Page 111 of Mistaken Prejudice

“They won’t,” I lied. “I’ll be fine,” I lied again and got up from the crouch I’d been in.

“Remember what I told you. Once Jess is free, you two get the hell out of here. I’ll also find my way out, so don’t worry.” I tried to sound convincing because I was scared shitless. They already broke my arm, bruised my ribs, and got away with it. So I’d rather not think of tonight’s outcome.

I was ready to get inside and face them when the main door to the gym opened, and someone walked inside. It took me a second to realize who it was.

“Jordy?” Levi sounded as confused and betrayed as I was at the sight of the guy we thought was a friend, joining them.

“Well, well. Look who finally decided to join,” Don said, getting up from beside Jess and walking toward Jordan.

“I came as soon as I got the text,” Jordy answered in a quiet voice as he looked around the room, his eyes stopping on Jess.

“Where’s Levi?”

Son of a bitch. Just last weekend, he sat with us for dinner.

“The midget looked like he could bite, unlike this one.” Don pointed at Jess as his brother wrapped his huge arm around Jess’s shaky form. “This one looks like a treat. But you already know that, don’t you?”

What the hell? I looked at Levi, trying to get ahead of what they were saying, but Levi’s face gave nothing up.

“Shut up, Don,” Jordy bit back, shoving his hands in his pockets.

“C’mon, man. I know you fucked him. I’m just asking for the details. Is he a screamer?”

Fucked Jessie? What was he talking about? Why was I so clueless? It couldn’t be the truth, could it?

“Oh!” Don clapped his hands together. “Was he the one to fuck you? Is that it?” He started laughing and brought his finger to clean up the fake tears. “C’mon, man. I’m just messing with you. No hard feelings. Anyway, you don’t have to tell me. I plan to find out how much of a screamer he is myself,” he sneered with a wicked smile a moment before Jordan’s fist collided with his face, catching him off guard and sending him to the floor.

I knew this was my chance to move, so without thinking twice, I jumped in. I still had a lot of questions, but there would be time for it later; right now, I focused my attention on punching Kamper, who didn’t see me coming.

“Fuck!” Kamper shouted as he got to his knees after I kicked his nuts. I was lucky with him, but not so much with Ty, who came from behind and got me with a nasty punch.

“Levi!” I heard Jess calling and glanced over my shoulder to find Levi helping him up.

Lin was busy fighting with Jordan while his brother was still getting up from the floor, which gave Levi the window he needed to get to Jess.

I returned my attention to Ty and gave him a right hook that dazed him enough for me to strike another. As the two of us continued to throw punches, me with mostly my right hand, I believed we had a real chance of winning this.

And just as I got ahead of myself, I watched the twins slamming Jordan against the floor and knocking him unconscious. His head was slammed against the ground to the point I was sure they killed him. I really hoped that wasn’t the case.

Leaving Jordan’s limp body behind, they came my way and were on me in a split second. I knew my limit and it was drawn at two 275-pound, six-foot-seven giants. I tried, I swear I did, and from the sound of it, Jess and Levi tried to help me, but Ty and Kamper neutralized them before one of the twins threw his first punch at me.

I was pretty sure they broke my arm again. And if they continued to pound my head against the floor, I was positive they’d burst it open. It was a nasty déjà vu.

“You little rat. You think you can beat us up?” Don asked, clenching my hair in his fists before he slammed my face again, breaking my nose in the process.

“Well,” I spat, blood mixed with my spit, “the least we can do is try, right?” Teasing him wasn’t a smart idea and one that earned me another pound to the head.

“C’mon, Don, I need him alive. For now.” I lifted my head to the sound of his voice, and there he was, sitting on a bunch of ruins, with his legs spread apart and his arms resting at his sides. The devil himself—Mr. Shay-Lee Rogers. The one and only.

“I’m impressed you managed to put up a fight. This time.” He jumped from his throne and started to stroll toward me while clapping his hands. “Bravo.” He said as he flashed me a white grin. “Bravo.”

“Letting your thugs do the dirty work for you?” I hissed before I looked around to check the state of the room.

As I feared, Ty and Kamper had Levi and Jess neutralized while Jordan was still unconscious with blood running down his face. Fuck. We needed to get him to the hospital.

“Nah.” He shrugged, amused. “They offered to help in pest control. So who am I to decline their generosity?”

This time, the twins pulled me up to my feet and forced me to stand while Shay-Lee leaned close enough I could feel his breath on my face.