Page 30 of Fight for You

He opens his mouth to say something, and then his gaze darts over my shoulder. His body goes rigid, anger rolling through his expression. His lips pull down into a frown, his eyes narrowing. "Go wait by my bike, baby girl," he says quietly.

I spin around to see what he's looking at, and my stomach sinks.

Kaleo's hurrying toward us with Corey Love and another guy in tow. Corey glances at me and then mutters something to the guy beside him before licking his lips.

He's been a jerk ever since Cade and I got together. He told a bunch of people that I let him touch me under the bleachers. When Titan found out, he kicked his ass.

Now, Corey spends all his time hanging around Kaleo. He does as much as he can to annoy Cade and Titan.

"Yo, Kincaid!" Kaleo yells.

"Go wait by my bike, January," Cade says. He quickly pulls me behind him, putting himself between me and Kaleo to shield me.

I know I should listen to him and go, but I don't want to leave him alone with these three. There's no one else out here to help him if they try to start something.

Kaleo, Corey, and the other guy draw to a stop a few steps away from Cade. I don't know who the guy with them is, but he’s big, with cold, bloodshot eyes.

"Why the fuck are you in my park, Kaleo?" Cade asks. He doesn't sound like the same guy who told me last night that his favorite sound in the world is the way I say his name after he kisses me. He doesn't even resemble the same guy. He stands straight, his body rock hard with tension, his hands clenched at his sides.

This is the Cade people whisper about—the one they're afraid of messing with. I don't think Kaleo's afraid of him, though. Kaleo thinks he's some big, bad guy. He's honestly a little pathetic. Most of the people he runs around with are half his age. He just gets them into trouble.

"Micah just got picked up by LAPD," Kaleo says.

"Sounds like a personal problem to me," Cade retorts. "Doesn't explain why you're in my park."

The other guy with Kaleo mutters something under his breath.

"What'd you say?" Cade growls, taking a step toward him.

"I called you a snitch, motherfucker," the guy says, enunciating each word.

"I didn't snitch on anyone," Cade snaps at him, his voice dark and threatening. "If Micah is in jail, his own stupid ass got him sent there. He shouldn't be selling pot to kids outside the fucking middle school."

"You'd know all about what happens at the middle school, wouldn't you? You spent enough time there trying to get in January's pants." Corey leans around Cade like he's trying to get a better look at me. "Hi, little monster," he says, pitching his voice deep like he's mimicking Cade. "Did you finally let him tap that sexy ass like you let me?"

Before I can even process what's happening, Cade lunges at him, a savage snarl rumbling in his throat. “Don’t fucking call her that!”

I scream when he plows into Corey, knocking him to the ground. They roll around in the grass, with Cade throwing punches while Corey tries to defend himself. Corey is no match for Cade, though. He can’t even get Cade off him.

“Don’t fucking speak to her, you motherfucker,” Cade roars, his fist connecting with Corey’s face in a sickening crunch.

"You going to help him out or just stand there?" Kaleo barks at the guy beside him.

The guy with him jumps forward and grabs Cade before throwing him off Corey. Cade lands on his hands and knees in the grass. Before he can get back on his feet or even try to protect himself, the guy kicks him in the ribs, laughing viciously.

Corey jumps to his feet and grabs the back of Cade's hoodie, holding him while the other guy rears his foot back, kicking him in the stomach again and then again.

My terrified scream echoes around us, my throat aching. My knees tremble, black spots swimming in my field of vision. I've never been so afraid in my life. I rush forward to help Cade, but Kaleo clamps his hands around my waist, dragging me backward.

"Let me go!" I scream, kicking as hard as I can.

He grunts when my foot connects with his knee. He releases me, holding his hands up and laughing like he was trying to help me out or something.

I desperately want to punch him in the face.

"Cade!" Titan roars from somewhere behind me.

Relief rushes through me at the sound of his voice and I choke on a sob. Spinning around, I see him, Quan, Boots, and Mark racing toward us across the parking lot.