- This is all my fault! - I mean standing up. - If that bunch of little mauriches think they can scare Brooke and make fun of her, they're very wrong.
- Ryder, what are you gonna do? - Jane asks when she sees me walking out of the park.
- Show them who's in charge of this place! - I say I decide.
Jane gets ahead and holding my arm, she tries to stop me.
- Ryder, Brooke was afraid you'd screw up and end up making it worse. - Jane said by running her hand through the disheveled hair. - For some stupid reason, she doesn't want you to get hurt. She knows how dangerous Aron can be. Please don't do anything stupid!
I'm surprised at Brooke's concern.
- I thought she was preserving her own image.
- No! She just doesn't want you to get hurt.
I breathe deeply, inclined to do what Jane asks of me, but the image of Brooke's face all bruised, fills me with fury.
- Jane? Can you do me a favor?
- Yeah! Sure!
- Can you wait for me at your apartment around six and make sure I get in?
Jane blinks in confusion and frows her forehead.
- I don't know...
- Please, please, please, please, please, please! - I say beggar and take your hands. - I really need to know how Brooke's doing, and I know she won't see me.
Jane thinks for a few seconds, her shoulders fall off and she sighs.
- All right! All right!
- Oh, great! Thank you! Thank you! - I say kissing her hand and walk away, heading towards the courtyard across campus.
- Ryder? - she screams. - Where are you going?
- Get in some trouble!
She's snitching by tapping her feet on the floor, but it's too late to stop me. I run in the direction I know I'll find the idiots of Aron's friends. I stop at the entrance of the courtyard and smile when I see that Tiffany is with them. I look from side to side, walking up to them. The courtyard was secluded and gave no sight to anyone from outside. There were no cameras, so I knew I could do whatever I wanted and no one would know. Probably someone or everyone was smoking, because that patio was used exclusively for that. I look from a distance, evaluating before I go upstairs, from the bastard who beaten Brooke. I had no idea why I was acting like that, but I'd make that miserable woman pay.
Tiffany was sitting with her back to me and Aron was standing behind her, massaging her shoulders. Shane and Bruce were sitting in front of each other, each with a girl sitting on his lap. They laughed at something I couldn't tell you what it was, because of the distance between us. I got close, decided, to Aron and pushed him aside.
- But what? - scared, it takes a few seconds to get on top of me. - You asshole!
He screams, coming at me, but I punch him and he falls to the ground. Shane and Bruce rise from the bench on which they are sitting, pulling the English punch, they run to me in order to cowardly defend their friend. I twist Shaine's arm, deviating from the blow and hit Bruce with a shot. Then I play Shaine against Bruce and they both fall to the ground, one over the other. Furious, I look in the direction of Tiffany, who widens his eyes as he walks towards her. All three make mention of reacting again, but I shot them with my eyes.
- I just want to make one thing clear to that bitch! - I mean roughly. - I have a lot of time to lose and, if you want to challenge me, let it be very clear that I can take them down as many times as necessary.
I pause with a cold smile. They're not intimidated, so I take a posture of threat and defense.
- The three of you can come if you want!
They look at each other, so they surround me. Aron is the first to attack me. Unleashing the blow, I hit him with successive punches, knocking Aron to the ground. He's bleeding and moaning. Shaine and Bruce attack me in pairs and I decide to stop that bullshit at once. Pulling the dagger I always carry attached to my ankle, I point it in their direction. They both stop in the middle of the way when they see me armed.
- Keep going, if you want to get a tattoo on your ass! - threat.
They roll their eyes out, then they roll back.
- I knew the decision! - I say with arrogance.
I turn towards Tiffany, who shrinks on the bench. I approach her with determined steps and she rises, hoping to escape, but I grab her hair carrying her against my chest.
- Let go of me! - she screams, but she swallows dry when I lean the dagger down her throat.
- Where's all your bravery now? - I whisper cold. - You think you can really threaten people? Hit them and get away with it?
- That bitch has gone to complain, has she? - she disdains. - Who the hell are you? Her knight in white armor?
I'll let out a laugh.
- I'm far from being
