“But Micah was on the field, so it can’t have been him. I take it your father thinks it’s him.”
“He’s the main suspect. Dad wants to see him.”
“Hudson won’t allow it.”
“Shit, Molly, what do we do?” Harper yelled.
“I feel like I’m going to have a panic attack,” I said, banging my breastplate with my palm. Xander placed his hand on my shoulder, the gesture one of comfort. It was only brief, as seconds later, that comfort was ripped away as a large male arm brushed past me and shoved Xander backwards. It happened so fast that I didn’t see the blow land, but blood sprayed down Xander’s chin, and a wave of sickness swam through my stomach.
“Touch her again and I’ll break more than your nose,” Hudson snarled as Xander fell back a step, grabbing his face and roaring in pain.
“What the fuck!”
I grabbed hold of Hudson’s bicep and twisted in front of him to block a further attack.
“Get out of my way, Molly.”
“Hudson, no. Xander came to warn us.” Although at that point, Xander was doubled over and clearly in pain.
Hudson turned on me, his face full of fury, and his broad chest heaving. I noticed the veins in his neck were throbbing. “About what? That the pussies from St Andrew’s are sore losers?” he yelled, pointing towards the group of jocks who were helping themselves to the beer stand.
Xander trailed his shirt sleeve across his bloodied nose, dragging air into his lungs before he growled. “No. I didn’t tell them to come. I’m not here for them.”
Hudson went to move around me, but I held my hand out. Not that it did any good. “I don’t give a shit.” I was petrified as Hudson was clearly on the war path.
“Please, Hudson, listen.” This time, I turned to face him and pushed my hands against his chest, my eyes meeting Harper's, which were as wide as saucers. I could see the other Sawyer brothers rushing towards us. Backup. Thank goodness. Hopefully, they could calm their impulsive brother down.
“Another two guys from St Andrew’s just decided to crash… what the fuck areyoudoing here?” Micah said, coming to the side of us. He hadn’t noticed Xander at first, who was still bent over. “What’s going on?” he added as Xander straightened, his battered face more visible in the dark. “Fuck bro, what did you do to him?”
“I hit himonce. I can’t take credit for the other colour,” Hudson snarled, taking my wrists in his hands, and moving me behind him.
“What are you doing here, Creed?” Nix then barked.
Xander felt his nose with his hand before turning towards Micah and ignoring Nix. “Micah, did you break into my car and take my shit?”
Micah looked truly affronted. “What, no?”
“What shit?” Nix chorused.
“Someone broke into my car and stole three packages. Packages that didn’t belong to me.”
“Are you telling the truth, Micah?” Reed said, coming to stand beside me and Hudson.
“I ain’t taken shit from you man,” Micah bellowed at Xander, spitting on the sand between them. His expression was mutinous.
“I take it you're talking about class A drugs?” Reed questioned.
“Yeah. Around ten large,” Xander said, looking like he wanted to be sick.
Shaking his head, Phoenix said, “Class A? You really did hit the big time. Is your mommy proud of the man you’ve become?”
I felt a twinge of pity as I knew Xander’s mother was dead.
And then Xander’s face paled as his focus shifted to somewhere behind Reed. “Shit.”
“What?” Phoenix said, scanning where Xander had looked.
“Is Nick OK?” Harper suddenly said.
