Page 46 of Play Hard
“You got him, man. Let it go now. Let it go.” That was Rock. He was closest to my right ear, speaking in a stern, but relatively calm tone. “Let that shit go.”
“We gotchu,” Ethan said from my other side. “We gotchu, man. C’mon on back.”
“Serra.” Her name was a rasp, and I wasn’t sure if anybody heard me, but I could still hear her. She was still crying. “Serra.”My voice sounded louder as I struggled to remain standing. The guys had a strong hold on me, but I swear if I had to open my eyes and see her lying on the floor of that porch broken and bleeding, I wouldn’t make it. I wouldn’t be able to stand, let alone breathe.
“I’m right here. I’m right here, baby.”
My eyes shot open at the sound of her voice, and she was…right…there. Standing a few feet away from me, Lance with his arm around her shoulders holding her back. Rylan and Camy were on the other side of her, but I could only stare at Serra. She wasn’t bloody or bruised and she was alive.
“Fuck! Let me go.” I pulled against two of the strongest men I knew, knowing my efforts were futile.
“Take a minute, bruh.” Del clapped a hand on my shoulder. He was somewhere behind me, but I heard his voice loud and clear. “Take a minute to get your mind right before you go to her.”
I knew what he was saying, understood he wanted me completely calm before I touched her, but Del knew I’d never hurt her or any woman for that matter. He also knew I was still a ticking time bomb at this point. Later, I’d thank him for the words. Now, I shouted, “I’m good!”
“You’re good and stupid.”
That fuckin’ voice was familiar, too.
“Cops are on the way,” Brendan continued. “What the fuck did I tell you?” he chuckled. “It was just a matter of time. And you proved me right. A little sooner than I predicted, but hell, I’ll take the win.”
“Now is definitely not the time,” Jeret warned. “You might want to go find some business, fuck face!”
“Oh, I’ve found it, and the council’s gonna hear about this first thing in the morning, when your boy here is sitting in acell.” Brendan was just about to say something else when Jeret stepped to him.
The sound of a gunshot ripped through the air and everybody went still. With Rock and Ethan’s grip on me slackened, I hurried to Serra, pulling her out of Lance’s grasp and placing her behind me as I looked for the shooter. By the time the second shot sounded, we all stared at Crabtree as he came down the stairs of his house. A couple of guys had pulled the man I could now see was Adrian Bowman up to a sitting position on the porch.
“Don’t know what you called the cops for,” Crabtree said as he approached, shotgun in hand. “This was self-defense. Saw it with my own two eyes. That tall fella came onto my private property and assaulted my grandbaby. When Noah came to get her, that guy swung on him. Noah had to defend himself.”
Brendan frowned. “He almost beat a man to death. Again. You telling me you didn’t see that?”
Crabtree got right up in Brendan’s face. “I’m tellin’ you that man up there started all this shit. And he ain’t close to death. Gonna have a helluva black eye, and the way that blood’s still pouring from his face, probably some stitches, but he had it coming. Putting his hands on my grandbaby, then trying to take Noah out.” Crabtree’s thin lips pulled into a frown. “My daddy always told me don’t take a swing unless you know you can win.” He shrugged. “Guess that stupid ass up there don’t know shit after all. Sort of like another stupid ass I know.”
Brendan didn’t stir as Crabtree glared at him. Crabtree was two generations older than Brendan, and despite Brendan’s position in the town government, he wasn’t about to go against a man with the age and community ties that Crabtree had. “Cops have already been called,” he said.
Crabtree shrugged again. “Then I’ll give them my statement. Noah, you and my grandbaby go on back to your place. I’ll handle them cops just fine.”
“With all due respect, sir—,” I started but the second Crabtree’s glare shot to me, I paused.
“Then respectfully get your ass outta here like I just said.” It wasn’t a request, I got that loud and clear this time and gave him a reluctant nod.
When I turned, Serra already had her hand out for mine, so I clasped it and we made our way to my truck. Rock, Ethan, and Del were right behind us.
“Go home and stay there,” Del said after I’d put Serra into the passenger seat and closed the door. “Byran’s gonna talk to the cops with Crabtree. We’ll swing by when this place is cleared out.”
Rock pulled at one of my hands, staring down at my bleeding knuckles. “Pussy scratches.”
“Fuck you.” I chuckled wryly and yanked my hand from his grip.
“Go take care of your girl,” Ethan said. “We’ll see that Mr. Can’t Keep His Hands To Himself gets whatever medical treatment he needs before we put his ass on the first flight outta here.”
I didn’t really give a fuck what happened to Bowman at this point. He was alive, which I didn’t actually want, but I knew was best. I understood that if I killed another man there would be no juvenile halfway house for me this time. I also understood that if Bowman ever so much as breathed in Serra’s space again, I’d put his ass in the ground, no questions asked.
CHAPTER 20
Serra
When we arrived at his place, and he put his keys and phone on the table by the door, I emptied my pockets as well, then took his hand and led him into the bathroom. Neither of us had spoken a word during the ride. The events of the last half hour replayed in my head, and I was certain Noah’s thoughts were similar. We were processing, or at least beginning to.
