Chapter 58

ADRIEN

I leaned back against the cold concrete wall of the underground parking lot, one boot propped up behind me. The cigarette dangled between my fingers, smoke curling slowly into the air. Amir was beside me, flicking his lighter absentmindedly, and Nate stood a few feet ahead, keeping his eyes on the entrance.

We weren’t talking much. There was no need to. We all knew why we were here.

I exhaled slowly, the smoke stinging the back of my throat, but it was the only thing keeping my hands steady right now.

Tyler was inside the cinema with some girl. One of his idiot friends had dropped it in a group chat that he was catching a late movie—probably bragging. That was all I needed to know.

His car was parked not too far from mine, just across the aisle. Blacked-out windows. Same smug license plate he’d had since high school. It was only a matter of time before he came walking through those glass doors.

And when he did—I’d be ready.

My jaw clenched just thinking about Kaia last night. The tears. The bruise on her face. The way her voice shook when she told me what that bastard tried to do to her.

The rage hadn’t left me. Not even a little. It was still raw. Still burning in my chest like a goddamn wildfire. I couldn’t sleep. Could barely think straight. The only thought that made any sense was that Tyler needed to pay for what he did.

And he needed to pay now.

He plays for Callum’s hockey team. Right wing, fast on skates, always thought he was untouchable on and off the ice. Like he could get away with anything.

I always knew Callum's circle was poison. The whole lot of them—privileged, reckless, dangerous. But I hadn’t stopped Kaia from getting pulled into their world. That was on me.

I should’ve warned her. Should’ve told her that just because they partied with charm didn’t mean they weren’t capable of something darker.

And now she was hurt. Because I stood by and did nothing.

That will never happen again.

Now that Kaia’s with me—I’m not letting her go. She’s mine to protect, and if the rest of the world has a problem with that, then they can line up right behind Tyler.

Because tonight? I’m sending a message.

To Tyler.

To Callum.

To every other bastard in that crew who thinks they can lay a finger on her and walk away from it.

They’ll learn—one by one—what happens when you mess with what’s mine.

A soft laugh echoed from the exit doors. My head turned at the sound of a girl's voice—high-pitched and flirty—and then I saw him.

Tyler fucking West.

Stumbling out with his arm thrown around a brunette like he didn’t have a care in the world. Grinning like he wasn’t the scum of the damn earth.

My jaw locked, and the cigarette slipped from between my fingers. I tossed it to the ground and crushed it beneath my boot, the ash scattering like sparks off my fuse.

My grip tightened around the cold steel of the bat in my hand.

Tyler didn’t have a single goddamn clue what was about to hit him—and the best part? He wouldn’t even see it coming.

He and the girl were giggling, leaning into each other like they were the center of the universe. He opened the door for her, ever the gentleman—what a joke—and slid into the driver’s seat like he hadn’t tried to rip the shirt off a girl who said no just last night.

They backed out slowly. My heart was pounding, but my focus was razor sharp. Nate’s voice sliced through the tension.

“You ready?”

I nodded once, calm. Controlled. Lethal.

We waited—silent—as the car turned and began rolling in our direction.

Then I stepped forward.

Right into his path.

The screech of his brakes echoed through the parking lot, tires jerking to a stop just inches from my legs. He looked up and froze—eyes wide. Confused. Scared even.

Good.

I stood there, bat resting on my shoulder, not moving an inch.

Then Nate and Amir stepped out of the shadows, one on each side, and all hell broke loose.

CRACK.

Glass shattered on both sides as their bats crashed into the windows. Screams erupted from inside the car—the girl was shrieking—and Tyler was scrambling in his seat like a trapped rat.

She bolted, throwing the door open and taking off into the parking lot, her heels clacking against the pavement.

I climbed onto the hood of the car, teeth gritted, and swung the bat down—once, twice, again—until the windshield was spiderwebbed with cracks and Tyler was screaming inside, shielding his face with his arms like a coward.

Then Amir yanked open the passenger door and ripped the dashcam straight off its mount, tossing it onto the ground and stomping it.

Nate swung his door open and grabbed Tyler by the shirt, dragging him out of the driver’s seat like he weighed nothing.

I jumped down, landed on my feet, and slammed him hard against the car. His back hit metal with a solid thud, his eyes wild.

“Please, please, don’t hurt me!” he cried, hands raised. “I didn’t do anything, I swear!”

I tilted my head, mocking.

“Didn’t do anything?” I echoed. “What’s the matter, junkie? Suddenly forgot you like putting your hands on girls who say no?”

“I—I don’t know what you’re talking about—”

I glanced at Nate. He nodded, got the message instantly.

He grabbed Tyler’s right wrist and slapped his hand flat on the car hood.

I stepped closer, tapping the bat against his hand. Not hard. Just enough to feel the weight of what was coming.

“Which hand, Tyler?” I asked quietly, my voice like ice. “Which fucking hand did you use to touch Kaia last night?”

Tyler’s face drained of color. His breath stuttered. He looked between us, like he might bolt. Like he might lie again.

Then his mouth trembled.

“I—I didn’t know she was yours,” he blurted, eyes filling with tears. “I didn’t know, man. I swear—I didn’t mean anything by it—I just—”

“So it’s okay if she wasn’t mine?” I snapped, my voice rising, eyes burning into him. “That what you’re saying?”

“N-no—no, I—”

I grabbed him by the collar and spun him to face me. His face was blotchy, and he was already crying.

I leaned in close, disgust curling in my stomach.

“Wipe your fucking tears.”

He tried. Shaking. Sniffling.

Then I shoved him back hard against the car again.

“Listen to me, you son of a bitch. If you ever come near Kaia again—or any other girl—and put your hands on them without their say, I swear to God, I will find you. I will break every bone in your body with this bat.”

I held it up, right between us, and watched his face twist with panic.

“Do you understand me?”

He nodded frantically. “Yes—yes—yeah, I get it, I get it—please—”

Good.

I stepped back.

And slammed the flat of the bat into his stomach.

The air rushed out of him in a sharp grunt, and he dropped to his knees, arms wrapped around his gut, gasping like a fish out of water.

I stared down at him—pathetic and broken—then gave a nod to the others.

“Let’s go.”

We walked away, leaving him in a crumpled heap on the concrete. The sound of his coughing followed us, but I didn’t look back.

It helped. A little.

But only a little.

Because Tyler might’ve been handled, but the real problem—the one I let too close to Kaia—the one who stood by and let her get hurt—was still out there.

Callum.

And unlike Tyler... he won’t get off so easy.