33
Ava
“Ted! You hollered for us to come save you from the lame party?” A voice I did not expect rings out across the sand.
My stomach pitches, and I feel Mark go ramrod stiff next to me.
“Well, that right there makes some fucking sense,” Mark practically growls next to me as Eric, my stalkery ex, comes waltzing up to the bonfire.
“What are you doing here?” Mark’s voice asks on a dangerous rumble. This is not good.
“You’ve got some nerve,” Colin echoes.
“I don’t know what the hell you two are talking about. I’m just here to pick up my friend from a party he no longer feels welcome at. Looking around at the company, I can’t see why,” Eric says, voice dripping with sarcasm, earning low growls from the men around me.
Mark steps in front of me when Eric’s gaze collides with mine.
“You know exactly what we’re talking about. Don’t even think about looking in her direction.”
“Whoa!” Eric steps back with his palms raised.
“Why have you been breaking into my place, Eric?” I ask, getting straight to the point. The fireworks explode into the sky again, lighting up Eric in blue.
“What are you talking about?” Eric asks as if I’m stupid, looking around at his other friend with the ‘this bitch is crazy’ look, which only makes Mark’s muscles tense further.
“I should’ve brought Amy down to the beach with us,” Colin practically growls next to Mark.
“No need for that. I’d just make her my best friend,” Eric replies with a sickening smile.
I hear a snickt in his pocket and remember that Eric always carries a pocket knife. He just fucking threatened a dog. The guys hear the sound too, judging by the tilt of their heads. Rage washes over their faces.
“You come near my girl, or any of my loved ones you see here tonight, it won’t end well for you. You lost your chance to make Ava yours; she gave you her answer. Get the fuck out of here. Now. Before I lose my patience.”
“I don’t see why you’re raising your hackles over a bit of pussy.
It’s not even that great of a pussy,” Eric baits, contradicting everything he’s been telling me about wanting me back.
He’s showing his true colors for sure. This is petty bullshit.
Mark takes another step toward him, his eyes glinting with fire in the glow of the fireworks bursting above.
“If it wasn’t that great for you, then why. The. Fuck. Are you coming after it?” Mark’s voice takes on a menacing tone that I was not expecting.
“Mark, don’t,” Colin warns, stepping forward at the same time as I reach for Mark’s hand. He grasps onto it reassuringly, but he isn’t backing down. He stands taller.
“What did I tell you about bothering her when we had our last discussion in the grocery store? It was your choice to trash your relationship. You will never have her again. I will never let her go. That’s my future wife, and you will damn well respect her and leave her the fuck alone.”
My lungs cease to pull in any air. After a few seconds, I feel Colin squeeze my shoulder. It shocks my system, and I drag in breath greedily.
“Breathe, Ava. Don’t be so surprised,” Colin mutters under his breath.
“And if I don’t?” Eric asks with a haughty laugh.
“Stupid man…” Colin mumbles.
Mark steps forward again, letting go of my hand, and I suddenly remember the knife. I don’t want to cause him to look away from Eric though. He’s a loose enough cannon that I wouldn’t put it past him to jump the minute Mark looks away. Colin steps forward too.
“Back up, Ava,” Colin warns lowly.
“The knife, Colin,” I whisper frantically.
“Noted.”
Just as I take the step back, Eric steps forward into Mark’s personal space, and I hold my breath.
“Eric, I would think very carefully about your next move. You don’t want to see Mark unhinged, and that measly knife in your pocket won’t help you,” Colin says with a dangerous undercurrent, setting down his beer.
He plans to step into this if it gets ugly, which is looking to be the case with every second that ticks by.
“Colin…” Sydney gasps, realizing shit’s getting real and she already almost lost him once. The mere idea of him jumping willingly into a knife fight has her on edge. Rightfully so. We all are.
Eric stupidly pulls out his knife and spins it between his fingers like he’s proud of his skills.
He makes me sick. How the hell had I ever considered marrying this man?
His buddy a few feet back, backs up. Another coward.
Our guys are willing to step up to any looming threat.
Eric steps forward and jabs the knife toward Mark’s stomach, and everyone gasps, their eyes not believing that this idiot just really stabbed at my man.
Mark intercepts his wrist with his left hand and punches Eric straight in the face with his right hand.
“Wrong decision,” Mark grits out between his teeth as the sickening sound of bone crunching hits our ears. Blood splatters from Eric’s nose, running down his face. It only makes him look crazier.
Eric twists his captured wrist in a way that allows him to slice the knife across Mark’s arm, and he hisses in pain.
I yelp behind my hands. Colin circles around the other side of Eric to divide his attention just as Eric takes advantage of the moment and swipes the knife along Mark’s abdomen before Mark can fully step out of the way.
Trystan’s deadly voice comes out of nowhere next to me, and I jump. I hadn’t even heard him come up behind me.
“If the fact that those two aren’t backing down doesn’t dissuade your decision to keep up with this nonsense, then you might want to take a harder look at me. They’ll take you down in about ten seconds together, but I will take you down in three. Drop the knife.”
“He’s right,” Mark huffs out. It’s taking everything in me not to run to him right now. I fight the urge to step forward, and Trystan senses it, holding his arm out to stop me.
“I’m sure we could do it in less than ten,” Colin states coolly. Garrett chuckles not far behind him. I love these men and how they show up for those they care about.
The firework show is lighting up the night sky in gorgeous hues.
Loud bangs and flashes erupt here and there.
I sense Trystan tense even more next to me and suddenly consider how this might be affecting him after his time overseas.
He’s been immersed in battle. This couldn’t be worse timing for something like this to happen.
Eric really needs to drop that fucking knife.
As if sensing my thoughts, Trystan mumbles toward me, “Don’t worry. I’m in control. I’ll only step in if I have to.” I exhale heavily, releasing another breath that I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.
Trystan takes another step forward, and Eric’s eyes widen, seeing how royally fucked he will be if he continues. All four of these men are rather impressively built with skill sets his knife can never compare to.
“FUCK!” Eric yells, turning to launch his knife out into the water.
Colin lets out an exasperated rumble from his throat because the knife was still open and that is his stretch of beach, but we know he’ll do his best to find it so nobody gets hurt.
“Now… get the fuck out of here,” Mark growls.
“Ted, let’s ditch this shitshow!” Eric yells as the two other guys meander toward the house.
“And Ted?!” Mark hollers to get his attention. Ted turns back, looking like he wants no part of any of this. “You’re no longer welcome around any of my family.” He holds his arms wide to signify we’re all included. “Especially my sister.”
Ted nods once and continues to cower away with his loser friends. Colin, Trystan, and I run over to Mark to see how bad he got cut.
“Let me see,” Colin demands, lifting the blood- soaked shirt first. Mark hisses as Colin prods, Trystan lighting the area with his phone’s flashlight, and I press a kiss to his shoulder to soothe him.
“Stomach’s okay. It’s pretty superficial. You moved out of the way just in time. It’ll just be sore. We’ll clean that up and bandage it, but it’ll still likely scar. Your forearm definitely needs a couple of stitches. Let’s go up to the house.” Mark nods in agreement before looking down at me.
“You okay?” His worried expression latches onto mine, and I melt.
“Why are you even asking me that right now? I’m not the one who just got sliced with a knife,” I huff out, taken aback that this man is injured and still fussing over me.
“Making sure you’re okay will always be my first priority,” Mark explains, cupping my chin as his eyes sweep back and forth over mine.
“I’m okay. Let Colin patch you up, please,” I answer breathlessly. Despite everything, heat flares in his eyes. He loves when my voice gets breathy like that. But what does this man expect when he goes around talking that way? Calling me his future wife? Defending my honor?
“Stay out here with the girls and enjoy yourself for a bit longer, and then we’re going home.”
I nod, my lower belly clenching with desire. He kisses my forehead and follows Colin inside.