Page 92 of Derailed
Austin slides in front of me, blocking my body. “Okay, that’senough.”
“What? You want a turn with her now? Get in line, because God knows who she’s beenfucking—”
There isn’t even time for me to scream before Austin rears back and socks Coy in the nose with a solid right hook. Austin doesn’t come across as an athlete. In fact, I’ve always assumed he was the lazy one, not ever really moving with speed or purpose. But the crunch of bone on bone is audible, and for a second I’m not sure who’shurt.
Coy lunges toward Austin, but he ducks out of his reach. Losing his balance, Coy hits the floor on his knees. Blood streams from his nose but his eyes narrow with determination. “You’re gonna pay forthat.”
“How about you leave?” Austin goads. “You aren’t welcome hereanymore.”
“That so?” Coy pushes to his feet and straightens his spine. He wipes the blood away with the back of his hand and turns to Austin with raisedfists.
“So, that’s a no?” Austin rolls his eyes and when Coy doesn’t move. He raises his fists and bounces on the balls of his feet. “Let’s get this overwith.”
“Anyone ever tell you to shut your mouth?” Coy attacks with a strike that Austindodges.
“All the fucking time.” Austin grins, dips his chin, and shocks all of us as he lands three rapid jabs to Coy’sstomach.
Coy grunts with the impact and reaches out for Austin. They fall to the ground, scraping around until Coy’s on top. I cringe at the next punch, but it’s Austin who gains the upper hand, landing hit after hit to Coy’sbody.
Coy hesitates and Austin throws him off center, pinning him to the ground with hislegs.
He fakes a punch to his gut, but as Coy blocks it, Austin lands a hook to Coy’s eye that snaps his head so hard we all hear theimpact.
Coy’s gaze holds Austin’s a moment longer, but then his body goes limp as he’s knockedout.
“Shit.” Trent’s gaze bounces between Austin and Coy’s crumbled form as if he can’t believe whathappened.
Austin climbs off the floor, turns his back to Coy, and shakes out his hand. “Fuck, that hurt.” He chuckles, but as his gaze settles on mine, his lips turndownward.
I wait for him to ask me to leave. This is the moment I’ve been prepared for since setting foot in this house,really.
“Your eye. Come on, let’s get some ice onthat.”
“Ice?” I’mconfused.
“Yeah, your face is pretty fucked up right now.” He reaches out to touch my skin but out of habit I flinch. The lines on his face soften. “Sorry, that wasrude.”
A giggle tumbles from my lips at his candor. Why it’s so funny I can’t say, other than I was expecting him to kick me out and instead he’s more concerned for mysafety.
“Cops will be here in a few minutes.” Deb steps back into the room. I didn’t even notice herleave.
“Oh, God. Better send up the bat signal.” I don’t understand the reference, and when Trent catches my stare he clarifies. “Bedo. He gets pissed when we don’t give him a headsup.”
Right.“Doesn’t he get pissedanyway?”
“Why, yes, he does!” Austin laughs and pats Trent’s shoulder with a slap. “I likeher.”
“Stay inside.” Deb peeks through the curtains. “The paparazzi will be swarming as soon as they getword.”
“Okay.” Trent nods and levels his stare on me. “Don’t worry, Jess. We got your back. You never have to see him again.Never.”
I should feel bad. It shouldn’t be so easy to walk away from the man who saved you, but it is. Coy isn’t who he was. I’m no longer a young, naïve girl. He was going to hurt Deb. He would’ve beat me in front of his friends, and I’m certain he would have hurt them,too.
“Come on.” Austin nods toward the kitchen. “Let’s go get someice.”
My gaze drops to Coy’s crumpled body. A sense of calm settles the rapid beats of my heart at his immobility. There’s no part of me that even wants to check whether he’s still breathing, and I turn to followAustin.
He grabs two towels from a drawer, lays them on the counter, and drops two handfuls of ice inside before wrapping them up. He hands one to me and sets the other on his knuckles. “You’ll press charges? We allwill.”
