Luke was the first to recover, his predatory grin twisting into sothing uglier as he turned fully toward . He was bigger than I rembered—taller, broader, with that sa smug entitlent that had always made my skin crawl.
"Well, well," he drawled, stepping away from Jessica but not far enough, his voice slimy with fake charm.
"Look who decided to crash the party. Kianna Martin. Maddox’s sloppy seconds, co to play hero?"
The other two laughed nervously, it almost looked like they were forcing it. But Luke’s eyes raked over as if I was next on the nu.
I squared my shoulders, adrenaline surging through despite the fear clawing at my throat.
"Let her go," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "Now."
Jessica whimpered, trying to sidle away, but one of the guys blocked her path, smirking. "Or what? You gonna tell on us, princess?"
I took a step forward, my hands balling into fists. "Or I’ll scream so loud the whole party hears. And then Maddox finds out what his ’boys’ are doing in his house." I replied.
Luke laughed, a harsh bark that made Jessica flinch. He moved closer to now, his breath hot and reeking of beer as he towered over .
"Oh, yeah? And what makes you think Maddox gives a shit about you anymore? You’re yesterday’s news, Kianna. But hey..." His hand shot out, grabbing my wrist in a vice grip, yanking forward. "...if you’re so eager to join, we can make room."
I twisted, trying to pull free, but his fingers dug in harder and bruised. Panic flared, and mories of him leaning into , my desperate cries for help, the bruises on my skin and the way I shivered to his touch, crawled up in my chest.
But I wasn’t that girl anymore. I stomped down on his foot hard enough to make the heel of my boot grind into his toes.
He yelped, grip loosening just enough for to wrench away, my heart pounding like a war drum.
"Bitch!" he snarled, lunging again, but the door exploded open a second ti.
And Maddox stepped inside. He took in the scene in a flash, Jessica cowering, the guys frozen, rubbing my wrist and his face twisted into pure fury. "What the fuck is this?"
Luke straightened, trying to play it cool, but his voice wavered. "Just having fun, man. She barged in and..."
Maddox didn’t wait. His good fist cracked across Luke’s jaw with a sound like breaking wood, sending him staggering back into the wall.
Luke slid down, clutching his face with blood trickling from his lip. The other two guys backed up fast, hands raised.
"Are you going crazy, Maddox?" Luke spat, wiping his mouth. "Since when do you give a shit about so nerd or your ex-slut?"
Maddox grabbed him by the collar, hauling him up. "Since I stopped being like you. Get out. All of you. And if I hear about this again or see you touch anyone without their concern at this party, you’re done for."
The guys exchanged glances, then slunk out, muttering under their breath. Jessica slipped past them, shooting a grateful look before disappearing down the hall.
Luke shoved Maddox off, straightening his shirt. "What happened to you, man? Used to be the king. Now you’re playing white knight? For her?"
Maddox’s jaw clenched and muttered furiously. "I grew up. Try it soti."
Before Luke could retort, the door burst open again—this ti with enough force to rattle the fra.
It was Mordred, he stord in like a force of nature, eyes black with rage. Lesley was right behind him with her hands on his arm trying to hold him back. "Mordred, wait—don’t do anything stupid!"
Mordred’s gaze swept the room—landing on first, then Maddox, then on Luke. His fists clenched. "What the hell is this?"
Lesley spotted Jessica hovering in the doorway and pulled her aside, whispering sothing soothing.
"Wait Mordred, it’s not what you think it is." I muttered trying to step closer but he shoved past like I was a stranger.
He grabbed Maddox by the shirt and slamd him against the wall with a thud that shook the posters.
"You son of a bitch. You lure her here? For what—another ga?" He uttered, voice husky with rage.
Maddox didn’t fight back, just raised his good hand and forced a sore response. "I didn’t.."
He punched him again, and before he could throw in the third punch I stepped in.
"Mordred enough!" I shouted, grabbing his arm. "Stop! He didn’t do anything. He just..."
Mordred’s eyes flicked to in a wild way. "Just a party? That’s what you’re trying to say right? If that’s the case then why didn’t you tell ? Why co here alone?"
I froze, trying to find the right answer. I know I was wrong for lying, for not saying the damn truth but I needed to. And I can’t spill the reason right in front of everyone, so I flipped the topic.
"How did you know I was here?"
The room went silent for a mont, only the thud of the music from downstairs was heard.
Then Maddox freed himself from his grip. Clutching his cheeks, where Mordred had punched. " Answer her Mordred, how did you know he was here when she clearly didn’t tell you?."
"Shut the fuck up!" He protested, and grabbed Maddox by collar again. "I know where she is because of bastards like you."
Luke laughed from the floor, wiping blood from his chin. "Oh, this is gold. The big bad biker tracks his girl’s phone? What, don’t trust her, Sinclair? Or scared she’ll find out about your little Saturday side gigs at Pearl Racing Park?"
What the heck? What side gigs? Thought he doesn’t even race anymore. Is he also hiding sothing from ? What does this guy know?
Maddox’s eyes narrowed, sensing blood in the water. "Yeah," he said, voice steady despite the chokehold. "Why track your girl, Mordred? Don’t trust her? Or got sothing to hide? Scared she’ll learn the truth?"
Mordred’s face went still. He released Maddox with a shove, turning to . His eyes searched mine—guilty or defiant.
I crossed my arms, heart pounding. "Mordred? Is it true? You tracked ? And what for? To check if I’m cheating or sothing?"
He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling hard. "Yeah. I did."
The admission landed like a slap. "Why?"
"Because I can’t lose you," he said, voice raw. "Not to this shit. Not to anyone. I always know where you are, Kianna. For you."
Luke snorted. "Romantic. But hey, Kianna—if you really know your man, ask him what he does Saturdays at Pearl. Racing? Gambling? Or sothing worse? He’s no better than us. Asshole through and through."
Mordred’s fists clenched, but he didn’t deny it. His eyes stayed on —pleading and vulnerable.
The room spun and trust shattered again, this ti around safety felt like a joke.
And in the silence, my phone buzzed once more. I clicked on it to check the ssage, it says:
"How’s it going? Still thinks you’re experiencing peace from this piece of shit you call your boyfriend? He’s no better."
My heart shattered. I lifted my head to look him in the eye, but all that I saw was rage filled with desperate pleas.
Mordred Sinclair, what the hell are you hiding from ?
The hallway pulsed with muffled bass from the party below, but the air up here felt thick, stagnant, like the room itself was holding its breath.
Lesley’s frantic eyes t mine from the doorway, her hand still clutching Jessica’s as if afraid to let go. Jessica trembled beside her, face streaked with tears, but there was a flicker of gratitude in her glance toward —a silent thank you that cut through the chaos.
The text from the unknown number felt like a confession.It wasn’t just words; it was a revelation, a crack in the foundation I’d built my trust on.
The room spun slightly, the edges blurring with the weight of it all.
I wanted to question him, show him the text and demand answers on the spot but that wouldn’t be necessary, the last thing I’d ever do is to make our enemies see our weakness.
And so I turned to face Luke, letting whatever I’m about to say hung in the air like a final warning.
" You shouldn’t compare yourself to him, you’re worse." Then faced Maddox. "And to everyone here, stop making look like a pawn in your gas."
Mordred reached for my arm then whispered. "Let’s go, kianna"
He didn’t wait for agreent, just pulled toward the door, his free hand brushing Lesley’s shoulder in a rare gesture of gentleness.
"You should also leave.Text Kianna when you get ho."
Lesley nodded, her eyes wide but determined. "Be careful," she whispered to , squeezing my arm before leading Jessica down the stairs.
Maddox pushed off the wall, his face a mask of frustration and sothing almost like concern. "Kianna wait..."
Mordred whirled, shoving him back with one hand. "Don’t even say her na."
I didn’t stop him. The night had already fractured too many pieces of ; I couldn’t afford to pick up more.
We burst out into the cool night air, the party’s thump fading behind us like a distant heartbeat.
Mordred’s bike waited at the curb, sleek and dark under the streetlamps. He handed the helt without a word, but his fingers lingered on mine like a silent plea.
I climbed on behind him, arms wrapping around his waist out of habit, but the closeness felt different now—tainted by the secret he’d kept.
The engine roared to life, and we peeled away, the wind whipping through my hair like it was trying to strip away the confusion.
But it couldn’t. Mordred’s body was tense under my touch, his usual fluid grace replaced by rigid lines.
We didn’t speak the whole ride, the city lights blurring into streaks that matched the chaos in my head.
At the safe house, he killed the engine in the garage, the sudden silence deafening. He helped off, his hands gentle on my elbows, but he wouldn’t et my eyes.
Inside, the living room felt too big, too empty. I dropped my bag by the door and turned to him, arms crossed like a shield. "Are you going to explain?"
He leaned against the counter, jaw clenched, staring at the floor like it held answers.
The seconds stretched, heavy and unspoken. Finally, he exhaled, running a hand through his hair.
"I tracked you because I was worried, every ti you get too close to soone from your past, I..."
"That’s not protection, Mordred," I interrupted, my voice cracking with the hurt bubbling up. "That’s fear, that’s a damn control."
His eyes snapped to mine, raw and pleading. "I can’t afford to lose you, Kianna. Not to.."
"To what?" I whispered, stepping closer despite myself. "To Maddox? To danger? Or to the truth you’re hiding?"
He swallowed hard, the muscle in his jaw ticking.
"I go to Pearl Racing Park on Saturdays," he admitted, the words tumbling out like they’d been caged too long. "But it’s not what they think it is."
"Then what is it?" I pressed, my heart pounding. The space between us felt charged and electric with the unspoken.
He hesitated, pain etching lines across his face that made him look older and wearier.
"It’s... business." He breathed out, "The kind of business you don’t get involved in. Because if you do, you won’t be safe anymore."
I leaned back, stunned. "So you decide what’s dangerous for , but lie about what you’re actually doing?"
"It’s my job to protect you." His voice broke, raw and vulnerable, like the confession cost him sothing vital. "Please understand that."
"Please trust ," his eyes begged, even if the words didn’t co.
But all I could think was how easily that unknown person’s taunt had sliced through : "He’s no better."
Isn’t he? I an to think of the fact that he also has sothing to hide makes feel like going crazy.
"Who are you really, Mordred?" The question slipped out like a wound reopening, soft and aching.
His lips parted, then shut again. He reached for , but I stepped back, the space between us a chasm now.
Before either of us could bridge it, the living room window exploded with a crack that shattered the night.
Glass rained inward like deadly confetti, shards nicking my arm as I scread.
Mordred’s body was on mine in an instant, shielding as we ducked low.Sothing tallic rolled across the tiled floor with a clink, coming to rest by my foot.
It was a bolt, heavy and cold, wrapped in a neon-pink sticker scrawled with black marker:
"Boys who lie deserve punishnt and girls who trust them? Worse."
Mordred snatched it up, his face a mask of fury as he scanned the dark street through the shattered window.
"Stay down," he growled, one arm still around , the other reaching for the glove compartnt where I knew he kept a knife.
He rushed to look outside, but there was no one. Not even a sound of footsteps was heard, it was dead silent. Just the wind whistling through the broken glass like a mocking laugh.
He pulled closer, his breath hot against my ear. "You see now?" he whispered, voice low and almost breaking. "You’re only safe when you’re with ."
His thumb brushed a piece of glass from my cheek, gentle amid the wreckage, his touch a lifeline in the storm.
The room felt smaller, the quiet shattered, the night pressing in like an enemy at the gates.
The watcher wasn’t just texting anymore.
They were aiming for blood.
And suddenly... I didn’t know who to fear more: the shadow outside, or the boy holding like I was the only thing he had left in this world, his secrets wrapping around us like chains.
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