“Like what?”
“BC,” Barr said.
“You pulled me out of bed with Tinsley for that?” I asked.
“They want a meeting,” Kip said. “To talk about the money they took.”
The money they took from Tinsley. The money me, Barr, and Kip had been playfully throwing around as a bet to see who could get to Tinsley first. Money that had been out of my mind because it wasn’t just about getting Tinsley into bed.
She had gotten to our hearts.
And I had gotten to hers for good.
“I think it’s something else,” Kip said.
“I do too,” Barr said. “But maybe still worth a shot?”
“To talk to those assholes about money,” I said. “Ignore them.”
“Yeah?” Barr asked.
“Why not?” I asked. “What do we care about them? If they’re reaching out it’s a desperate move. Fuck them.”
“Wow,” Kip said.
“What?” I asked.
“You’re as soft as butter in the sun.”
“Fuck you,” I said.
“Kip, let it go,” Barr said. “Pres is right. We’d be walking into something stupid. Take a break from the outside fights.” He walked to Kip and put an arm around him. “I promise, we’ll get the ditch jam packed for you really soon.”
“Yeah, sure,” Kip said.
We eyed each other.
“Don’t go looking for trouble,” I said. “BC is Barr’s call anyway.”
“I only brought it up because of what they did to our girl,” Barr said.
“Hey,” Kip said to Barr. “If she’s our girl…”
“If he finishes that sentence I will kill him,” I said to Barr.
“Come on,” Barr said, pushing Kip. “Let’s get you out of here. You’re all fired up tonight.”
“I’m just fucking around, bro,” Kip said to me. “Go enjoy your night. Lock the door!”
Barr looked back at me and shook his head.
They left the guesthouse and I locked the door.
I went back into the bedroom and locked that door too.
Tinsley was on her knees on the bed.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
I looked next to her and saw her panties on the bed.
That meant there was nothing but the hoodie keeping me from her.
I stepped up to the bed and reached for the hoodie.
I slowly peeled it up over Tinsley’s head.
“Yeah, sugar, everything is fucking perfect…”
* * *
The heavy door closed behind me and the echo was the reminder that I was making a big mistake.
Too much fucking pride and I fucking knew it.
Yet there I was…
Tinsley was back home sleeping.
Three in the morning.
We had only called it quits an hour ago.
My tongue laced with her sweet body.
My mind full of fresh memories.
Yet it was one text to my phone that kept me up.
Ur going 2 miss him
From Cole. To Tinsley.
Part of BC.
I should have called Barr and Kip.
But this was personal.
They were trying to get to me by getting to Tinsley.
If they got her rattled she would worry. I loved her with all my heart, but I didn’t need her worrying and making side deals, or quick decisions when it came to these assholes.
Plus, they had already went after her once.
That situation could have been much worse. And it wasn’t exactly settled in my mind yet either.
Which was another reason I stood there, waiting to see if Cole was actually going to show up.
I replied to his text on Tinsley’s phone, wanting to know where he was so we could talk.
It was some hollowed out warehouse.
I wasn’t going to say a word and give it away that I wasn’t Tinsley.
Even though I smelled like her at the moment.
Her sweaty hair… the smell of her shampoo… perfume… her skin…
I heard a whistle to my right and turned my head to see Ado coming for me.
“Shit,” I whispered.
I turned and was ready for a fight.
Until someone grabbed my shoulder and turned me around.
“Surprise, fucker,” Bain said right before he clocked me in the mouth.
Ado jumped on my back and I stood no chance to even get a single punch in.
I gritted my teeth and tasted blood as Bain and Ado each had one of my arms.
I pulled and twisted, but each time I did they punched or kicked me.
When I was down on one knee, I heard someone laughing.
That’s when Cole finally showed himself.
Clapping. Grinning.
Knowing he had set me up.
I had taken the fucking bait.
All because of some stupid shit Kip said to me about being soft.
“Are you proposing to me?” Cole asked. “Because if you wanted to beg me, you’d have to get on both knees.”
“I’ll leave that to these guys,” I said. “I’m sure you’d prefer them on their knees in front of you.”
Bain smashed the back of his hand to my head.
There were more than stars for a few seconds.
“Hold on there,” Cole said. “Don’t kill him. This is going to be fun. Stand him up.”
Bain and Ado wrested to get me to my feet.
Cole stared at me with pure hatred in his eyes.
Fucking BC.
“Can’t believe you came alone,” he said. “I almost feel bad for you.”
“I feel bad for you,” I said. “Three on one. That’s weak.”
“Three on one,” Cole said. “Pres. Barr. Kip.” Then he sighed. “One… Tinsley Ditkiss…”
I made a move at him but Bain and Ado held me back.
“See?” Cole asked. “Three on one isn’t so bad.”
“Wait a second,” Bain said. “Three on one… Cole, Ado, and Bain.”
“Tinsley Ditkiss,” Ado said, blowing a breath at my ear.
“I’ll fucking kill you,” I said.
“No, you won’t,” Cole said.
“Do the others know about this?” I asked. “No way you got the others to go along with whatever this is.”
“So you’re quick to snitch,” Bain said.
“Don’t worry about that,” Cole said. “I want to show you something.”
Cole had a cellphone in his hand and hit the screen a few times.
He turned it around and showed me a video.
Of Tinsley.
On the beach.
Running, alone, on the beach.
The video zoomed in on her face. Then it zoomed out. Then it zoomed in again, this time to her chest as it slowly danced up and down. It zoomed out again.
This time when I moved, I moved hard and fast.
I broke out of Ado’s hold and swung, hitting Cole in the face.
He dropped the phone.
Bain punched me in the gut.
Ado punched me in the face.
Cole added one last punch.
I stood my ground though, even as Ado grabbed my arm again.
“It’s okay,” Cole called out. “That’s what we want, boys. Shows character. Strength. And love.”
“Oh, I’d love a piece of Tinsley Ditkiss,” Bain said.
“That ass,” Cole said. “Right?”
Cole was the ringleader who set up Tinsley before. And he made a comment about her ass. I was going to break his jaw and make it so he couldn’t talk for a little while.
“This is where you ask me what I want,” Cole said.
“Fuck yourself,” I said.
“Okay. So I’ll tell you what I want. Claire.”
I laughed. “Claire?”
“You heard him,” Ado said.
“She’s a little old for you, right?” I asked. “Plus, my father is fucking her.”
>
Cole grinned. “Jokes, huh? I’m going to make it simple, Pres. We need to make sure Claire stays out of our business. And out of our fucking way. And if that means something drastic has to happen… then it will. But you’re going to help us.”
“Tell him what happens if he doesn’t help,” Bain said.
“Do I really have to?” Cole asked.
“No,” I said.
“I’m going to tell you anyway,” Cole said. He picked his phone up off the concrete floor. “That video… well… there’s more. We’ve been watching her. Tinsley Ditkiss. So fucking beautiful. And we know how much she likes bad boys. And since we’re the baddest…”
I swallowed hard.
I had to swallow the anger.
I couldn’t pour anymore gasoline on this fire.
“There is no response needed,” Cole said.
He snapped his fingers.
Bain and Ado unleashed on me.
Throwing punches faster than I could absorb them. Dropping me to my knees.
When they let my arms go, I tried to fight back.
But I fucked up.
I fucked up really good.
“Okay, we’re good,” Cole said.
I took a breath and looked him in the eyes.
He grinned. “Does this count as breaking the Rulz?”
I spit a chunk of blood at his shoe.
He stepped forward and twisted his toe into it.
They all walked away, disappearing into the faded darkness of the empty warehouse.
I stayed there on my knees, breathing heavily.
I nodded.
Looks like the war for Tinsley isn’t over just yet.
Chapter 5
Kip danced around the middle of the ditch, blood on his mouth, sweaty, but he was smiling. Having the time of his life. Getting the relief he needed.
Which was good to see.
How he and Maverick ended up at each other was beyond me, but it was a hell of a fight.
Maverick was quick, an ode to his skills on the football field.
Now, throwing punches at Kip probably wasn’t the smartest move since Maverick needed his hands to catch passes from Brando. But I wasn’t the goddamn football coach, so I didn’t care all that much.
They walked around each other a few times, talking shit to each other.
Anything said and done in the ditch was meant to be left there.
Of course, we were the Rulz which meant the rules of the ditch didn’t apply to us.
So Maverick throwing verbal shots at Kip would come back and haunt him soon enough.
My fingers were interlocked tight with Tinsley’s. She was used to the fights. Just proved how much she belonged at BFH. Her body was against mine and nothing in the world could feel so right.
I had thrown what happened with BC to Barr and Kip. They were sworn to secrecy to keep it from Tinsley until I worked through it all in my head. Cole was running rogue from his crew. Normally that wouldn’t bother me but the video of Tinsley did. It was more than likely a weak threat. A way for them to push at me and try to get me off balance. Thinking Tinsley was a weak spot, which wasn’t true at all.
Kip threw a right hook and caught Maverick in the cheek.
Everyone cheered.
Maverick jumped at Kip, almost damn hugging him.
That meant Maverick was out of gas.
Kip shoved him away and Maverick kept his arms at his sides. Not even trying to defend himself.
Kip lifted a fist and Maverick dropped down to his ass.
He hit the ground hard and went back to his elbows. Looking up, taking deep breaths.
Kip stepped toward him and Barr walked out, whistling.
“That’s it,” I said to Tinsley.
“Good for Kip,” she said. “He won.”
“He always wins.”
“True,” she said.
“We should get out of here,” I said to her. “Find something else to do.”
“What? Leave the fights? You never leave the fights, Pres.”
“I’m over it, sugar. I want to get you home. Alone. Give you a better reason to scream and cheer.”
She smiled. “I was yelling Kip’s name though… that could get awkward.”
“Oh, you’re bold,” I whispered. “I might take you into the ditch.”
“Please,” Tinsley said. “I’d kick your ass in ten seconds.”
“I’d let you. Just to get you on top of me.”
“See… it always goes back to that.”
“I don’t hear you complaining, sugar,” I said.
Brando helped Maverick to his feet.
Maverick nodded to Kip as a sign of respect.
Barr lifted Kip’s arm and everyone clapped for him.
Then Kip ripped his arm free and walked toward Maverick.
“Fuck,” I said.
“What’s happening, Pres?”
“Maverick’s going to learn a hard lesson.”
Kip grabbed Maverick’s shoulder and spun him around. A second later, Kip slammed one more fist to Maverick’s jaw, sending him to the ground. He was out cold.
The crowd gasped.
Brando moved toward Kip but Barr was there. He grabbed Brando’s shirt and shoved him back. Barr pointed and gave a stern warning of what would happen if Brando came forward again.
“Can’t talk shit to us,” I said to Tinsley. “Fights or not. We don’t tolerate it.”
“Wow,” Tinsley said. “You really do make up your own rules, huh?”
“Come on, let’s go check on Kip,” I said.
We pushed through the crowd as Kip came over.
Barr made sure Brando got Maverick out of the ditch.
“Had to,” Kip said as he wiped his face with one of his white shirts.
“I know,” I said.
“What did he say to you?” Barr asked.
“That Pres stole my girl,” Kip said.
“Oh, I’ll go wake his ass up and knock him out again,” I said.
“Let him go,” Tinsley said. “Lesson learned.”
The three of us stared at her.
It was strange the way she could speak and we’d listen. Almost like a lion tamer. This beautiful girl moving around a cage with three pissed off lions, and she was able to crack her whip and keep things in line.
“Yes, boss,” Barr said.
“Fuck,” Kip said. “I need a drink. Wasn’t sure how that one was going to turn out.”
“Who’s next?” I asked. “We’re thinking about heading out.”
“What’s that about head?” Barr asked.
He looked at Tinsley and winked.
I punched his shoulder. “Hey.”
“Please,” Tinsley said. “Let him dream all he wants. He’ll never know how good it is.”
“How good is it?” Kip asked.
I curled my lip at him.
“Ten seconds and done,” Tinsley said.
I looked at her. “What?”
“Oh, that is good,” Barr said.
“I’m going to break some jaws soon,” I warned. “And I’m not fucking kidding.”
“Come on,” Tinsley said. “It’s a joke. You have to laugh at it, Pres. It wasn’t all that long ago the three of you were okay with being with me. Did you forget that?”
“These guys?” I asked. “Never. There was no chance at all. You were always mine. From the second I saw you.”
“Then why are my lips stained with her desire?” Barr asked.
Kip laughed and grabbed Barr’s shoulder. “Before you keep talking, let me go throw some cash down on you and Pres fighting.”
Barr started to laugh too.
I wasn’t in the mood to laugh at all.
Even when Tinsley dug her fingers into my ribs, trying to tickle me.
I just looked at her and winked.
“Pres! You fucking pussy! Get out here!”
The voice boomed over everyone else’s.
I turned my head.
�
�Fuck,” Tinsley said.
Someone was going to die tonight.
* * *
I stood at the edge of the ditch and saw Malcolm standing in the middle with his arms open.
“This guy?” Kip asked.
“What the hell is this?” I asked. “Did you two set this up?”
“That’s the guy you beat up for bumping into me that night at the beach,” Tinsley said.
“Yeah, I know who he is,” I said.
“Let’s go, asshole!” Malcolm yelled at me.
He waved his middle fingers at me.
“I think he’s drunk,” Barr said.
That statement was proven true when Malcolm tried to take a step and stumbled.
“Get him out of here,” I yelled. “Now. Someone get him out of here.”
“Too fucking afraid, man?” Malcolm yelled. “You stupid pussy.”
I gritted my teeth and stepped forward.
Tinsley pulled at me. “Pres…”
“I’ll get him,” Barr said.
He walked into the ditch but Malcolm wasn’t having it. He jumped back and cleared his throat and then spit at Barr.
Nothing actually came out other than some dribble down his chin.
“Get out of here,” Barr said. “You’re drunk. You fucking moron. You want to get your ass killed?”
“He won’t do shit,” Malcolm yelled. “Weak. Fucking. Pussy. Motherfucker.”
“I’ll go knock him out,” Kip said.
“Wait,” I said.
Barr turned his head and looked at me.
“Don’t look at each other,” Malcolm yelled. “Don’t be fucking weak, Pres. Let’s do it. Let’s fucking do it.”
I looked at Tinsley.
She sighed. “Dammit.”
“Sorry, sugar.”
I stepped into the ditch.
I felt the tension of everyone as they waited to see what I was going to do.
“Pres…” Barr said, but stopped when I looked at him. “Okay. Have at it.”
I approached Malcolm.
He kept stepping back as I got closer.
“You’re fucking weak and stupid,” he yelled at me.
I kept my pace slow. I didn’t make a fist. I didn’t lift a fist. I just slowly walked toward him.
“You think you’re tough,” he said. “Fuck you. Fuck your girl too.”
He laughed.
The ditch was in complete silence.
Malcolm stepped back and bumped into someone. He jumped, turned, realized it wasn’t Barr or Kip, and then turned back at me.
PRES: a bay falls high novel Page 4