Chapter 6

The second the words left that guy’s mouth, “Make me” , everything shifted.

I heard the car door slam behind me before I could even turn my head. Footsteps, fast and heavy on the pavement. Damien was out of the car in seconds, his presence hitting the air like a storm rolling in.

The temperature seemed to drop ten degrees.

Tyler’s eyes went wide first. He recognized him immediately. “Shit… Voss? Damien Voss?” His voice cracked. He took one stumbling step back, foot catching on the curb, and went down hard on his ass with a grunt.

He scrambled up quick, hands out like he was trying to calm a wild animal, backing away so fast he almost tripped again. “We didn’t know, man. We swear. Just checking on her for Marcus. That’s all. No trouble.”

The second guy, Ryan, I think his name was, one of Marcus’s louder, cockier friends, froze with his hand still on my waist. For a second his tough act slipped.

His shoulders tensed, eyes darting between me and Damien like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Then he forced a laugh, the kind that sounded too loud and fake. “Holy shit. The big bad brother himself. Dropping off Marcus’s girl? That’s cold, man. Real cold.”

I tried to pull away from Ryan’s grip, but my legs wouldn’t work right anymore. The world was getting blurrier, the edges of everything softening like I was underwater.

My head felt too heavy. I just wanted to close my eyes and sleep. The ground looked inviting. “Let go,” I mumbled, my words thick and slow. “I don’t… I don’t feel good.”

Ryan’s arm tightened around my waist, pulling me closer against his side like I was some kind of prize. His hand stayed low, fingers digging in a little too possessively.

“Chill, Elena. We got you. We’ll take you back, yeah? Get you some water. Talk it out.” He glanced at Damien, trying to play it cool even though his voice had gone a little higher. “No need for the dramatic entrance, Voss. We’re all friends here. Right, Ty?”

Tyler was still backing up, breathing fast. “Yeah, yeah. Friends. We’re good. Just… we didn’t know it was you in the car. Thought she found some random rich dude to… you know. Bounce back quick after what happened with Marcus. But it’s you. Damn.”

Damien didn’t say anything at first. He just stood there, tall and terrifying in the streetlight, suit jacket open, eyes locked on Ryan’s hand where it was gripping me.

The air felt thick, charged, like right before lightning hits. I could barely keep my eyes open, the drunkenness crashing over me harder now. My knees buckled a little and Ryan had to hold me up, his body pressing closer than it needed to.

“Get your fucking hands off her,”

Damien said finally. His voice was quiet. Too quiet. The kind of quiet that made Tyler flinch like he’d been slapped.

Ryan laughed again, but it sounded nervous this time. He didn’t let go.

Instead he pulled me tighter against him, his hand sliding lower on my hip, fingers brushing the curve of my ass through the dress. “Come on, man. She’s wasted. You know how these things go. Marcus sent us to look out for her. She’s family. And look at her, all emotional and ready to make bad choices. We’re just helping a friend. Ain’t that right, Elena baby?”

I tried to push him away, but my arms felt like lead. “Stop… touching me. I said stop.” The words came out slurred and weak.

Everything was blurring worse. Damien’s face was the only thing still sharp, but even he was starting to swim. I just wanted to lie down. Sleep. Forget.

Damien took one step forward. His hands were clenched at his sides, knuckles white. “I won’t tell you again. Take your hand off her. Now.”

Tyler was practically hiding behind Ryan at this point, eyes darting around like he was looking for an escape route. “Ryan, dude… let her go. That’s Damien Voss. You know what he does to people who cross him. We should just—”

“Shut up, Ty,” Ryan snapped, his tough act cracking but not gone. He smirked at Damien, still holding me close, his fingers pressing harder into my hip like he was daring him. “What, you suddenly playing hero for your brother’s sloppy seconds? She came to you tonight, didn’t she? After Marcus fucked up. Guess the apple doesn’t fall far. You gonna take her home and play house now? Or you just using her to get back at him too?”

I whimpered, trying to twist away, but Ryan’s grip was strong and my body wasn’t cooperating. The street was spinning. “Damien… I don’t feel right. Everything’s blurry. I just want to sleep.”

Damien’s eyes flicked to me for a split second, something fierce and protective flashing across his face. Then they went back to Ryan, colder than I’d ever seen.

“Last warning.”

Ryan laughed, but it was shaky. He pulled me even closer, his hand sliding boldly lower, cupping my ass as he leaned in like he was going to whisper something filthy in my ear. “Make me, Voss. She’s not complaining. Maybe she likes it rough tonight after what your brother did to her. What are you gonna do about it?”

Damien moved faster than I could track.

His fist connected with Ryan’s face in a sickening crack.