Chapter 20
Max
Oh, hell no.
Audrey has me fucked up if she thinks I’m going to stand here and watch this bum ass motherfucker run his grimy ass hands all over her.
The moment I saw them walk in together, Audrey in her tight dress and Carter with his arm wrapped around her waist like a leech, I had a feeling we were going to have a problem.
But, damn I didn’t think he’d be so quick.
One minute, they were drinking at the bar.
The next they were practically fucking on the dance floor.
I don’t think I’ve ever moved so fast.
Tysir and Wesley, both of whom were preoccupied by friends they’d invited into our section, barely caught the blur of my body as I ran past them.
Once they saw the steam coming out of my ears, they hopped up and scrambled after me.
“Max, wait!” was all I heard before they were out of earshot, their voices swallowed by the booming music.
I unapologetically shoved people out of my way.
I ignored the grumbles and brief yells I received and continued towards them.
My blood was boiling underneath my skin.
Heat rushed down to my hands, and I balled them up into fists, ready to unleash that fire on the man who dared to touch what has always been mine.
I grabbed Audrey first, pulling her away from the son of a bitch - and out of the way.
“Hey, what the-” Carter started. He didn’t have time to finish before my fist collided into his jaw. The force sent him stumbling backwards into some of the others dancing around them.
“Max, what the hell?” I heard Audrey yell over the music.
Turning around, I grabbed her wrist and started towing her towards the door. “Let’s go.”
“Go?” She asked. “No! I’m not going anywhere with you!” She started to dig her heels into the floor to stop our stride.
I didn’t have time, or the patience, for that, so I scooped her up and threw her over my shoulder.
“Max!” She hollered. She kicked her feet and punched my back. “What the fuck is wrong with you? Put me down!”
I ignored her pleas and carried her outside into the parking lot. I didn’t stop until I reached my car and opened the door.
“No!” Audrey screamed when I tried to place her inside. She shoved my hands away and hopped right out of the seat. “I’m not leaving!”
I wrapped an arm around her waist before she could try to run and pushed her back against the side of the hood. I stood in front of her, trapping her between my body and the car. “Well, you’re not going back in there with him. Have I not warned you enough about him?”
She scoffed. “Oh, I must’ve forgotten the part where I give a damn what you think.” She tried to shove me, but I grabbed her wrists and pinned them against my chest.
My brows came together as I caught the pungent smell of liquor on her breath. I’d counted the drinks she’d consumed at the bar, prepared to cut her off if she tried to drink too much. But more than the shots and margarita lingered on her mouth. “Are you drunk?”
“No!” She yelled. Even with the conviction in her voice, I could still spot one of her lies.
“Get in the car,” I told her. “I’ll take you home.”
“No!” She shook in my grasp, trying to free herself. “Jesus, how many times do I have to say it for the word to get through your thick ass skull!”
“As many times as you want, but you’ll just be wasting your breath.”
Groaning, she threw her head back in frustration. “What is your problem?”
“My problem is you’re drunk and making out with some dumbass guy.”
“That ‘dumbass guy’ has been treating me very well for the last few weeks.”
“Better than I ever have?”
She finally stopped struggling. Averting her eyes, she said, “Now, don’t do that…”
I released her wrists with a scoff. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. He keeps fucking around, and he’ll get his fingers broken for touching my girl.”
“I am not your girl!” She yelled as her gaze returned to me. “And I haven’t been for a long time!”
“Yeah, you say that, but you’re still wearing my diamond around your neck.”
She looked down at her necklace. I gave it to her for her sixteenth birthday.
I’d saved up every dollar I had to buy it for her.
I’ll never forget the look on her face, eyes wide with awe and lips parted with surprise, when I popped the box open and presented it to her.
I always knew she deserved the world, but in that moment, I knew I needed to be the one who gave it to her.
Her fingers curled around the gem and for a moment I feared she was about to rip it off.
Instead, she clasped her fingers tight around it and gave me a harsh glare.
“My best friend gave me this.” She pressed both of her hands against my chest and gave me a strong shove, finally succeeding in putting some space between us. “When you find him, let me know.”
Her words struck me across the face, and I stared at her as if she slapped me.
I would’ve preferred that pain over the one erupting in my chest. I knew I wasn’t the same person I was when we were together, but hearing she didn’t see me in the same light - as her friend, her love - felt like someone ripping my heart out of my chest.
“I’ll always be your best friend,” I said, lowering my voice. I cupped her face and pulled her close. “No amount of distance or time will ever change that.”
Audrey’s eyes softened at the abrupt change in my tone. Her lips opened and closed as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. Her eyes flicked over my shoulder and, though they weren’t the ones she was searching for, some finally came out. “Max, watch out!”
I looked over my shoulder to see Carter charging towards me, eyes wild and his fist cocked back. Quickly, I grabbed Audrey and moved both of us out of the way.
His fist sliced through the empty air, and he growled in frustration when it missed. Turning his angry eyes toward me, he swung again and said, “You wanna sneak me, you motherfucker?”
I dodged his fist. As his arm came reeling back, I saw an opening and punched him square in his face.
He stumbled backwards, and I kicked him with all my strength in his stomach.
The blow sent him flying onto the ground.
I would’ve jumped on top of him and punched his face until it was unrecognizable, but Audrey flew in front me.
“Don’t,” she pleaded. She lay her hands on my chest to keep me at bay. “Please, don’t hurt him.”
“Let him go, Audrey,” Carter said as he rose to his feet. He smirked around the blood dripping down his lip. “He’s asking for a fight, so I’ll give him one.”
“No!” Audrey yelled. “I’m not letting the two of you kill each other!”
I scoffed. “Don’t give him too much credit. The only one who’ll be in the ground is him.”
The smirk on Carter’s face fell and something dark flickered in his eyes. “Is that a challenge, Guerra?”
“That’s a fucking promise.”
Carter started towards me again.
Audrey moved from in front of me and stopped him. “No, no, no, please,” she said. She cupped his face in her palms. “Look at me. Look at me. Don’t do this.”
His lips curled in annoyance as he glanced down at her. He wrapped his hands around her arms and started to swing her. “Girl, get the fuck out-” His words were cut short by the clicking sound of the security latch on my gun.
I really didn’t want to pull it out. Not in front of Audrey. But, I damn sure wasn’t going to sit here and watch him toss her aside like a bag of trash.
“Go ahead,” I warned. “Toss her. There will be a bullet in your head before she even hits the ground.”
Carter’s expression didn’t waver. His grimace deepened, and for a second, I thought he was going to be dumb enough to try me. But, at the sound of the clicks of guns behind him, he reconsidered his options.
He glanced over his shoulders at Tysir and Wesley, standing at either side of him, guns drawn and ready to back up whatever I was going to do. His nostrils flared as his chest rose and fell.
Glaring at me, he released Audrey’s arms and took a step back. “Fine. I’ll respect her wishes. For tonight.” He looked at Audrey. “Let’s go, babe.”
Audrey’s wide eyes were flicking between the gun in my hand and the ones in my men’s. Moisture glistened against her amber eyes, and her lips twitched, struggling not to tremble.
I wished I could lower it. Tell Tysir and Wesley to stand down.
Let her know she didn’t have to be afraid.
But, I didn’t trust the asshole standing on the other side of her.
The only reason he was still breathing was because of her.
Had she been three feet away with an obscured view, I would’ve already put more than a few bullets in his head.
“Babe,” Carter called for her again.
Her watery eyes flicked from the gun to mine.
“Get in the car, Audrey,” I told her.
A sniffle escaped her as she turned on her heel and started walking towards me.
“Babe?” Carter asked, his face falling. “Babe, where are you going?”
Ignoring him, she strutted past me towards the open passenger door.
Carter scoffed as he watched her climb inside and shut the door. “Oh, it’s like that, huh?”
“Yeah,” I spoke for her. “Go near her again and I’ll blow your brains out.”
Shaking his head, he took a few steps backward. “This ain’t over, Guerra.”
“Tonight it is,” I replied. “Now, get the fuck on before I change my mind.”
Finally accepting defeat, he turned his back on us, walked past Tysir and Wesley and headed back towards the other end of the parking lot.
“You want us to handle him for you?” Tysir asked.
“Nah,” I told them. “Thank you, though. For backing me up.”
“We’re your right hands,” Wesley assured me. “That’s what we’re here for.”
Tysir nodded towards my car. “Is your girl alright?”
“Yeah,” I said, though I wasn’t sure of my words. “She’s good.”
I turned away from them to climb into the driver’s seat. I looked over at Audrey and noticed tears glimmering on her face. “Audrey,” I started, reaching out to wipe them away.
She flinched away from my touch. “Don’t touch me,” she said, her voice low and tight. Her eyes stayed locked ahead of her. “Just…just take me home. Please.”
Frowning, I changed the direction of my hand and pressed the ignition button.
Tense silence accompanied us the entire ride home. While I stole occasional glances at Audrey, she only stared outside the window. Slow tears ran down her face, and she did her best to wipe them away before I could see. Still, I caught every single one.
I unlocked the doors when we arrived at her house. I thought she’d bolt out the second I did and not look back. Instead, she lingered in her seat.
“I’m sorry,” I told her, seizing the opportunity I wasn’t sure I’d have again. “I didn’t mean to scare-”
“Why do you have a gun?” She asked as she finally looked at me.
“Protection,” I replied. “You know, after the situation with Jordan-”
“Spare me the lies. I need the truth.”
Sighing, I looked away. I didn’t know how to tell her the truth without breaking her heart.
She filled in the blanks with my silence. “Carter was right,” she murmured. “You’re under your dad’s wing now…aren’t you?”
“You should get in the house,” I told her. “It’s late.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Why would I?” I asked. “So you can look at me the same way you’re looking at me now?”
“I’m not judging-”
“Yes, you are,” I snapped. “And that’s alright. I’ve come to terms with my decisions, but I just…I thought I had a little more time before I disappointed you again.”
Another wave of silence washed over us. Yet, she still didn’t move. She sat in it with me, bearing every uncomfortable feeling that came with it.
“Thank you,” she whispered after a while. “For driving me home.”
“Yeah. You’re welcome.”
She opened the door, climbed out, and gently closed it behind her.
I watched her walk up the short path towards her house, hoping she’d look over her shoulder and give me some indication she wasn’t upset - that she still had some faith in me. But, she didn’t.
She walked inside and slammed the door shut behind her.