instead, he looked rather pleased.

“Don! Lin! Do something,” the girl spat out. The twins, Don and Lin, made their way toward Diesel, when Shay-Lee started laughing.

“I don’t need any help.” He grinned.

“Are you sure about that, Princesa?” Diesel’s voice came out low and gravely. His dark eyes sparkled with desire. Not for Shay-Lee, but for violence, for blood. And as much as I wanted these guys to get what they deserved, I couldn’t let my best friend lose it. I couldn’t allow that side of him to break free and take over. Not after all the progress we’d made.

When I reached over to pull Diesel away from Shay-Lee, I noticed the same sparkle in Shay-Lee’s eyes. The vicious smile on his smug face confirmed my worries. He recognized that darkness my best friend held within himself, and he just made it his life’s mission to bring it out. The reason he recognized it so easily was that he himself shared the same thirst. He and Diesel ran on the same dangerous fuel. And it was only a matter of time before this thing went down in flames.

“Back off, Chica,” Diesel warned with his hands still grasping onto Shay-Lee’s shirt.

“Listen to him, Chica.” My nickname on Shay-Lee’s lips felt like venom. “Let us sort it out ourselves.” He laughed. He was the only one laughing.

“Get the fuck off!” The blond girl continued to hit Diesel. “Can’t you hear what I’m saying? You dog!”

Only then did Diesel turn to look at her, and that was enough to shut her up. Thank God for that.

“Tell your bitch to fuck off. Her whines annoy the shit out of me.” His eyes quickly turned to Shay-Lee, who seemed even more amused by the situation.

“Are you going to let him speak to me that way?” she barked.

“Your whining really is annoying.”

Did he actually just say that to his girl? What is wrong with the guy?

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Her eyebrows curved in shock and her face twisted with rage before she grabbed her designer bag from the truck.

“Not really. I’m sort of serious.”

“We’re so over!” She turned around, her blond curls following the move, and walked away.

“You’re seriously fucked in the head, aren’t you?” Diesel smiled viciously, and I took the chance to finally separate the two of them.

We took a step back while Shay-Lee straightened up and fixed his clothes, quickly surrounded by the twins and the other two guys. One of them handed him his backpack. Grabbing it, he hung it over his right shoulder.

“Where the hell are you going?” I asked when they started to make their way back to the school.

“We’ve got a game to get ready for.” Shay-Lee remarked from afar. I took another look at the three cars blocking our own before looking back at the group of guys getting away.

“We’ve got work,” I yelled after them even though I knew it was for nothing.

“Tough shit.” Shay-Lee’s laugh echoed in the parking lot until they were out of reach.

“Fuck!” Diesel yelled before he bent to the ground and picked up a rock.

“Whoa! Whoa!” I quickly raised my hand and grabbed his forearm, before he could smash the SUV’s window with the rock.

“Let go, Andrei!”