Fated Shot

Chapter 16

Jack

It’s around 8 am when I finally roll out of bed. I barely slept. Between my ribs aching and the gorgeous girl lying next to me, I was more than a little distracted.

My phone is still open to the messages that came in last night from Penn.

2:43 am Penn: im iN teh uber

3:02 am Penn: home safe. Goin 2 slee.p

3:03 am Penn: nO run tomrw

Despite also running on zero sleep, I’m surprisingly energized. The sun is fully gleaming in through the windows as I get dressed and the rays warm me as I wander out of Maplewood. Solo coffee runs are rare for me these days, but I always appreciate having the quiet time to myself.

Crossing the street, I catch sight of Java down the block and head over. As I approach the door, a commotion catches my attention—a lanky figure disappears around the corner, their voice echoing off the nearby buildings.

“Don’t you dare walk away from me. Our conversation wasn’t done,” comes back clear as day. My spine prickles at the sound of the voice.

“I’m leaving,” a second voice replies firmly from the other side of the building, it’s one that I recognize immediately. Every single muscle in my body responds in an instant as I bound ahead right past the entrance to Java.

“That’s funny. I don’t remember saying you can leave,” the male voice hisses back, cruelty in his tone.

“I’m done, Seb, this is over.” The distressing tone reaches me, making me move even faster.

“As if you can make that fucking decision. Oh, I know what this is about,” he mocks, degradingly, as I round the empty side street. He’s got one arm above her head, boxing her in between him and the wall as fury rips through my body.

“You have a crush.” It’s not a statement, it’s an accusation.

Her hand pushes against him. “W-what are you—”

Seb cuts her off immediately. “You’re so fucking predictable, you know that? You think I didn’t see how you looked at him?”

His laugh grates my ears as he leans down, getting right in her face.

“Even so, I’m willing to overlook it as nothing more than another childish little outburst.” He’s fully in her face, smirking at her distress. “You’re so immature it’s painful sometimes. You’re lucky I’m so forgiving.”

“Back the fuck up,” I growl as I approach. Seeing Mia’s panicked expression immediately kicks my primal instinct into overdrive. There’s no peacekeeper in sight. I’m going to fucking kill him. Trying my best to keep my head on straight, I breathe through the curdling rage in my gut, “Now.”

“Ha!” Seb calls, turning his head to look at me while not moving from his stance on Mia. “If it isn’t the oaf himself.” A maniacal grin painting his face. The dude looks fucking demonic.

Clearly not phased by my presence, he seems too worked up in a manic show to stop. “You think he wants you, Amelia?” He turns his attention back to her. He lowers his head to her ear, whispering loud enough for me to hear. “You’re such a child. He’s gonna fuck you, realize you’re average as hell, and you’ll come crawling back to me.”

She shudders at his words, squeezing her eyes shut and turning her head away from him.

“Don’t say another fucking word.” I reach my arm out, shoving him away from Mia. He stumbles a few steps backward, and I barely touched him. Even injured, I could wreck him without breaking a sweat, scrawny little shit.

His smile wipes away quickly, but he takes a step toward me. Quiet rage radiates out of me as I stare him down from my stance between them. Try me, fucker . He finally backs off, accurately reading the situation. If we went toe to toe, I could kill him, and he knows it.

“Cool it, bro, I was just leaving.” Raising both his hands in innocence. “I’ve got a plane to catch, you know to my real job, Amelia,” he adds pointedly, leaning around my body to look at her like the shit disturber he is.

“Don’t you fucking look at her.” I step forward, shoving him off balance again. “I swear to god, this is your last chance.” I try to quiet the thundering in my chest. I seriously don’t want to subject Mia to what I’m capable of. The last thing I want to do right now is scare her more than she already is.

“I’m going,” he says, trying to sound unbothered, but it comes out shrill. I make a point of taking slow, measured breaths as I watch him leave, exiting out of the side street without even turning back.

Calm the fuck down, take care of Mia.

I turn to her as I cup my hand gently around her jaw, tilting her face upwards toward me. She flinches at my touch, and every inch of my body stiffens under her response.

“I’m sorry,” I let out in desperation as I move my hand to rub her arm instead. Her whole body is shaking, her eyes vacant, and her face devoid of expression .

I’ll kill him .

Unsure eyes meet mine ever so briefly before she drops her gaze.

“I’m sorry to, um.” She licks her lips, taking a moment to formulate her words. “I’m sorry to drag you into that.”

The hell is she talking about? Drag me into what? The guy cornered her. My mind races to what would have happened if I wasn’t there, but I push that aside and refocus on her. She’s still not meeting my eyes.

“Um, I’m gonna head to,” her tone hesitant, as she looks up, pointing weakly further down the street before shaking her head and thinking to herself. “Uh, I mean,” she points the other way.

“I’m walking you home.” I gently place my hand on the arch of her back and lead her back to Oakcrest Tower.