Page 2 of Full Throttle 2

“Brian talks about you all the time.” Anthony's eyes lingered on her a little too long, his expression a mixture of admiration and something more calculating. Lila quickly diverted her gaze. With nervous fingers, she twisted the top off her water, feeling the tension break as the sealed plastic gave, and took a few sips of water.

“Can you believe we graduate this year?” Anthony smiled as if he were trying to put Lila at ease, but something felt wrong.It’s like his smile doesn’t reach his eyes.

“Tuh. Y’all graduate this year. I still have one more to go.”

“You’re like some whiz kid, right? Didn’t you start college early?”

Lila didn’t like talking about herself. She had graduated from high school two years ahead of schedule and was now in her junior year of college.

“Um. Something like...I should probably call Bri...” Lila’s tongue felt heavy. She blinked a few times. Her head was starting to feel a little woozy. Lila cut her eyes to Anthony. “Did you do something to this water?!”

He laughed. “Sweetheart, you are much too trusting.”

Lila’s knees felt wobbly as her vision blurred. She brought her hand to her head. “Oh, my god. You did!”

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to do anything crazy.” Anthony’s laugh was diabolical as he walked toward her.

“Why would you do...this?” The words slipped out of her mouth in almost a whisper before she passed out, and everything went black.

Anthony caught Lila before she hit the floor. He continued to laugh. “Brian will never be able to top this.”

The door swung open, and Brian stepped inside.

“Hey, man, have you seen my phone? I think I left it here earl—” Brian stopped, his eyes locking on Lila and Anthony. The tension in his body was immediate, and his face hardened as he marched toward the bed.

Anthony hopped out, wrapping himself in a sheet, leaving Lila completely naked and exposed. “Hey, man.” He did his best to cover up his laughter. “I can explain.” His words were half-hearted and hollow in meaning.

"What the fuck?" Brian’s voice was dangerously controlled. Lila was coming out of her stupor, and she could hear the edge of anger in it only she couldn’t move to explain. Lila could barely open her eyes. She tried to move her lips, but nothing came out. Was she even talking? Lila’s brain screamed,It’s not what you think!”

Brian’s gaze turned to her, full of hurt.

Then Lila heard it—a sharp, furious shout, followed by the unmistakable sound of a punch connecting with flesh.

Anthony yelled, “You’re really trippin’ over a bitch?!”

Brian didn’t have the words to describe his pain. Finding the woman he loved and his best friend together was too much. However, he planned to make Anthony physically pay. The only communicating he could do was with his fists.

The two of them were locked in a vicious struggle, Brian’s fists continuously colliding with Anthony’s face, grunts of exertion punctuating each blow.

Anthony was trying to break free, delivering an elbow to Brian’s ribs that sent him stumbling back.

Anthony threw a wild punch, but Brian dodged it and shoved him back with all his might. They were both losing control, too caught up in the chaos of their emotions to stop and think.

Lila couldn’t wake up. Her mind was screaming, but the words just wouldn’t come.

Anthony was still on the ground. Brian’s chest heaved with ragged breaths as he looked from Anthony to Lila with anger, hurt, and disgust. “You went behind my back,” he said quietly, his voice an almost whisper. “You can have her.”

Lila’s heart shattered. Her mind continued to scream,This is not what it seems!Please let me explain.Brian, help me!

Brian got off Anthony, who was still recovering from his beatdown. Anthony sat up slowly, wiping the blood from his split lip, his eyes full of something—jealously, resentment—but also a flicker of regret. He wondered if maybe he’d gone too far.

Brian stormed out of the room, leaving the door wide open.

The paralysis seemed to be wearing off. First, Lila could move a toe, then a finger. Once she could move her legs, Lila stumbled out of the bed. As she shuffled around the room, Anthony acted like she wasn’t there.

Lila whispered, “How could you do this to me?”

Anthony stood over the sink of cold running water, tossing it over his face. “I didn’t do shit. I didn’t sleep with you. So, there’s no need to get a Plan B.”