Broken Kingdom (Royal Hearts Academy #4)(53)

He holds up a hand. “That’s enough.” He takes a step closer. “If you want to talk to me or Oakley then tell your father to get a lawyer. Until then, stay the hell away from my son. Because if you don’t, I’ll have no choice but to get a restraining order against you. And believe me, sweetheart, you don’t want that.”

What. The. Actual. Fuck.

“Dad,” Oakley barks. “Are you out of your goddamn mind? She didn’t do anything wrong. Lay the fuck off her.”

The vein in his father’s forehead makes an appearance. “Goddammit, Oak. I’m trying to protect you.”

Protecting him from what?”

“What did I do?” I question, my voice coming out wobbly. “What—”

“Nothing,” Oakley reassures me. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Bianca.” He glares at his father. “Don’t you dare put my shit on her.”

His father frowns. “Oak—”

“What the hell is going on?” A slightly disheveled Stone snarls before rushing to my side. “Are they bothering you?”

“What are you doing here?” I ask, but Oakley’s father cuts in.

“Bothering her? Quite the opposite, young man.”

Stone’s understandably confused. “What’s he talking about?”

“Nothing,” I say, but Stone focuses on Oakley.

“You better stay the hell away from my fiancée, asshole.”

“Or what?” Oakley goads, taking a step forward. “You’ll tell her brothers since you’re too much of a pussy to deal with me yourself.”

“That’s enough, Oak,” his father says. “We don’t have to take this bullshit from them. Let’s go back inside your apartment.”

Oakley starts to walk away, but Stone mutters, “Listen to your pops, you lowlife junkie.”

“Jesus, Stone,” I shout. “What the hell is the matter with you?”

He turns his furious glare on me. “I don’t want this piece of shit anywhere near you.” He wraps his hand around my wrist like I’m a chew toy he’s trying to take ownership of. “Do you fucking understand me?”

“Talk to her like that again,” Oakley seethes as he walks over to us. His eyes flick down to where Stone’s hand is still secured around my wrist. “I fucking dare you.”

Stone scoffs. “Last I checked, she was my fiancée, not yours. Therefore, you need to butt out of our relationship and stick to the only things you’re good at like getting so drunk and high you kill innocent people.”

My stomach drops. Not only are his words brutal, they no doubt make Oakley feel even worse than he already does.

“Stop it, Stone.”

“That’s enough,” Oakley’s father roars. “Keep saying that crap to my son and I’ll make it my personal mission to make your life a living hell, you little shit.”

“Stay out of this, old man.”

My mouth drops open in shock because this isn’t the Stone I know at all. “Sto—”

His hand tightens around my wrist so hard I nearly wince. However, I force myself to keep it together because I don’t want to make this ordeal any worse. “Shut up, Bianca.”

Oakley takes another step forward until he’s towering over Stone and staring him down like an animal who’s just found its prey. His anger is so palpable it’s practically vibrating throughout me. “Say one more word, motherfucker.” After several long beats go by, he snickers. “That’s what I thought.”

A moment later, he heads inside the apartment complex with his dad and C.J., but not before we hear him mutter, “Little bitch.”

I pry my wrist out of his grasp. “What the hell, Stone?”

He slaps his chest. “That’s what I’m trying to figure out. Why the fuck were you talking to him?”

Given he’s so mad, it’s not the best time to tell him Oakley and I are friends.

Besides, our friendship is my secret.

The one and only thing I have for me.

And as of late, the only thing that gives me a glimmer of light in the darkness that’s starting to suffocate me.

“I saw him walking up to the complex with his little sister, so I stopped to say hello. It’s not a big deal.”

Stone’s eyes nearly pop out of his head. “Not a big deal? He tried to kill you.”

“But—”

“But nothing. Christ almighty, pull your head out of your ass and stop acting so stupid.”

“I’m not stupid.” My next words are out of my mouth so fast, it takes us both by surprise. “And the next time you treat me like I’m trash you can take your ring back and shove it up your ass.”

His expression softens. “I’m sorry, Bourne. I didn’t mean to.”

“Didn’t mean to what?” I hiss. “Call me stupid or tell me to shut up?” I hold up my red wrist. “Or grab my wrist so hard you hurt me?”

He hangs his head. “All of it.” His eyes close and he exhales. “I’m just trying to protect you.”

If that’s the case, he has a real funny way of showing it. “Protect me?” I snort. “The only thing you did was puff your chest and piss in a circle around me like some kind of animal.” I cross my arms. “What you said and did was totally uncalled for. He already feels bad enough about what happened, and he doesn’t need you—”