Good Game (The System, #1) (50)

“Right, David.”

“Daniel.” He growls out.

“Whatever.” She stands up now, her heels bringing her equal to his six-foot stature. “I’m here with my friends. I have no interest in whatever you or Chase or whoever has going on, alright?”

“Don’t be a tease, Stephanie.” Her fingers twitch at the use of her full name.

“Thought you weren’t interested in second-hand goods, Darren.”

Now I know she is getting his name wrong on purpose.

He steps closer to her, basically standing nose to nose, and I shoot out of my seat, Parker and Lee following suit.

“I’m not. No matter how hot the goods might look.” His hand trails over the back of her hand, but she rips it from his touch. A wolfish grin breaks out on Decker’s face. “I bet you don’t even know how many women he screwed while he was with you. How many nights you were parading around on his arm while he was banging chicks in the bathroom when your back was turned.”

Her eyes flash. I push out from the table, but I’m not quick enough. Stevie grabs a drink from the table and sloshes it onto Decker’s face. Within the next second, he has his hand pulled back to slap her. Fuck. I shove past Lee, stumbling forward, but his hand is quicker.

The slap rings out, but it’s not Stevie’s cheek he comes into contact with. A flash of pink hair has taken Stevie’s place, and I see Deer clutching her cheek. How she got there that fast, I’ll never know. His eyes widen as he stares at her, shock turning to fear.

“Don’t make a scene, Decker. You’re already on thin ice,” she warns.

His gaze becomes molten. “Fuck you, Deer. And fuck your family.”

He shoves her out of his way, but Jackson is there in a swift step to catch her before she tips over, guarding her in his arms.

Decker rears his hand again, but this time I’m there. My leg sweeps out in the small space, catching his knees, and I watch as Decker goes down. It’s not graceful. He bangs his chin on the table on the way, the sound of his jaw clacking resounding through the room as his ass hits the floor. I stand over him, foot on his hand. I bend forward, bringing my mask to his ear.

“I suggest you back the fuck out of here now Decker before I stomp my foot over your hand so hard, you can kiss your career goodbye.”

“Always coming to her rescue aren’t you, Blade.”

I pull back and look at him, assessing.

“I’m serious, Decker. Get the fuck up and get out of here. If I see you bothering her or anyone else, I will have you by the balls.”

He pushes off the ground, standing chest to chest with me. Unfortunately for him, he is still a solid four inches shorter.

“Why don’t you say that without the mask on, big guy? I’m beginning to think you’re all talk. Maybe without that mask, you’ll realize how little you have.”

It’s an empty threat. The whining of an insecure man.

“Seems like you’re the one who is afraid of what will happen once the mask is off.”

Jackson and Parker position themselves behind me. The three of us together, side by side. Decker’s eyes flick to them.

“Tsk. Whatever. This place is lame. Clearly. Have fun with that second-rate pussy.”

“Thought you said it was holy?” Parker muses.

I’m going to murder him.

“Go fuck yourself with a crumpet, English.” Decker gives us the bird before stalking off through the crowd, a few of his friends trailing behind him.

“You know, that was a pretty good insult. I have to give him that.”

I turn to Parker and smack him on the side of his mask. “Don’t poke the bear, you asshole.”

“Oh, come on, he’s more of an angry raccoon.”

“That doesn’t make it any better,” Jackson drawls.

A round of laughter spills around us, and my attention flicks back to Stevie, her friend, and Deer. They’re clutching their stomachs, doubled over, as laughter flows uncontrollably from their mouths. Jackson still has his arm protectively over Deer.

Finally, Stevie looks up, her eyes clashing with mine.





TWENTY-ONE




* * *





STEVIE




The music bleeds away as I stare into the glowing red mask.

He’s here.

He’s here, and I don’t even know what just happened.

My mind is still a jumble from how quickly everything escalated. One minute, Deanna and I are having the time of our lives, and the next, that asshat from the VSAs turns up and starts spouting a bunch of utter bullshit. Goddamned Chase and his entitled friends. They were always known for causing unnecessary drama just because they thought they owned everything and everyone.

“Are you alright?”

My eyes snap away from Blade to the pink-haired girl in front of me. She can’t be more than five feet, and yet she threw herself right in front of me.

“Am I alright? I should be asking you. Is your cheek okay?”

She just waves her hands around. “Don’t worry about it, just looking out for a fellow girl.” Her forehead crinkles, “I thought he’d back off if I got involved. He can’t afford to screw me over right now, but…I guess I miscalculated a little.”