Chapter 18 #3
“Is everything OK here?” a member of staff suddenly muttered from beside my father. I glanced around. We had caught the attention of some of the guests. There were a couple of women ogling Reed, and another cluster of people talking behind their hands.
“Yes, it’s fine,” I replied, with a forced smile. They collected some empty glasses from the table and moved away.
“Nothing is fine,” Jasper fumed, stepping towards me, straightening his jacket. “You’re even more of a useless cunt than I first thought.”
Reed’s body stiffened beside me, and my father shifted on his feet.
There was a surge of movement as both Hudson and Nix moved.
Everything seemed to go in slow motion. Harper and Molly appeared instantly, both moving to grab Hudson, who was the most volatile.
Phoenix cracked his knuckles but was held back by our father. “Easy son, he isn’t worth it.”
I was aware of lights from people's cell phones behind us as the scuffle broke out. We were being filmed.
My entire nervous system went into overdrive as I moved to block Reed from grabbing Jasper.
“Please don’t, as Daddy said, he isn’t worth it,” I husked, my body jarring back and forth as I attempted to keep my balance. My mind was screaming.
“Yes, you heard the bitch. I’m not worth it. Or maybe I am. Why don’t you do it? Hit me. Let the entire world see what a thug you are.”
I knew Jasper was egging Reed on. People behind us were desperate for the drama, and capturing one of the NFL’s top players fighting on camera would go viral.
“If you’ll excuse me, I have an important call to make,” Jasper sneered, removing his cell from his jacket.
Panic kicked in as my gaze swung to Reed’s. “Reed? Remember what I told you.”
The muscle in his jaw ticked with annoyance.
“Not so fast,” he snarled. “Before you make your incriminating phone call after you spiked my drink, you sick fuck. I will be leaving something for you at the reception desk. Please do take the time to collect it and peruse the photographs in there. I daresay they will change your mind about spreading lies about me.”
“What are you talking about?” Jasper replied, paling and lowering his cell.
“I think you know what I mean, sugarplum,” Reed snarked with a cheeky wink.
What photographs? I thought back to his PA and the envelope she’s handed over.
“Oh, and I have plenty more where they came from. They are safe for now. Whether they stay that way is up to you.”
Turning to look at me, Reed smiled warmly. “Do you have anything you’d like add, Storm?” His question almost robbed me of my breath.
Turning to the man I hated more than anyone, I squared my shoulders. “Yes. It’s over, Jasper. I’m breaking off the engagement.” The members of staff who were still lingering shot my father a puzzled expression.
I tugged his ring off my finger and thrust it at him.
Jasper took it with a frown. “You do realize you’ll make us both a laughing stock?” His voice had dropped to a tortured moan.
I glanced at Reed. We were both thinking the same thing: how great it would feel to stab Jasper in the face. “I don’t care. I’m done playing this game,” I replied, undeterred.
“So that’s it, you’re just going to walk away?” Jasper snarled. His father attempted to hold him back. I was on the brink of punching him in the nose as my blood boiled in my veins.
Theo must have read something in me as he stepped forward with a tired smile.
“It’s over, son. Just accept it.” By the look on Theo's face, he had accepted defeat, even though from the sounds of things, Jasper had been the one to orchestrate everything. I found it interesting that he didn’t seem that worried about the debt issue his son had mentioned. Was Jasper lying about that, too?
“Accept it? I don’t think so. I’ll be speaking with my lawyer first thing on Monday, Dominic. This isn’t over.”
“By all means, give it your best shot. I sure as hell am going to do the same.”
From behind my back, I heard Jasper snort nastily. “I won’t be made to look like a fool by a gutter rat.”
We were in the process of walking away when Reed stopped and turned back. “I should knock you out for that comment. But I won’t. You’re pathetic, and I won’t allow myself to stoop to your level.”
I was partly proud of Reed for not falling into Jasper’s trap and disappointed, as seeing Jasper sparked out on the floor would have been a sight to see.
I didn’t have long to wait as I heard Phoenix pushing past us as he said. “No, but I will.” Hudson groaned.
The sound of bone crunching bone as my brother hit my ex-fiancé in the face thrilled me as chaos ensued.
Gasps and yells erupted from the guests as people shoved and pushed each other, and Jasper crashed onto the top table. The two men he’d been talking to earlier rushed forward.
Before I knew what was happening, several fights started all around us.
All I heard before Reed grabbed me and threw me over his shoulder was Nix’s bark of glee as he launched himself at a group of brawlers. His behavior didn’t surprise me; my brother had a reputation to uphold. And he had always had my back from the day we had found out we shared the same blood.
“Now this is my type of party!” I was surprised his roar of excitement didn’t tear his vocal cords.
My brother, ladies, and gentlemen.