Page 65 of Liars

Poppy.

She stumbled toward me, her gold eyes wide and frantic. Even in the dim light, I could see the panic etched into herface. Her breathing was ragged like she’d just sprinted across the church.

“Kreed,” she gasped, grabbing my arm. “It’s Kaylor.”

Everything in me went rigid. “What about her?”

“You haven’t heard?”

“Poppy, spit it out.” My voice was sharp, the impatience clawing at my gut.

She swallowed hard. “It’s Bodie,” she said, her voice trembling. “He’s got her in the cellar. Maddox and the other guys are down there, and—and I think he’s going to?—”

I didn’t wait for her to finish.

Shoving past her, I pushed through the crowd, my chest tightening with every step. Rage simmered just beneath the surface, waiting to detonate. I didn’t need details. I knew Bodie’s reputation andexactlywhat kind of shit went down in that cellar.

If he’d laid so much as a finger on Kaylor…

Fuck!It would be my ass. I would be the one who got the brunt of my father’s anger. I was the one responsible for tonight.Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

My vision blurred red.

“I’m coming with you,” Poppy called behind me, struggling to keep up.

I didn’t slow down. “You’ve done enough.” I had no time to keep her safe. It was bad enough I had to rescue Kaylor, and I didn’t need another girl getting in my way.

I stormed down the stairs into the cellar. The air was thick, a damp mustiness that clung to my skin like a vice. Candlelight flickered against the stone walls, casting long, distorted shadows. But I only saw one thing.

Kaylor.

She was pinned against the wall. Bodie’s hulking form loomed over her, his hands wrapped around her wrists, trappingthem above her head. Her body twisted, struggling. Her breath hitched—sharp, ragged, and her wide, terrified eyes locked onto mine.

My blood turned molten.

The laughter and cheers from the other guys in the room barely registered. Maddox stood nearby, leaning casually against a table, watching. His smirk deepened.

He knew.

He knew exactly what Bodie was going to do, and he let it happen.

I didn’t think. I reacted. “Get the fuck off her!” I roared. The room shook with the force of my voice.

Bodie barely had time to turn before I grabbed him by the back of his shirt and ripped him away from her. He stumbled. Didn’t even have a chance to breathe before I slammed him into the wall. His head didn’t just ping. It crashed through the drywall with a satisfying crunch. I should’ve stopped there. But I wanted to break something.

My fingers curled against the top of his skull, yanking him out of the wreckage, just to send him back in. His groan barely registered before my fist connected with his jaw, the force sending him sprawling to the ground.

The room fell silent except for the sound of my ragged breathing. And Bodie’s pathetic, wheezing groan.

He tried to push himself up.

I wasn’t done.

I grabbed him by the collar, hauled him up, and slammed him back down. My knuckles throbbed. I welcomed the pain. Welcomed the way it dulled everything else. The anger poured out in every punch. And I didn’t stop.

“Kreed, man! Stop!”

Maddox’s voice sliced through the haze, but I barely acknowledged it. My knuckles cracked against Bodie’s jaw again, the impact sending a sharp jolt up my arm.

---