Page 18 of Quadruplets for the Vipers

It’s exactly what people needed to hear. To me, at that moment, it’s evident who Zeus’ successor should be.

Back at the Steel Vipers clubhouse, the wake is a lively affair with people drowning their sorrows and celebrating the lives of our friends. The other waitresses and I are rushed off our feet, trying to keep up with the orders that keep pouring in. As people become more intoxicated, it’s clear to me that the night is going to descend into chaos. Across the room, a fight starts, and I notice Axel and Rider quickly and expertly break it up, kicking the men out in a seamless interaction that barely interrupts the flow of the evening.

Knox has been well and truly drowning his sorrows, and when he calls me over and orders yet more shots, I feel the need to say something.

“Don’t you think you’ve had enough?” I say gently.

He narrows his eyes at me. “No,” he replies, downing the glass of whiskey in front of him without a wince.

“Knox…”

“Leah, what makes you think you have the authority to tell me what the fuck I should be doing?” Knox snaps back.

“Fine… drink yourself into a stupor. See if I care,” I reply, storming off to get his drinks.

I slam them on the table in front of him and stomp off without looking at him, which elicits whoops and hollers from the men drinking at his table with him. My back is turned as I bus a table nearby, but I can hear them talking about me.

“Stuck up little bitch, isn’t she?” one of the men says.

“I dunno, I reckon she just needs a good fucking,” another jeers.

“Knock it off,” Knox slurs.

“Ooh got a soft spot for the frigid cunt? I’ll give her the seeing to she needs,” one man boldly declares.

Before I know what’s happening, the man is behind me. The stale stench of sweat and cigarettes overpowers my senses as he comes far too close, grabbing my waist firmly and pressing his dick against my backside. I yelp and try to pull away, but he holds me firm.

“Ah come on, I know you want it, bitch,” he hisses in my ear, and I try not to gag at the smell of his breath.

All of a sudden, he’s ripped away from me, and I hear a scuffle. As I turn around, I see Knox has knocked him to the floor and is proceeding to pummel his fists into the other man’s face, channeling all of his fury and emotions from the day into the beating.

The man’s nose breaks in a sickening crunch as I watch, frozen in shock and horror. The man’s friends jump in, and the room erupts in chaos. Axel, Rider, and Jace run in, breaking up the fight and holding Knox back.

“Alright, brother, you got him… that’s enough…” Jace says as Knox struggles against him.

Axel stands between Knox and the man who’s on the floor, groaning in pain, acting as a physical barrier. “Leah, get out of here,” he orders, but I stay put. “What did he do?” he asks Knox. I appreciate that Axel seems to trust that his friend wouldn’t attack someone unprovoked.

“He put his hands on Leah,” Knox snarls, breathing heavily, his eyes still clouded with rage.

“It’s true, he was pressing himself against me and making lewd comments. Knox was just defending me,” I confirm, pushing my way in.

Axel flashes me a look of frustration, he doesn’t want me here. He nods. “Alright, Rider and I will get him out of here and calm things down. Jace, take Knox to bed—he’s had enough. Get Leah out of here, too.”

Axel says this strongly and firmly, a clear sign that there’s no room for disagreement. Knox doesn’t seem inclined to argue. He hangs his head in submission and allows himself to be led away without a fight.

Although I don’t like being ordered around, I follow them. I want to make sure Knox is okay and see if there’s anything I can do to help. Jace easily helps Knox walk the short distance to their house with his arm slung over his shoulder as he half-carries his friend home. I hover uncertainly in the doorway as they go inside.

“Come on in, Leah,” Jace calls over his shoulder as they struggle up the stairs to Knox’s bedroom.

I follow behind, taking in the typical bachelor’s den. All four of the guys live here, and it shows. There’s not a feminine touch in sight, but it is surprisingly neat and tidy.

Upstairs, Jace drops Knox onto his bed, face down, still fully clothed. “I ain’t undressing you, brother. You can sleep it off.”

“Not drunk,” Knox mumbles, slurring his words into the pillow.

“Do you mind if I speak to him for a moment?” I ask.

Jace shrugs, looking as though he doubts how much talking I’m going to get out of Knox in his current state of inebriation, but not bothering to argue with me. “Sure. Want me to wait for you outside?”

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