Taking Chances(22)

He sucked in air through his teeth and I felt his chest rumble. “Are you fucking kidding me?!” he yelled it loud enough that I flinched and I wouldn’t doubt if he woke up everyone else in the house.

I shushed him, “Brandon! What's wrong?”

For how angry he seemed all of a sudden, I was surprised with the gentleness of his touch on my arm. He was breathing hard, but somehow I didn't think it had anything to do with me being pressed up against the wall anymore. He cursed again under his breath and his eyes finally caught mine when he set me down.

I inhaled sharply when I saw the hate in them. “Brandon?”

Mashing his lips together, he set his forehead against mine and closed his eyes. When I tried to look down at whatever he'd seen, his other hand slipped under my chin. “Don't.” He growled. After a few more seconds he took a deep breath in and looked at my arm again. “Harper.” He said through clenched teeth, “I want you to stay in here, and get ready. I'll be back soon.” He firmly pressed his lips to my forehead and turned to leave.

“Brandon what's wro–” my eyes widened, “Oh. My. God.”

“CHASE!” He roared as he left the room.

I stared in shock until his door slammed shut and he yelled for Chase again, then I grabbed the shirt he'd been wearing last night off the floor and took off after him, pulling the shirt over my head in the process. “Brandon! Brandon, don't!”

“Chase open the damn door!” he yelled as he banged his fist on his door.

There were already a group of barely awake people standing behind me in the living room when Bree opened the door.

“What is your problem?” She hissed at him.

“Where is he Bree?!”

Before she could answer, the back door slid open and Chase sauntered in rubbing his eyes. Had he slept outside? “What's with all the yelling?”

“You son of a bitch!” Brandon boomed as he charged towards the living room.

“Brandon!” I was standing close enough to the door that I stepped in front of Chase, who of course wasn't having that. He gently moved me behind him and I saw his entire frame tense up, ready for whatever was coming at him. “No. Brandon just stop!” I moved back in between them and held one hand out towards Brandon and put another on Chase's chest. I didn't care what Brandon did for a living, or that I had only known him for a day. I knew there was no way he would hurt me. His gentle touch just a minute ago when he was livid was proof.

“Harper, please move.”

“No.” I stood there with my hands still stretched toward both of them for another minute; when I felt confident he wouldn't charge Chase, I moved closer and rested my hands on Brandon's naked stomach. “He's not worth it.” I whispered.

The way he was breathing reminded me of a bull. “You have got to be kidding me! He –”

“I know,” I whispered so only he could hear, “I saw them Brandon. But please, don't do this right now.”

“Will someone tell us what's going on?” I didn't look to see who asked the question, I'm guessing one of the housemates.

I wrapped a hand around Brandon's neck and forced him to look at me. “We'll handle it, but not like this, okay?” I kissed him softly and looked back into his soft eyes. “Let me talk to him, I'll meet you in your room in a minute.”

His eyes flickered between me and Chase before he blew out a hard breath. “Not a chance.” Without waiting for a reply, he scooped me up in his arms and walked us back to his room. I wanted to remind him I was perfectly capable of walking myself, but I kept my mouth shut, “I'm sorry but I'm not leaving you near him without me.” He pressed his lips to mine fiercely and set me on the ground.

“I figured as much.”

“I know I'm probably pissing you off right now, but –” He glanced under the sleeve of his shirt on my body and sighed, “Why did you stop me?”

“I told you, he's not worth it.” I replied, “You guys live together, and if you got in a fight, I'm almost positive it wouldn't end with just you two. I don't want to be the cause of that fight Brandon.” I absolutely hated that I was worried about Chase. He was a big guy too, and I'm sure he wouldn't go down easily this time, but I didn't want him hurt and I had no doubt Brandon could do serious damage to him.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled deeply again as he sat on the bed, “You have bruises Harper. Bruises. Why didn't you tell me he was holding you that tight?”

“I hadn't realized he was.” I lied.

Just then there was knock on the door and Chase stuck his head in. Brandon stood up with a huff but I kept a hand to his chest and hoped he got the hint. Thankfully he did, because Lord knows I wouldn't be able to actually stop him.