Page 109 of The Convict Gets His Girl

Andre staggered, then lunged forward. His crew—three large guys in tight shirts—surged around Chase and Raul. Fists flew. Boots kicked. The party atmosphere shattered into chaos.

A scream cut through the violence. "Chase!" Jewel's voice.

The millisecond Chase turned, seeking her face, Andre landed a brutal hit directly on his eye. Pain exploded in white light, and his head rang as he roared in outrage. Chase lunged, taking Andre to the ground.

Before Andre's friends could press their advantage, Parker and Nick joined in. The former Marine clotheslined one of Andre's crew with one meaty arm, sending him sprawling. Parker moved with a precise, controlled aggression that suggested years of martial arts training.

The odds shifted, now four against four, but Andre's crew were considerably more reckless and drunk.

The crowd yelled around them, but Chase didn't stop until he had Andre pinned, face first in the dirt, forearm across his head. "You motherfucker," Chase growled, shoving his head harder. "You piece of shit. You killed her, left her there, left us all there."

Chase pulled back and delivered another punch, the sound of Andre's cheekbone crunching under his fist. Andre let out a scream and then went limp, unconscious. Chase breathed heavily, his hand poised for another hit, ready for when Andre woke up.

As quickly as it started, it ended. A soft hand on his shoulder gave him pause, and he glanced up to find two deputies already cuffing the men that Parker and Nick held. He glanced up to see his brother staring down at him, eyebrow raised.

Andre moaned beneath him, trying to push up with his head, but Chase kept him pinned. He swallowed hard, nostrils flaring.

"Gonna let me cuff him?" Gunner asked drolly.

"Cuffs! Fuck that—" Andre murmured until Chase pushed his mouth into the dirt as he shifted, moving his knees from Andre to the ground, but not letting go of the motherfucker's face.

Gunner slapped the cuffs on him, the sight of them triggering a memory of when he'd first been arrested. He remained on the ground as his brother hauled Andre to his feet. Chase looked around, finally taking in the scene around them. The others were being arrested, Nick was grinning wildly and talking to one of the arresting officers while Parker was straightening his barely ruffled costume. Tasha waved her hands, explaining to his brother, the sheriff, what had just happened.

He looked for Jewel, but with the press of the crowd, he couldn't find her. In that moment, he realized how important she was to him.

Not only did he love her, but he turned to her for support first.

Tasha stepped forward, her voice sharp and decisive as she pointed a finger at Andre. "He just admitted it to everyone—oh God, he was the one driving that night, not Chase."

Chase felt Raul's hand on his other shoulder, steadying him. His eye throbbed, already closing, and warm blood trickled down his cheek. The world swam in and out of focus, and his muscles shook with adrenaline.

"I got you," Raul murmured, his voice a familiar anchor from their shared prison history, his arm going around Chase's waist like so many times in their past.

Jewel was suddenly there, her hands gentle but firm as she stepped in front of him, her hands raising to his face with a wince. Relief flooded him as he took in her worried expression. She was alright. She was here.

His body shook more as she cupped his cheek, tears shining in her eyes.

"Come on," she whispered, her touch more healing than any first aid. "Let's get you cleaned up."

Goldie stepped forward, her professional demeanor cutting through the chaos. "I'll stay and handle this," she said to Chase, her eyes flicking between him and Gunner. "Make sure everything's documented properly."

"If we're on the report…" Chase mumbled, and Goldie nodded, her expression hardening.

"Exactly why I'm going to the station. Parker, Nick, you're coming with me."

"Yes, ma'am." Nick saluted.

Parker grinned, his lip split and bleeding, a wild-eyed look so reminiscent of their childhood making Chase chuckle. He practically bounced on his feet with excitement. "Damn, I can't believe Andre admitted it and swung first," Parker said, elbowing Nick in the side.

Nick rubbed his jaw and gave an exaggerated wink at Chase. "Talk about a dumbass, swinging like that."

Chase's body vibrated with adrenaline and shock. He—they were going to lie for him. They had his back, they believed in him… to feel so much support, not just from Nick and Parker but from Jewel, Jade, Goldie, and everyone else who watched them walk away…

His eyes burned with emotion. Jewel guided them through the parking lot, and Raul held him, a silent shadow of support even though Chase could walk perfectly fine on his own.

The night air seeped beneath his skin with every step—cool, crisp, a stark contrast to the heated violence of moments before. In the distance, he could hear Gunner reading Andre his rights.

"Fuck, this is some party. You always did have a talent for finding trouble," Raul murmured.

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