Page 118 of Disobedient Pawn

I released Mr. Davies’ arm.

“I’ve said all I need to say.”

I marched off, pushing my way through the crowd of people to find Vicky waiting by the open cafeteria door. She was in her Queen Bee stance. Arms crossed, eyes narrowed, with a foot and a manicured nail tapping.

“Say one word to me right now, and I’ll rip your fucking tongue from your head,” I said as she opened her mouth.

The consuming rage was bubbling up, and I needed to calm down. I marched out the side door of the cafeteria to get some fresh air. Myles and Theo were walking up the path, talking.

“Who the fuck pissed in yer cereal,” Myles asked as I stomped up to them and cut them off.

“I just had to do your job for you.” I poked him in the chest. “And stop hiding shit from me,” I growled, wanting a fight.

Myles looked at Theo and then back at me.

“What the fuck are ya talkin about, man?”

“Just now inside, Ren’s father was going to hit her, and I was the one that stopped it. That’s your job now, right? And why did I find out the two of you are, sort of together, from her and not you?”

I shoved him, and he stepped back. The confused look on his face quickly shifted to something much darker. I could always count on Myles to match my anger. I hated how he hid his inner demons so much easier than I could.

“Did ya say her father was going to hit her?”

“Yeah, and I stopped him.” I pushed him again. “Then the Dean took both of them into his office.”

“Stop fuckin’ pushing me, man.”

“Nash, this is ridiculous. We never give you a rundown of who we’re sleeping with,” Theo said.

“I’m not even sleeping with her, and what do you care?”

That was a question I couldn’t answer.

“I’m sick of all the secrets,” I said.

“Are we doin’ this again?” The anger in his voice was getting more prominent. “Why is it that yer suddenly thinking I’m not trustworthy?” I did trust him. So much that I knew I could push him, we beat the shit out of one another and have a beer later. “Are ya gettin’ as paranoid as yer old man?”

I took the bait for what it was and jumped at Myles, tackling him to the cold ground. I landed a right hook at the same time he did. The packed earth was hard and hurt like a bastard as we rolled around, exchanging blows, but neither of us gave an inch.

“Should we stop them?” I heard Theo ask.

Myles caught me across the jaw with his elbow rattling the teeth in my head, but he groaned as I got a knee into his side.

“Fuck no, this is awesome,” Blake answered.

“Too bad there aren’t more people out here I could take bets,” Liam chimed in, and the running commentary was enough to snap me out of the moment.

Now that the rage was used up, I didn’t bother to land my next hit and pushed myself off Myles to flop beside him. He had a split lip and some blood trickling from his nose.

“You look like shit,” I said to him.

“Ha, speak for yerself. Ya look no better,” Myles said and smiled.

“Sorry, man, you know I trust you with my life, right?” I watched his face closely, and the humorous smile slowly fell.

“Honestly, sometimes I wonder.” He pushed himself into a sitting position and stood, holding out his hand.

Grabbing his hand, I let him help me up but didn’t let go.