Page 99 of Riot Reunion

“What night?”

“The night Jonah slit Chase’s wrists and dumped her out of the car. He drove through the fucking wall. Nearly killed me. I kept her breathing that night. I saved her.”

“Fuck,” Dash says under his breath. “Did she break up with you or something?”

I’m being crushed to death. I shake my head, trying to swallow, trying to breathe…

“Say something, man. I’m having a hard time trying to figure out what the fuck is going on.”

‘PAX!” Wren’s roar can be heard across the entire parking lot.

“Shit.” I spit, gulping down air.

“The fuck’s wrong withhim?” Dash demands. A second later, Wren’s upon us.

“You’re fucking joking, right?” Jacobi wrenches me upright, his face a mask of rage. “You arejoking. Tell me you’re fucking joking.”

“Serious as a heart attack,” I pant.

“Will someone tell me what’s going on!”

“He dumped her!” Throwing his hands up in the air, incredulous, Wren hurls daggers at me. “His girlfriend just lost his baby and had an emergency hysterectomy, and hedumpsher.”

“Whoa. Whoa, now. I’m sure there’s more to it,” Dash says, ever the voice of reason.

“If there is more to it, then I’dloveto hear it,” Wren rages.

“I was fucking relieved, okay!” I shout. “I was trapped in that shitty situation, and then she lost the fucking kid. It was a fucking blessing in disguise. What did you expect from me? Huh? I’m Pax fucking Davis. I’mfreenow. I get to go on my merry way, and—”

The blow comes out of nowhere. He’s fast with his fists, Jacobi. Always has been. The impact of his strike rocks me to the soles of my boots. Pain lances through my jaw, lashing around my head to the back of my skull.

I spit blood out onto the concrete at my feet. “Again.”

Wren already has another right hook ready and waiting for me. This time, the punch lands on my temple. Stars wheel in my vision, momentary darkness crowding my vision. The second wave of pain is a welcome friend, stretching a hand out to me, inviting me into oblivion. Sadly, unconsciousness fails to take me, so I get to my feet and wave him on, curling a lip at him.

“Again.”

I don’t even try to defend myself. The third strike does the trick. Wren’s fist connects with my jaw again, and the world flickers out of focus, then the lights go out. I wake on the ground, the back of my head killing me, with Dash and Wren arguing over my prone body.

“Just stop! I’m telling you, we don’t have the full story!” I never thought I’d hear Lord Lovett coming to my defense. What a fucked up day this has turned out to be.

“I don’t give a shit what his excuse is. He needs to get back in there and tell that girl he made a mistake—”

“He’s awake.” Dash pushes Wren aside, offering to help me up. I’d love to be able to decline and maintain some semblance of dignity, but it’s too late for that. Once I’m up on my feet, I clear my mouth, spitting more blood out onto the ground, and then I hold my hand out to Jacobi.

“I need my keys.”

“You’re not having your keys, you fuck wit.”

“Give them to me.”

“Why, so you can fucking disappear and run away from all of this?”

His contempt cuts worse than any knife, but I nod, flaring my nostrils. “What do you think? Isn’t that what you expect from me? What all of you expect?”

“No!”he shouts. “I expect you to be the man I know you are. I expect you to stay andlovethe girl back in that hospital room, even though it’s hard!”

“Fuck you, dude. You don’t know what you’re talking about. I was always gonna do this! I was always gonna fuck it up! It’s just who I fucking AM!”