#Rev (GearShark #2)(78)

Just like that, the music settled into a much lower tone.

“I knew it!” he yelled, pointing at T with an accusatory glare. “That was you! You’re the one who brought the biker over. And that game today?” He held out his arms. “That was just an excuse so you could thrash me!”

“I know it’s hard to believe,” Trent said, “but not everything is about you.”

“Admit it.” He pressed. “Admit the shady shit you’ve been pulling.”

“I can honestly say I haven’t done one shady thing. If you got knocked around in the game today, it’s because you’re a wimp who can’t handle himself.”

Conner’s eyes flared, and he threw his beer across the room. The cup hit the wall, and the tawny liquid splattered everywhere.

“But you…” Trent continued mildly, like Conner’s outburst was nothing at all. “You’ve been throwing all kinds of shade, haven’t you?”

“You deserved every last bit of it.”

I stiffened because that was a clear admission. One punch to his face just wasn’t enough. Nothing I’d done to this kid would ever be enough.

Trent kept his cool. I had no idea how or even why, but he did. “Conner’s been trying to get me out of here for months. He tried to do it by the book, and when that didn’t work, he resorted to other, more unorthodox methods,” he announced.

More of the Omega brothers gathered around. In fact, the party had pretty much come to a screeching halt.

“He’s been talking. You’ve been whispering. If someone has something to ask, then why don’t you just f*cking ask it?”

One of the brothers stepped forward. I think his name was Josh. He’d been standing here with Con when we walked in.

“Are you gay?” he asked point blank.

Conner started laughing. “He won’t—”

“Yes,” Trent said, cutting him off.

Conner’s eyes widened in shock. “I told you! He’s been lying—”

Braeden moved so fast it was like no one realized it until Conner was no longer talking and on the ground. Braeden stood over him and shook out his fist. “Shut the f*ck up.”

Conner moaned and sat up. Braeden planted himself in front of him and crossed his arms.

I couldn’t help it. I grinned. Romeo did, too. I also wished I’d done it.

“Did you say yes?” Josh asked.

“Yes,” Trent repeated. “I’m gay, and yes, I’m in a relationship with Drew.” He gestured at me with his thumb.

Murmurs and talking started working around the room.

“I wasn’t lying about it like Con would have you believe. I was trying to figure it out, trying to learn how to balance me with the person everyone wanted me to be.” He went on. “But I did lie about something.”

“Ha! I told you!” Conner yelled. “Liar.”

I started forward, and he flinched, his lips pressed together.

Trent rolled his eyes but then turned toward me and held out an arm, blocking me. To the room, he said, “I lied about not knowing who jumped me a couple weeks ago. I do know.”

More murmuring went through the house. “Who was it!” a couple Omega brothers demanded.

“What the f*ck, man!” someone else yelled.

“It was my own brothers,” Trent said. “Conner was the ring leader. Daniel, Michael, and Jeremy helped him. They held me down in the parking lot right outside this house and beat me. For weeks, when Conner’s had a chance, he’s whispered taunts at me.”

I watched Trent’s shoulders tighten and his chest puff out with a deep breath. On impulse, I stepped up closer, presenting a united front. It was time I shouldered some of this as well.

“Dick licker, faggot, sinner, pervert, gay boy, you name it; I’ve probably heard it. He also suggested on more than one occasion that I kill myself.”

“Are you f*cking kidding me?” I spat. Anger so hot it was white burned through me. There was no f*cking excuse. None.

Braeden’s face turned red, and he reached down and lifted Con by the back of the neck. Romeo moved and buried his fist right in his gut.

Everyone stood there in shock.

But it wasn’t good enough.

I lunged forward and grabbed Conner by the front of his shirt. My vision was tinged with red and my chest heaved with breath. “You’re the one who doesn’t deserve to live,” I growled and punched him in the face.

He crumpled to the ground, and I leapt on top of him.

What if Trent wasn’t so strong? What if Trent didn’t have all the support around him? What if Conner managed to get in his head…?

What if T actually took his suggestion and ended his life?

I hit him again, and there was scuffling and movement all around me. Braeden grabbed my arm, and I swung at him, too.

Conner’s lip was split and bleeding, and his eyes were wide with fear. Maybe he finally realized he pushed things too f*cking far. Maybe he understood I wanted to kill him.

A set of vise-like arms wrapped around my chest and dragged me off the *. I fought to get free until Trent’s voice penetrated my murderous fog.

“Stop, Forrester,” he said against my ear. The brush of his lips turned me slack. I stopped fighting and let him pull me back. “He isn’t worth this.”