Turning away from the fight, I get ready to walk forward but bump into someone’s shoulder. Before I can even look up to see who it is I get shoved backwards, causing me to bump into someone else that is too busy yelling at the fight to even notice.
I steady myself and shake it off. I’m not here looking for trouble, although everything in me wants to shove my fist down his throat and release some of this pent up anger.
“Watch where the fuck you’re walking, asshole!” The idiot seethes while pushing his chest out and shoulders back, trying to intimidate me. He may be big, but it doesn’t faze me. “Take your stupid hood off and pay attention before you find yourself fucking with the wrong person.”
Pushing back my anger, my muscles tense up as I push past him, bumping his shoulder in the process. Now is not the time to get myself thrown back in the hellhole I came from. I know I’m pushing it, but I have a hard time being pushed around, and right now is not the time to piss me off.
The guy reaches out, grabs my shoulder, and spins me around to face him. “Hey! You want to go at it, asshole? I told you to watch where you’re walking.”
Inhaling a deep breath, I attempt to get my thoughts in check, but it’s no use. The heat is already spreading throughout my body, making it hard to think straight. Breathing out, I swing my elbow out, connecting it to the dude’s jaw. A loud crack sounds, causing everyone to stop watching the current fight and focus their attention on us.
The guy falls on his ass, probably not expecting me to stand up to him. Too bad for him; it’s in my blood.
Jumping to his feet, the big dude swings with a left hook, hitting me on the right side of my mouth. I feel blood dripping down my lip and that’s all it takes for me to lose it; although, I have to admit, I welcome the pain.
Grabbing the back of his head with both hands I push his head down and lift my knee, plowing it straight into his face between the eyes. One blow to the face and the guy’s knocked out cold.
This is exactly why I didn’t want to come here. Bad shit happens when I get my hands on anyone. It’s what fucked my life up in the first place. I refuse to let it ruin me again.
In my rage with my adrenaline pumping, I didn’t even notice the screaming of the crowd that now seems to be surrounding us. I don’t care. I’m not here for them, although, I think some of them have figured out who I am now.
Drowning out the crowd, I push through them, fighting to get air. It’s been too long since I’ve felt freedom and being boxed in is fucking with me. I just need to find Alex and get the hell out of here. I knew this was a bad idea.
I start looking around again, but realize that in this crowd it’s close to impossible to find him without getting my ass into any more trouble. It’s best to just leave. If he hasn’t been home in a while then my guess is he isn’t even in town. I’ll have to do some digging at home.
“Holy shit! Is that you?”
I stop dead in my tracks at the sound of the familiar voice: Trevor Locke. The only person I was ever able to trust outside of my mother, Alex, and Jack. He’s my old best friend and the one that had my back through everything.
“Memphis? Holy fuck, is that you?” He steps around me and places his hand on my shoulder. “You’ve gotten huge.”
Yeah, well, that’s what happens when you’re being held hostage in a cage.
Looking up, my eyes lock with his as he checks me out, trying to figure out if it’s really me. I’m surprised to see how big he’s gotten as well. The dude’s a beast now, which tells me right away that he’s probably still fighting here, even though I had to practically drag him here in the past.
We both stand here, getting lost in the crowd again, before I pull him through the ruckus and to a quieter spot. If anyone knows where Alex is it’s him, at least, I hope.
“Hey man. Where the hell is Alex?” That being the first thing coming from my mouth after so much passing time sounds shitty as hell, but right now he’s my only concern. Trevor was good to me in the past, but now is not the time to reminiscence.
It takes a second for him to respond, as if he’s in shock or some shit. “I wish I could tell you, but he’s not here. When the hell did you get back? I didn’t think you’d come back here. Holy fuck!”
I take in a deep breath and run my hands over my face in a mixture of relief and dread. I’m relieved he’s not here, but scared shitless at the fact that I have no idea if he’s okay or not.
“I got into town an hour ago,” I respond stiffly. “I just need to know where Alex is. Have you seen him?”
He brushes his hand through his hair before shaking his head and holding up his finger to someone that’s trying to get his attention. “Nah. I haven’t seen him in months. I have no clue where he’s at. I’ve been checking in and no word. He’s been spending time with some Asher guy and his men, I think. At least he was the last time I saw him.”