Page 45 of Storm's Deliverance

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

HENDRIX

It’s Saturday night,drinks are flowing, and it’s good to see Storm letting her hair down and enjoying herself.

Enzo stands beside me, but his gaze is aimed at his sister. “You ever think our parents shouldn’t have had us in this life?” he asks.

I shake my head. “I wouldn’t change our lives for the fucking world.”

He grunts before taking another sip of his drink. “If they didn’t have us, we wouldn’t be targets.”

I turn my full attention to him. “What happened to Storm had nothing to do with the fucking club, and everything to do with that asshole being a cunt. Club or not, that shit could happen to any of us.” I sigh when he doesn’t say anything. “Fuck, man, pull your head out of your ass. Yes, it’s fucking horrific what happened. I get that you feel the guilt of not being able to protect her, but she’s here now. She’s mending, and she’s getting back to herself. She wants to forget about it, so why the fuck can’t you?”

He grits his jaw as he looks down at the amber liquid in his glass, swirling it around. “I made Dad a promise that I would always watch out for her when he couldn’t. It’s not just guilt. It’sthat feeling that I failed. I let him, her mom, the fucking club down. Fuck. Every time I close my eyes, I can’t get that image of Dad carrying her in his arms.” His ice-cold eyes flicker to mine. “I wanted what they have, my parents; not now, but later in life, but if I can’t look after my own fucking sister, how the hell am I going to be able to look after my own family?”

I place my drink down and take a step back, bouncing on the balls of my feet in front him, my fists balled up. “Come on, then,” I goad him.

He scoffs and shakes his head, looking at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Why the fuck would I fight you?”

“Because you need it,” I state, my fists braced and ready.

“Yeah, I need it, but I ain’t about to fight my best mate and my brother,” he refuses.

“What if I said I want to fuck your sister?” I goad him.

His eyes narrow, and his jaw ticks. “Man, do not say shit like that to me. I know you have it bad for her. I don’t need to hear the fucking details,” he warns me.

I smirk. “But we are best friends, right? I should be able to share this shit with you. I want to fuck her. I want her mouth. I want to do so many nasty fucking things.” I smirk. “Come on, asshole, give me your best shot.” I wink.

He throws his glass down and takes two purposeful strides towards me, rearing his fist back. I don’t block him. I allow it. His fist slams into my nose, and I stumble back, smirking.

I wipe the underside of my nose with the back of my hand, seeing the bright claret coating my skin.

“Enough. I know what you are trying to fucking do, and it won’t work,” Enzo seethes, his chest heaving before he turns to walk away.

“After I’m done fucking your sister, I’m going to fuck Maisy. Help her get over you,” I state to his retreating back.His shoulders tense as his body halts. I chuckle. “Got you, motherfucker.”

He launches himself at me, his fist colliding with my face, my ribs, my gut. I swing, hitting back, my knuckles colliding with his cheek. His head whips to the side, and I take advantage and slam my fist in his side. He lets out a groan, clutching his stomach.

“Shit!” I pant. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to?—”

My words are cut off as he catches me unaware, with a quick one-two, before the final blow to the gut that has me dropping to my knees, winded.

Enzo pants, resting a hand on my shoulder as he leans down. “I’m sor—” I don’t let him finish as I give him a hit back into the gut. He lets out a loud groan and falls to his knees beside me. Both of us are wheezing, trying to catch our breaths.

“What the hell are you guys doing?!” Maisy yells. I look up and see Maisy, Storm, Mabel, and Oliver standing there.

“Looks like they’re clearing shit up.” Oliver shrugs. “When you guys are done, I got us a table and a tab behind the bar,” he states, picking up a shot off his tray and knocking it back.

“Hey, don’t go drinking all those!” Mabel yells, following after him. I look to Enzo, who is looking up at Maisy. I glance at Maisy, but she shifts and looks away, taking a sip of her drink. I shake my head.

“Here,” Storm says, holding out her hand for me. I grasp her hand and pull myself up. I stand before her, still clasping her hand in mine as I brush my thumb softly across her skin. She looks up at me, rolling her bottom lip through her teeth. “You’re bleeding,” she states.

I lift my hand to my nose. “Yeah, your brother normally hits like a little girl. Guess he got lucky,” I quip. Enzo gets to his feet, slamming his fist into the side of my arm. I release the hold I have of Storm’s hand and rub my arm. “Fucker.” I laugh. Grabbing the hem of my T-shirt, I lift it off and press it to mybleeding nose. I catch Storm’s eyes roaming over me, but I don’t draw attention to it. “You’re bleeding, too,” I say, pointing to Enzo’s split lip.

He does the same, removing his T-shirt and pressing it to his lip.

Storm rolls her eyes. “You will get kicked out.”