Magical Midlife Battle （Leveling Up, #8）(76)

Broken Sue launched forward, power exploding from him as he barreled through the room.

Aiming for Bruce. Intending to kill.

NINETEEN

Jessie

“HOLY—” I put out my hands, but my mind had gone blank of all non-harmful spells.

Bodies flew to the sides, knocked down by Broken Sue’s muscular girth. He flung James and some other guy like they were paper sacks stuffed with feathers before grabbing Bruce and landing a solid punch. Amid shouts and movement, Bruce went limp immediately, not conscious for long enough to even fight back.

Austin dove at Broken Sue, arms wide, tackling him to the ground. The two men fell onto some of Kingsley’s people, all of them scrambling now, some to get away, Broken Sue to get back at Bruce, and Austin trying to keep the incensed, raging man down.

Tristan raced into the fray, not gentle in how he threw Kingsley’s people away to make room. One woman sailed toward the wall, hitting it with a loud thud. Another crashed against the podium holding the projector, knocking everything down.

Austin continued to wrestle with Broken Sue, dodging punches, throwing none of his own. Tristan bent to help immediately, and the two men hoisted a still-fighting Broken Sue up and then manhandled him to the door and out.

I pointed at a still-limp Bruce and rounded on Kingsley. “Get that bastard out of here,” I yelled in a magically enhanced voice. “Get that guy out of here and do not bring him into our collective presence again—do I make myself clear, Kingsley Barazza?”

Kingsley’s shoulders bunched. “You forget yourself, Jacinta. I am not Austin. You’re exhibiting challenging behavior right now. I’ll give you a moment—”

“I know exactly what sort of behavior I’m exhibiting,” I said, stepping toward him. “And I damn well know you’re not Austin. Neither Austin—nor I—would ever allow that sort of egregious behavior in our presence. You spoke to me about my loose team? At least my team has integrity and our unit has heart. When they take matters into their own hands, they help. They get things done. Your enforcers just seem to threaten and wave their dicks around, even when they haven’t got ’em. You better clean up your people, Kingsley, or I will do it for you.”

I felt Austin coming toward the room, and I slammed the door. If Kingsley and I were going to rumble—and I would absolutely do it to prove a point about how they’d just treated Broken Sue, especially since that jackass Bruce was still in the room—I didn’t want Austin to feel like he had to defend me, or his brother.

Then I shoved everyone away with my magic, creating a bubble that Kingsley and I could work in.

“Is this what you really want to be doing, Jessie?” he asked, moving around the table, prowling toward me like the tiger he was. “A challenge to an alpha isn’t a game. This isn’t something you can do over or opt out of once it gets going.”

“I took down a phoenix, Kingsley, and I’ve only grown in power and experience since. This isn’t something you can do over, and there is not one person in this room who can save you from me. I just locked that man outside. Your move. Get rid of that dickhead Bruce or battle me in front of your people and then watch while I get rid of him for you. I do not compromise when it comes to the wellbeing of my people. Choose. Now. ”

Austin wiggled the handle outside, pushing at the door. Understanding came through the bonds, followed by frustration. He banged on it now, calling my name.

I cut the outside sound from the bubble. My magic throbbed within it, and I stared Kingsley down and then took a step forward, knowing that would antagonize him. Knowing he was weighing the situation before engaging.

I was nothing but fire and readiness, confidence and might. He was so much taller and broader than me, thicker in every way, but size didn’t mean crap.

“We can’t hear them,” Kingsley said to me in a low voice. “Can they hear us?”

“No.”

He took a step toward me now, closing the distance slowly. “Are you going to take up my brother’s mantle and try to kill me in front of all these spectators?”

“This has nothing to do with the past, Kingsley. That clown Bruce didn’t slap Austin in the face—

he slapped a man who’s still struggling with the loss of his family and life as he knew it. A man who rehashed all that pain to help you understand. That is the reason I’m ready to attack you in front of all these spectators. But don’t worry, I’d stop short of killing you. I’d never take you away from your family over this. I just need to make a statement.”

I saw Austin in my peripheral vision, stalking along the exterior of the bubble I’d created. He must’ve broken through the magic holding the door. His mouth moved, probably calling to me. Maybe trying to talk me down. Then he looked at the air in front of him, testing it with his hands. The shock he got made him step backward, but he immediately flexed and approached it again. He’d handle the pain to get through to me if he needed to. It wouldn’t be the first time.

I put out my hand to stop him, back to focusing wholly on Kingsley.

He didn’t seem to notice Austin. He moved at an angle now, his eyes on mine, walking like he wanted to circle me, ever the big cat.

I didn’t play the game. I stood right where I was, turning a little to lazily keep him in my sights.

“Pretty soon I’m going to get bored, and then I will prod you into action,” I told him. “You have precious little time to figure out what you’re going to do.”