Page 14 of The Secret's Out

“Not yet, Billy,” Caden ordered. I’d always liked Eli’s biker name, Billy the Kid.

Caden took a step closer. “You really need to get it and fuckin’ soon. Josie Alexander is ours, as in, she is fuckin’ family, and she is Hawks. Do you understand that, dickhead?”

In frustration, Scott’s hand gripped harder. I flinched from the pain and Caden saw it. Before I knew it, Caden had his hand around Scott’s throat. My wrist was instantly free because Caden was pushing Scott backward, so far back he collided with the building, and shrubbery surrounded their legs.

Worry settled deep. Worry they would soon be in trouble because of me.

There was so much to take in. Gasps, squeals and screams sounded around me.

Eli punched one of Scott’s mates and then the other. He dodged the fists flying his way and landed a hit to one of the guys’ stomach, causing him to double over. Eli went straight for the other and in seconds, after two jabs, the guy was on the ground.

Tense silence filled the air and then...

“This is your last chance, fucker. You go near Josie again, your life will fuckin’ end. She is a part of Hawks Motorcycle Club. You want to fuckin’ continue givin’ her shit, then payback—major goddamn payback—where your life will be not worth living will come your way. Do. You. Get. Me?” Caden growled so close into Scott’s face.

My head swung to Eli when he hissed out, “Move again and I will stab the fuck outta you.” To prove his point, he took a switch blade out of the back of his jeans and flipped it open.

“Eyes to me, cockhead,” Caden snapped at Scott.

Doors near us were banged open. Three lecturers ran through them and toward our way.

“Caden, please,” I begged.

“Right. Last warning, you go near her, look at her, or touch her, your life is mine.” With that, he pulled back his fist and punched Scott in the stomach and then stepped back as Scott crumbled over with his arms folded around his middle.

“Hey,” a lecturer yelled.

Without a thought, I made a step to Eli, who was the closest, reaching out a hand to touch his arm. He saw me coming, but my courage blinked out and my hand fell to my side. “You both have to go. I don’t want you in trouble. Please.”

“Precious,” Caden said first, my eyes went to him to see him smile. “Don’t worry about us.”

“What is the meaning of this?” Lee Eden demanded. He was one of my lecturers, the class I was supposed to be attending.

“Nothin’ at all. We just popped in to see our friend, Josie,” Eli said. My eyes ran over his body to see the switch blade he had held was no longer in sight.

Eden raised his bushy brows. He looked to the other two members of staff, ones I didn’t know. One shrugged and the other shook his head.

“Scott? Anything to add?”

Scott, with a scowl upon his face, stood tall and shook his head. “Nothing.”

A lecturer scoffed. “We saw the assault with our own eyes. Do you want to press charges?”

My heart stopped.

Caden snorted. “What you saw was me helping Scott. He was choking. I thought a tap to the stomach would help bring up whatever was stuck.” With a sweeping hand, Caden gestured to Scott. “And would you look at that, he’s fine now.”

“Scott?” Eden pressed.

“All good.”

“Fine. If you have class, best you get going.” With one final glare, he turned with the other staff members and walked off.

“Your warning has been noted,” Scott started and then smiled. “But good luck on getting Cameron to listen.” A friend of his tugged on his arm. Scott looked over his shoulder at him and nodded. “Looks like we’ll get some entertainment over the next week or so,” he finished and then walked off with his friends following.

For the first time, my heart settled and I drew in a deep breath. Slowly, my eyes moved back to the two men in front of me. Through hooded eyes I studied them. Caden wore jeans, a tank top, with his biker cut over it, and a backward baseball cap. Eli was dressed similar, only he wore a tee but with no cut over it.

“Precious,” Caden uttered. My heart jumped when his arms went wide. I shuffled forward and slowly touched my hands to his waist, next my forehead went to his chest. Both men were taller than I was.

---