Kelly was a badass driver. She ducked down side streets, through alleys, and took us on a drive down streets I didn’t know existed in Grant West, but no one had followed us. When we finally relaxed, Emerson farted.
“Seriously.” I groaned, covering my nose.
Kelly was hunched forward, her knuckles almost white as she held the steering wheel with a death grip. A laugh fell out of her, and she whispered, almost to herself, “You guys are nuts.”
“Yes, nuts.” Elijah was waving his hand in the air. “That’s apparently what Em ate last. Shit, man. Seriously.”
Emerson laughed, still sounding high as a kite. “Sorry, guys. There were peanuts everywhere. They were talking to me.”
“I’m sure,” Luke griped. “Move over, come on. Kelly, you need a bigger car. Three guys in the backseat is not comfortable.”
She glanced up in the rearview mirror. “No offense, but I don’t usually buy my vehicles based on how many guys I can fit in the backseat, although, maybe I should.” Then she shrugged, turning onto the main highway that ran through Grant West. “This night’s been lovely, so enjoyable, but, uh, where am I supposed to be driving to? I’m running low on gas.”
Luke met my gaze in the mirror, too, but he asked Elijah, “Do we need to worry about retaliation?”
“No.”
Elijah’s answer was too short.
I turned around in my seat. “Hey. Retaliation. Give us the truth this time.”
He looked up, searing me with the anger still suppressed there and said, “I said no. I meant no. You won’t be touched. I promise.”
My eyes narrowed. “I don’t like how you’re saying that.” My fingers curled into the seat, and I swallowed over a knot forming in my throat. “Are you going back to finish things?”
“You can’t do that.”
Elijah whipped his head to Luke’s, silencing whatever else he was going to add. Then Eli murmured, way too softly, “This is my business. I know how to handle things.”
“You didn’t back there,” I argued.
He snorted. “A mistake I won’t be making again.”
I remembered his words. That he could’ve taken his crew there in the first place. “You really thought you could go in and get Emerson, and there wouldn’t be a fight?”
“I had hoped.” He turned to look out the window, raising his hand to idly tap against it. “I know better now. Trust me, Bri, I won’t be involving you or Pretty Boy in any more situations. I guarantee that.”
Luke spoke up for him, telling me, “Emerson was personal, not business. That’s why he got me.”
“I know.” But I was still worried about Elijah. I looked back at my ex. “Just don’t get yourself killed.”
“What?” Elijah snapped. “You mean like my old man? My brother? Nah, no way, Brielle. They both got shanked in prison. No, no worries. I won’t get myself killed, not like them anyway.”
“Elijah—” I started.
Emerson quieted me. “Shut up, Bri. I’m seeing fucking rainbows, and even I can tell you’re fighting a losing battle. If the moron wants to throw down, let him throw down. It’s what he does. He’s stayed alive this long. He must know how to do something right.”
I growled back, “Go back to fucking a rainbow, Em. All of this happened because of you.”
“Whatever. Worse shit has happened because of you.”
The car got deathly silent.
Let it go, Bri. Let it go. My blood was starting to boil. Think cold showers.
I waited, but nothing. My blood was still boiling. It kept going higher and higher, until I couldn’t contain it anymore. It exploded out of me. I looked back and locked eyes with Luke. He saw what was going to happen and started to throw up a hand, but dropped it right back down. A slow smile started to spread across my face. It was probably an ugly looking one, but I didn’t give a crap. I wanted Emerson’s balls. He was going to keep riding my ass if I didn’t do something about it, and today was that day.
I lunged for Emerson.
Throwing my body toward the backseat, I ended up sprawled between the seats. Without pausing, I rained punch after punch on him, using my fists. I didn’t use my hands—not dainty-like little slaps. I wasn’t going for his hair. I wasn’t going to scratch his face. I used as much of my body behind my blows as possible. Like I said before, I wasn’t a stranger to a fight.
Then everything turned into chaos.
Elijah and Luke did nothing. They didn’t hold me back or anything. Emerson was dazed after the first punch, so I continued, and Kelly screamed. The car veered toward the middle of the road, but she righted it before slamming on the brakes. At the abrupt stop, I fell backwards. Luke grabbed my arm, holding me still so I didn’t go through the windshield, but he wasn’t going to stop me. I wasn’t done with Emerson.
Then Kelly threw open her door, and so did Elijah and Luke. Emerson was still in the middle, covering himself with his arms now. He hurried out the side, and I tried to climb after him, dropping all the way into the backseat and following behind him, and he tried to shut the door in my face. Curses were spewing from him now. Seeing the door coming for my face, I blocked it. Flipping around in the seat, I kicked it open and was on my feet instantly.
I charged for him once again, but Luke wrapped an arm around my waist. He hoisted me up in the air, holding me like I was a doll. He said over my head to Elijah, who was somewhat blocking Emerson, “Are we going to let this happen?”
“Fuck you, Brielle! You whore!”
Elijah shrugged, ignoring Emerson. “I’m game. He deserves an ass kicking anyway. Bri can hold her own.”
I struggled against Luke’s hold, but his arm wasn’t going anywhere. He only lifted me higher, and his arm dug across my hipbones. I yelled back, wiping the back of my hand over my mouth, “Fuck you back, Emerson! You piece of shit. I’m tired of your mouth. I’ve never done a goddamn thing to you.”
Kelly whimpered from behind us, “You guys are nuts.”
Luke glanced at her, turning me around with him, and we saw she was sitting on the ground. Her face was ashen, and she was rocking back and forth, shaking her head at the same time.
Luke dropped me back to the ground, but kept his hands at my sides. “You okay?”
No. “Yes.” I pried myself from him to put some space between us. “I’m good. I just lost my momentum.”
“You sure?”
I turned my back to him. I didn’t want to see the concern and care in his eyes. I didn’t deserve to see that. Elijah’s gaze was hooded, and when he glanced at Luke, the speculation was deep in those greens of his, then he shook his head.
“What a cu—”
I saw that word forming on my cousin’s mouth, and I was in his face before he could finish it. No one would call me that name. My fist hit the side of his face just as he almost said it. All the anger that had left me rushed back in full force. Fuck it. I was taking him down, family or not.
Emerson fell back. I had used my entire body’s weight behind my hit, so there was some force there, but it was only enough to stun him. He was muscular, and I wasn’t an idiot. I couldn’t fight him that way, so I launched myself at him, wrapped my legs around his waist and flipped myself backwards. He came with me, and I was able to throw his body to the ground. Before he could get back up, I brought my knee down to his groin. A primal scream ripped from his throat, but he flung his hands up and shoved me off. I hit the ground, banging my elbows, and I knew my skin had been ripped on my arm somewhere. I felt the burn, but I didn’t care.
Emerson struggled to his feet and bent over, cupping himself. He looked up with pained eyes, so I waited. His features started to tighten. I saw the snarl returning and braced myself, waiting for his next insult.
“You fucking whor—”
One more time. I launched at him, wrapped my legs around his torso, and did the same thing. I hit the ground with my shoulder, jarring it, but I kicked at him once again. Another guttural scream came from him, and this time, when I stood up, he stayed in the fetal position, whimpering.
I wiped some blood off my face—not sure how that had happened—and flicked it to the ground. “Stop calling me names. Stop fucking with me. Just stop, Emerson! Stop!”
He looked up, and I stopped talking. There was so much hate in his eyes. I felt punched in the gut. Pressing my hands to my stomach, I moved back and shook my head. His hatred was never going to end. I considered him family, but he considered me an enemy.
I choked out. “What did I ever do to you?”
“To me?” He laughed, a bitter, ugly sound. He was still bent over, struggling to stand up. His face was pinched in pain. “It’s not me, you bitch. It’s what you did to these guys. He’s my best friend.” He pointed at Elijah, and then swung his hand to Luke. “And he’s like a brother, and you, you fucked them both over.”
My eyes got big. “That’s why you hate me? Because of my love life?”
He shook his head, spitting out some blood. “I was there, Bri. You were upset, and I was coming to check on you, but I saw you. I know who you were with and what he had you do.” He kept shaking his head, regret forming as he looked at Luke. “You’ve never told him what happened. His dad almost killed him, and you’ve never once told him why. You just left and went straight to Elijah. You left him bleeding there and went to my best friend. You fucked them both in that one move, and you’ve not once had the balls to tell Luke the truth.”
“Emerson,” Elijah murmured.
“Stop.” Emerson rounded on him. “You know it’s true. Now it’s happening all over again. She’s fucking both of you again, except this time she’s just going back to him. I’m tired of it. I’m tired of seeing two people I care about in pain all because of this bitch.”
“That’s enough,” Luke ground out, but I saw the question in his eyes.
I had to tell him. The time had come. If this was why my cousin hated me so much, it was way past due.
“No! You don’t even know, Luke. I’m sticking up for you. For you, man.” He jerked a hand to Elijah. “And my best friend, too.” He looked to me. “Bri, it’s gone on long enough. Tell him and drop out of the fucking band, too.” He spat at my feet. “You don’t deserve to play with us.”
“Emerson.”
The rebuke didn’t come from Elijah or Luke. Both had fallen silent. This time it came from Kelly. She was back on her feet, darting to the middle of us. Crossing her arms, she stood at my side and glared at my cousin. “That’s enough,” she hissed. “I don’t care what Bri has done that you’ve decided to appoint yourself her judge and jury. You have no right to speak to her the way you do, and if you keep doing it, you’re banned from the bar. For life. Every time you step foot in there, I’ll have you tossed in jail.”
“What? We practice there.”
“Trust me.” She raised her chin, challenging him. “Rowdy will back me on this one.”
“Whatever, you’re a bit—”
“Shut up!” Luke and Elijah yelled at the same time, and Luke added, “You need to play there, asshole. Shut your hole, for once.”
Elijah added, “Besides, you’re all pissed at her, but I knew.”
“What?” Emerson dropped his mouth. “You knew?”
“The whole time.” Elijah winked at him. “She told me, dipshit, and you can stop with the name-calling at least.” He took a drag and gestured to Luke with his cigarette. “Besides, you don’t want to screw up your future. That guy, that band, it’s where you need to go to get away from Brute.” As he said that last name, the easygoing Elijah was gone again. Back was Drug Dealer Elijah with danger simmering beneath the surface as he added, “And you and I are going to have a chat about that one. I’m tired of getting calls that my own best friend is baked out of his head.”
“You sell drugs. Who are you to judge?”
A harsh laugh ripped from me, hearing that coming from my cousin. “Who are you to judge?”
He whipped back to me, his hands forming fists, but Luke stood in the middle of us and held out his hands. “Stop. Just stop, you guys. She kicked your ass, literally. You’re still half-baked, and you’re going to start another round with her?”
“I can get a few good hits in.” There were other dark promises lurking in the depths of my cousin’s eyes as he continued to glare at me.
I flung my hands out. “I’ll kick your ass again.”
And I started forward, right into Luke’s hand, he pushed me back and turned to glare at Emerson. I heard the quiet venom there as he said, “If you don’t turn off your attitude to her, I will kick your ass myself. I’m fed up with it.”
“But Luke—”
“I don’t give a shit!” he roared back at him. His shoulders and arms were rigid, and his jaw was clenched tight.
He was gorgeous.
“Change your attitude, or you’re out of the band. I mean it. Gunn can fill in for you any day of the week,” he clipped out, and then snapped his fingers and pointed to the car. “Get inside and keep your fucking mouth shut.”
Emerson let out a disgruntled sound, but Elijah grabbed him and started pushing him to the backseat. “Come on. Don’t rock the boat, Em. Trust me on that.” As he continued to herd him into the car, I heard Emerson grumble, “Where the hell did she learn those moves? From you? Did you teach her that?”
Elijah laughed, getting in behind him. “I wish. That would’ve been a whole other level of fun.”
Then Luke grinned at me. “You remembered.” Pride shone from him as he ran a hand over his jaw. “I about shit a brick when I saw you throw him down.”
“Yeah, I remembered.”
Kelly grunted beside me. “I stand by what I said. You guys are just nuts.” She let out another deep breath. “But fun at the same time.”
Luke laughed, following me to the car with his hand at the small of my back. “We usually have Braden with us, too.”
She let out a deep laugh. “I can’t imagine the stories you guys have, especially with him.”
Then we parted. Luke’s hand dropped, and he went to the other side of Emerson. I went to the passenger side, and Kelly got behind the wheel again. No one spoke on the way to the hospital.
When we got there, I went to check on my mom and Braden. Elijah took off. No one asked him where he was going. Luke went with Emerson to the emergency room to see if he needed stitches; the place under his chin where I had kicked him hadn’t stopped bleeding.
It was a surreal ending to the entire night, but in some way, it was fitting. We all went our own ways.