Fallen Crest University (Fallen Crest High #5)(97)

“No one turns you down, right?”

Because he was the best. Everyone else was less than him.

“Exactly.” He flared up. The coward was gone. The wounded animal side of him left. This was the real Sebastian. “Who are you? Who are any of you?”

He came toward me.

I’d fanned the flames, and he took the bait.

I murmured, “Your grandfather chose us over you.”

“He did.” He became like a statue. His shoulders grew rigid. His hands slowly curved inward, forming fists.

“Even your own sister chose us.”

His nostrils flared, but he didn’t reply. I was getting to him.

I added, “She slept with Logan—” I had more to add, but his head whipped up.

There it was. The anger was taking over him. I moved closer. Samantha was still between us, but I was in control.

“She told Samantha that she didn’t regret it.”

He sucked in his breath.

I advanced. “She was stressed about finals, and he offered to have sex with her as a joke. Screwing her was a joke to him.”

He was breathing hard now. He couldn’t look away from me. The anger was almost to a rage now.

I added more, “They went to a janitor’s closet, and they were back within an hour.”

“You’re lying.”

“No.” I shook my head.

He could read the truth from me.

“I’m not. She’d do him again, too. She invited us to call her up whenever we’re in New York. She wants to remain friends with Sam.”

“Shut up, Kade.”

His breathing was ragged now. His hands were pressing into his sides, and his head was bent down. He was trying to keep calm, but he was unraveling.

My hands gripped the bat. It was almost time. One swing—that was all I was going to do.

Act smart. Think smart. Be smart. All that was down the drain.

He was going to shatter Samantha. No one would walk away from that.

“What’s the worst insult to you, Sebastian?”

He stopped breathing, but he was still listening. His vein was throbbing in his neck, and his feet moved, so he had a wider stance.

I waited, ready. “The fact that I won or the fact that you underestimated us? Or is it that, even after today, we’ll still be welcomed into your family, and you can’t do a thing about it?”

That was enough.

Sebastian lunged for me, but I was ready. This was what I wanted, and I ducked, ready to hit him when the door burst open.

“Stop!”

Garrett raced into the room. His hand was stretched out, but he stuck his leg out behind him to catch the door. His eyes were wide and alarmed, a look of panic in them. His mouth was open, and he was panting. He said a second time, “Stop.”

I didn’t.

I reached up and grabbed Sebastian’s arm, then flung him into the wall.

“Mason,” Garrett yelled. “Stop.”

“No.” I reared back to swing at him.

Garrett was there. He was on me the next instant, wrapping his arms around mine, and he pulled me back before I could hit Sebastian. The bat fell from my fingers. I bent over and threw Samantha’s father off me. He bounced against the wall but was on his feet the next instant. He shot a hand out to me again. “No, Mason, I mean—I need him conscious.”

Both Sebastian and I threw him a look. “What?” we both asked together.

Garrett turned on him and moved so he was standing next to me. He straightened to his fullest height, and he narrowed his eyes before he cut to where Sam was on the couch. “I know Mason wouldn’t do that. Sam wouldn’t do it to herself. That leaves one person.”

“You’re my godfather,” Sebastian started.

“And you did that to my daughter!” He thrust a finger in Samantha’s direction with each word he yelled. “You, Park. You did that to her. She’s my daughter.”

“He was going to rape her.” My patience was wearing thin. Sam’s dad had three seconds to say what he needed. If it wasn’t enough, I was knocking Sebastian unconscious. I didn’t give a shit about his plans. “Why do you want him awake?”

“I wasn’t going to—”

“Shut up!” Garrett lurched forward.

For a second, I thought he was going to hit him for me. I didn’t know if I wanted that, but I waited. Sebastian and Garrett both seemed surprised by the movement. He caught himself, reining backward and let out a disgusted sound. It was a groan, but a growl at the same time. “I swear, Park,” his chest heaved up and down for control, “you will be quiet, or I will let Mason do whatever he wants to you.”

He moved forward and poked him in the chest as he said the last three words. The second poke was harder than the first, and with the last one, his finger never lifted from Sebastian. It stayed there, drilling into him.

Finally, after another ten seconds of staring into Sebastian’s eyes, Garrett stepped backward. He said to me, his head lowering, “I wasn’t aware you were going to make your move today. I sent Sharon back home where she was safe. I was coming back to tell you guys I would help you, but Logan told me at the house where you really were. I almost got into two accidents speeding here.”

I snorted. “I’m sorry. Were we supposed to run it by you first?” My sarcasm was thick.