I have to do this. There's no going back. If there's one thing I learned yesterday as Jace was trying to get a rise out of me, is that he has a point. I don't wanna be with Derek, and as much as I'm dreading doing this, I can't lead him on. He doesn't deserve that and I don't wanna be that person.

Clutching the strap of my bag, I walk out of school partly happy it's Friday and partly swimming in guilt from what I have to do. Derek's Charger is parked upfront, as usual, and within eyeshot of where Jace's bike is seated. If I do this fast, I can be gone before him and the guys get here.

Rechecking over my shoulder to make sure no one's behind me, I shake my head feeling ridiculous. The whole point of leaving class early with a note from the 'principal' was so Derek and I could have some time before the parking lot flooded with other students. No one's behind me, it's just us for the next few minutes.

As I approach Derek's car, he jumps out of the driver seat with a half-smile and dark sunglasses on his face.

"Hey," he says cautiously.

We haven't spoken since Monday when he caught me on the back of Jace's bike. I gave him his space like he asked, but there's no point now. I've decided for us.

"Hey."

He leans against his door and nods for me to lean beside him. "So, you wanted to talk?"

Leaning next to him, I twist the strap on my shoulder as mountain-sized rocks drop into my gut. "Yeah...I wanted to talk about us."

"Wait." He stands up and faces me. "Let me say something first."

"No, Derek..."

He places a hand up to silence me. "Please, Lex, let me say this."

No, no, no. I don't have long to do this, and letting him spill his heart out is only gonna make this that much harder.

"Derek..."

"Lexi!" He snaps, pushing his sunglasses onto his head and pinning me with a desperate stare. "I hate that you're friends with your ex. It's been fucking driving me nuts all week. Even if you think you're just friends, he doesn't and he's not gonna stop until he gets what he wants."

"How would you know?" I shake my head. "You don't even know Jace."

Derek's eyes cast down, guilt written in the hang of his head. "I talked to someone."

"Who?"

"That doesn't matter." He shakes his head. "What matters is that I'm asking you to pick me. We've been doing this dance for almost a year now. I've been patient, more so than anyone else would've been, but I need an answer. Pick me. Please."

Damn.

Invisible claws tear at my chest sending waves of guilt and pain through my heart. It's suffocating and standing here listening to Derek is only tightening the hold around my lunges.

You deserve this, Lex. You strung him along for too long.

I didn't mean too though. I really thought I could learn to care for him. God, how stupid can I be?

Derek cups my face between his hands."Lexi, I just wanna be with you. That's it. That's all I want."

Tears prick my eyes, the drowning guilt only getting worse with each word he says.

"What's wrong?" His thumbs wipe the moisture from my eyes. "Why are you crying?"

My lips tremble, not wanting to say what has to be said. "Derek...I...we..."

I didn't think it would be this hard.

God, I feel like a horrible person.

Pushing his hands away, I get off his car and wipe at my stupid eyes with the heel of my hands.

Great job, Lex. You really managed to create a hot mess here.

"Are you picking him?" Derek asks incredulously, his voice turning hard and cold. "You're fucking him, aren't you?

Where the hell did that come from?

"No!"

"Then what is it?" He stalks closer. "I've been patient, Lex. I've waited. Every time you turned me down and insisted you just needed time, I didn't give up on you. And now what? You're gonna go to him? That fucking piece of Westside trash?"

I don't get where this is coming from. It's like he's flipped a switch and gone from sweet to rage within seconds. His normally kind eyes flare as they watch me backing away.

"Stop!" I point a finger at him as another tear slides down my cheek. "This is not about Jace."

"Fucking liar!"

"It's not!" I shout, my voice echoing through the empty parking lot.

Maybe it was a bad idea to do this in private. In public would've been embarrassing but maybe also...safer?

"What the fucks going on over here?"

Oh, God no.

Looking over my shoulder I see Jace walking our way. He takes one look at my crying face and his features morph; jaw clenched, fists balled at his sides, and eyes burning with a violent promise. The deep blue that leaves me speechless is gone, his irises replaced with dilated darkness.

I've seen Jace pissed before, but this is downright murderous.

"Speak of the fucking devil," Derek sneers. "Come to get another taste of my girl?

His what?

Ignoring Derek, I shout, "Jace, stop!"

His pace slows down as he looks my way, a glimpse of rationality breaking through.

"It's not what it looks like," I plead.

I have no idea what it looks like though I'm sure seeing Derek yelling and me crying doesn't seem like a good situation. If I was Jace, I'd probably think something really bad was going on or was about to go on.

Derek laughs and it's the most twisted sound I've ever heard leave his mouth. "Yeah. Lexi was just telling me how there's something going on between you two."

That halts Jace completely, a hopeful look in his eyes as that beautiful blue returns. "Lex?"

Jace is too busy looking at me. He doesn't see the threat coming his way.

"Jace, look out!"

Derek's fist flies through the air but before it can connect, Jace's arm jumps out like a snake, catching Derek's punch in the palm of his hand. Slowly, he turns to look at Derek, bending his arm back.

Derek winces, his back bowing to release the strain on his arm.

"Jace, stop!" I yell.

He looks at me, his lips thinned. With a frustrated sigh, Jace let's go.

"You're lucky, Lexi's here," he grinds out and shoves Derek away.

Thinking it's done with, Jace steps towards me. His eyes scan my body like he's looking for something bruised or bleeding. When he doesn't see anything, his shoulders relax with a relieved breath. A satisfied smile graces his lips just before he's punched in the back of the skull.

With narrowed eyes, Jace shakes his head and turns back around to face a seething Derek, who also looks pretty damn proud of himself right now.

Idiot.

"You should've left."

Derek shrugs. "And you should've left Lexi alone."

That's all it takes. Jace cocks back before slamming his fist into Derek's jaw, creating an audible crack before he hits the pavement. My stomach rolls from the sound alone as another tear slides down my cheek.

Pushing onto his hands and knees, Derek scurries a few feet away from Jace. His eyes widen with a wild frenzy as he wipes the blood dripping from his mouth with the back of his hand. Seeing the blood on his skin, Derek's lip curls back, revealing blood-covered teeth before he shakily gets to his feet.

Using one hand to grab his car door, points the other at Jace. "This isn't over."

He spits a glob of blood onto the ground.

"Oh, yeah?" Jace steps forward. "Wanna keep going?"

Derek bares his bloody teeth again but opens his door and jumps into the driver's seat. The clicking of the car locks acts as a big neon sign that reads, 'scared shitless' before Derek starts the engine and drives away.

This is insane!

I knew trying to end things with Derek wouldn't be easy but in an emotional way. Not a broken jaw and shattered teeth kind of way.

I didn't want this. This didn't need to happen.

I gotta get out of here, away from this mess I've created.

Wiping fresh tears of frustration and confusion from my eyes, I walk out into the parking lot. Screw getting a ride home. I don't want anyone to see me crying like a crazy person.

"Lex," Jace calls behind me, his footsteps getting louder as he gets closer. "Where are you going?"

"Away from here!"

Grabbing my arm he pulls me around. Without thinking, I shove him away. He barely stumbles back a step, surprise etched into his attractive irritating face.

"Don't!" I point my maroon painted fingernail at him. "Don't do that. Stop with the manhandling, stop with all the seductive teasing, fucking with my head, and jumping in to save me when it wasn't needed!"

"Are you seriously fucking pissed at me right now?"

Am I?

Maybe.

"I don't know." I throw my hands in the air and try to walk away again.

Jace's long legs easily keep up with me. "What'd you want me to do? Walk away when he's yelling at you to the point that you had tears streaming down your face?"

Yes.

No.

Striding past me, Jace whips around, cutting off my path to stand face to face with me. "I'm sorry, Lex, but I can't do that. I can't just walk away and let some asshole tear you apart."

"We were just having an argument, you didn't need to get involved."

"Cut the shit." Jace's features twist with frustration. "You were out here alone, crying, while he yelled in your face. What do you think could've happened if I hadn't shown up? 'Cause back there," he points behind me, "was a guy losing his grip. A loose fucking cannon ready to explode and I know that because the jackass swung first even after I gave him an easy out."

I shake my head. "He wouldn't have done that if it was just me and him."

"You don't know that!"

"And neither do you!" I shout back.

Yanking his hands through his hair, Jace groans. "Well, too fucking bad. I'd rather be safe than sorry and have you pay the toll for his actions."

"I can't do this with you right now." I shake my head, feeling my eyes tear up again.

Jace's eyes soften, the anger slowly seeping out of him as he gazes at me.

Before he can say or do anything else, I walk around him, steady on my plan to get the hell home and hide in my bed. The only guys I wanna see tonight are Ben and Jerry. At least they won't confuse me or make me cry.

"Lexi, where are you going?" Jace yells from a distance, still standing where I left him. Thankfully.

"Home!"

Tossing a roll of tape in my bag, I zip it up and throw it over my shoulder.

"Sure you're ready?" Wilder asks with a grin as he walks beside me.

I shut off the lights in the makeshift fight gym below RagDoll Tattoos as we head for the cellar doors.

"Yeah, I'm ready."

Wild raises an unsure eyebrow at me.

I don't blame him for thinking I'm full of shit. We did some last-minute sparring after school and my head hasn't been in it. All I keep thinking about is how pissed Lexi was. I don't even fully get why she was so mad at me. From where I stood, that Derek asshole was seconds away from doing something stupid. But seeing Lexi cry afterward has been eating me up.

Maybe I should've just stayed the fuck out of it.

"You need to get your head in the game." Wilder taps me in the back of the head.

"I know. I will."

Locking the door behind me, I head up the outside cellar steps behind Wild. Travis and Kade's bikes roar to life a few feet away in the back alley. Halfway up the steps, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I take it out, hoping it's a text from Lexi only to be hit with disappointment.

Marcel: V attempting breach at 5th and Ridgeway! 8 pm

I look at the time on my phone.

7:30 pm

Fuck!

Running up the rest of the stairs, I bolt for my bike.

"We gotta go. Now!" I bark at the guys.

Kade grabs his helmet. "What the hells going on?"

"Just got a text from Marcel." I stuff my bag in my bike case. "Viper's are making a move in thirty minutes on Fifth and Ridgeway."

"Shit," Travis grumbles while he and Wilder both jump on their bikes.

Kade slips his helmet under his arm, pulling his cell from his jacket. "Y'all go ahead. I'll get Pops. Don't make a move till we get there."

The three of us nod and get going while my cousin places his phone to his ear. The image of him disappearing as we drive away.

"I don't see anything," Travis grumbles from the alley near the intersection.

The three of us stay in the shadows with our bikes shut off while we keep an eye out for any sign of Vipers or Guardians. Kade texted that they weren't far behind. He and Uncle Rob rounded up half the club to come out here. Now, all we have to do is wait and hope they show before Vic's guys do.

Wild checks his phone for the tenth time. "Eight-o-five. Maybe it was a false alarm."

"Or a trap." Travis deadpans. "Like I said yesterday when you assholes didn't wanna listen to me."

There's no way this is a trap. My guts telling me Marcel's been a hundred percent real with us and my instincts haven't failed me so far.

Except with, Lexi.

Puffing out a deep breath, I rest my head against the brick wall behind me. Now's not the time to start second-guessing myself. What happened earlier today with Lex needs to be the furthest thing from my mind.

Focus, dipshit.

"Eight-o-eight," Wilder reads.

Travis backhands him in the arm. "Dude, shut it. We got almost four hours to be at Monte's. Calm your damn nuts."

Wild grinds his teeth, nervously tapping his hand on his knee.

I get why he's so worried. For me and Kade, the fights are an outlet. Joining the league was a way for us to release that Williams rage while also feeling like we had some kind of strength and control over our lives. For Travis, it's a hobby. Yeah, he has his anger issues too but he releases some of that by being an asshole most of the time. But for Wilder, it's about the money.

"Shit, here they come," Travis announces. "Vipers two blocks away."

I slip my phone from my jacket. "How many?"

"Six, maybe eight. Plus a car."

Of course there's a car. Vipers may ride but Victor won't touch a bike. If he goes anywhere, it's in one of his daddy's cars with a personal driver.

I speed-dial Kade's number and wait for him to pick up.

One ring...two rings...

"Aye, the cavalry's here," Travis says.

I hang up as the three of us jog down to the back exit of the alley where we left our bikes and get started. Once Uncle Rob, Kade, and the others are in sight, we drive out and join the pack. When we all reach the intersection, we stop and idle in wait.

This part of town is pretty deserted, a good place for trying to sneak in or meet up since the only place still open on the whole boulevard is a gas station three blocks away. Most of the street lights here don't even work, some flickering overheard while others are dimly lit or completely busted.

As the Vipers approach, they stop just before hitting Ridgeway, knowing that's the boundary line. Two of their guys plus their second and third in command stop in front of the tinted out Escalade as it rolls to a stop in the middle of the road. The rest fan out around the SUV like bodyguards.

The back door of the Escalade pops open, a peak of shiny black shoes step out just below before it's shut.

"Gotta say, I wasn't expecting a greeting party." A condescending smile slithers across Victor Valentine's skinny face.

For a bastard that tries to appear as a put-together member of society with his slick black hair and tailored clothes, he can never shake that creepy vibe. A true snake in the grass if I ever saw one.

He tugs on the collar of his black trench coat as he slowly walks forward with his head held high, pointed fucking nose raised in the air. "It's a shame. I was truly hoping to at least make it within the Westside boundaries before running into trouble."

"Sorry to disappoint, Vic," Uncle Rob shrugs from on top his Harley, his gruff voice sounding deeper after listening to Victor's grating toneless speech.

Victor paces around his men in front, all with varying expressions of menace before coming to a standstill between his second and third, his brother Vince and a pompous prick named Paxton. For a guy who thinks the world of himself, who's trying to be a heavy hitter, I never understood why he'd make two young guys his left and right.

The second Victor's dad handed him the reins for the Vipers, Vic demoted his father's next in command and promoted his younger brother. Not sure how Pax wiggled his way in but I'm sure it has something to do with his connections to the underground fight league. Vic does like to have his hands in a little of everything after all.

"Oh, no, Robert." Victor tsks. "Your Guardians are never a disappointment. The goal was to get an audience with you after all. I would have preferred somewhere closer to your secluded clubhouse, but I'll settle for here."

"Say what you gotta say, Victor, and then take your snakes back to their sewers," Uncle Rob demands.

Vic's dead-beady eyes narrow, his mouth twisting into a fake grin. "So impatient, but I'll proceed with tonight's agenda." He shrugs. "I wanted to give you another chance to take advantage of the original business deal offered a few years ago. I've been gone for a while, but now that I'm back, I'd like to pick up where we left off."

Uncle Rob's fists clench, trying to keep himself in check as he speaks. "The answer's the same. There's no way in hell I'll allow Vipers to deal drugs on the Westside. Nothing you offer will change my mind."

"I guess you can separate the badge from the cop but not the cop from the man." Victor clicks his tongue. "Though technically, you're a bit of a hypocrite, Officer Williams. Can you honestly say your men don't partake?"

"My men don't touch the hard shit," Rob growls.

Tilting his hand back and forth, Victor's mouth thins. "Eh, marijuana-methamphetamine. That sounds awfully like tomayto-tomahto to me."

"It can sound however you want. My answer is the same; no."

The pleasant facade slips. "I thought you would've learned your lesson by now, Robert." Victor's eyes dart to Kade with a wicked gleam. "Tell me, how is that spitfire Josette doing? I bet she's only grown more delectable over the years."

Kade barely holds back a ragged growl. Gripping the bars of his bike hard enough to break them off, he glares at Victor with a vow of bloodshed.

The reaction only brings a smile to Vic's face. "You Guardians are so selfish with your women. Always keeping them to yourself. Though, as you well know, you can't guard them all the time."

With those words, I catch Vince watching me briefly from beside his brother before he looks away. It happens so quickly I'm not entirely sure if I just imagined it or not but my stomach twists regardless. Even Pax seems to be grinning like he knows a secret we don't.

Vic walks closer, eyes pinned on Kade while keeping mind of where he steps. "I'm surprised to see you back on your bike, little Williams. Last time I saw you, you were bleeding profusely all over the road."

"Guess I'm harder to kill than you thought," Kade throws back an arrogant smirk of his own. "Can't say the same about your buddy though. What was his name?"

"Ethan," Wilder answers from beside me with a dangerous flicker in his eyes.

Victor's eyes flare.

I uncross my arms long enough to fist bump Wild, earning Vic's attention in return.

"Oh yes, how could I forget the entire Williams clan," Victor sneers my way before his eyes bounce to Wild and Travis. "And the rest of you young, destructive prospects."

None of us react to the venom he's throwing our way, especially with Uncle Rob looking over his shoulder at us. We already know the deal after the last time shit went south. Even as prospects, we're Guardians. Which means we can't act alone next time something bad happens.

With a deep breath, the evil bastard regains his composure. "Though I wouldn't award you credit for Ethan's demise. After all, it was just a car crash. Accidents happen." Clapping his hands, Victor walks back to his brother. "Now, where was I?"

"The deal," Paxton answers.

"Right! I'll extend the time limit on this offer. Say...you know what? I'll be generous." Victor looks at his brother. "What do you think, Vince? Two weeks?"

"One week should do it," Vince grins like his older brother.

Vince might be just as nefarious as his brother but he's also more unstable. At eighteen, Vince is a time bomb with no self-control and a bad coke habit. Even sitting in front of us now, there's a notable difference between him and Victor; his cheekbones protrude against ashen skin, his eyes bloodshot and hands twitching. The only thing left to relate the two together is their ink-black hair.

"Brilliant," Victor thumps Vince on the back. "One week it is." A seriousness washes over him, sobering all his taunting. "I'll be back in a week. If you don't show, I'll assume you've retained your position on this matter. I hope you reconsider by then but if not, I can't promise things will be pleasant for you and your men, Officer Williams."

"We managed before. I'm sure we can handle whatever you wanna throw our way," Uncle Rob states confidently, earning agreeing grunts and nods from each Guardian.

Victor slowly walks back to his ride. "As confident as ever. I expected nothing less." He grabs his door handle and pauses, locking eyes with Kade. "Please, do me a favor, junior. Tell Josette I said hello."

Kade's nearly off his bike, his fists shaking with rage when he's grabbed by our second in command.

"Don't give him what he wants, kid," Colt tells him.

Simmering down, Kade sits back on his bike, staring daggers into Victor's back as he disappears into his Escalade.

One by one, the Vipers follow the SUV back where they came from. Once they're out of sight, it feels like every Guardian present breathes a sigh of relief. Everyone except Uncle Rob.

"Colt, Omar," he calls to his second and third. "Take Pete and go south on Ridgeway. I'll go North with Motto, Davis, and Shane. I wanna make sure those snakes don't try to slither in somewhere else."

Colt and Omar nod before taking off down the road with Pete behind them. The rest of the group that wasn't called turn around and head back.

"Where are you boys headed?" Uncle Rob asks Kade.

Kade holds the perfect poker face. "Gonna go check on Josie."

Uncle Rob nods. "Good idea. I'll see you in the morning. Think I might stay on watch tonight just to be careful."

With that, he rides away with his patrol group, and we head to Monte's.

The crowd around the cage is thick. Their shouts and cheering fill the boarded-up warehouse, one of many that are owned by Monte for the sole purpose of hosting these fights. As some scream for violence, they bang their fists on the outside of the seven-foot fence lining the edges of the ring. It's the only barrier between the bloodthirsty fans and the fighters. Though the main purpose isn't to separate us from them, it's to make sure no one can run from the ass whooping they signed up for, like the one Travis is delivering right now.

Already dressed in our shorts and hands tapped, Kade, Wilder, and I watch Travis's fight from the second-floor balcony. It's the one area off-limits to spectators and houses the changing room and showers.

"How's he doing?" Monte asks as he joins us, puffing on his cigar.

Monte's not much. Short, round, with salt and pepper hair he keeps neatly combed back, but looks can be deceiving. What he lacks in physical strength he makes up for with money and a team of men that will take a bullet for him without blinking.

"Good," Kade nods. "Won't be long now."

Monte rests his forearms against the balcony bars. "So, which of you are signing up for next week? Am I lucking out with all four again?"

"No," I answer. "I'm sitting out next week."

"Travis too," Kade adds.

"Damn, was really hoping for all four." Monte taps his cigar, sending ashes floating above the crowd. "But two works."

Travis and I don't fight as often as Wild and Kade. My schedule at RagDoll doesn't always allow me the extra time and Travis is still a beginner in need of more training before he takes on higher tier fights. Entry-level fights are on a bi-weekly schedule. So next week is a definite no go for Travis as far as we're concerned.

"Having trouble finding more recruits?" I ask with a smirk.

Monte flashes a crooked cocky grin. "Are you kidding me? I got plenty of guys coming to me begging for a fight. Though, I did have a couple decide to postpone after they saw that smackdown Wild delivered last week. Figured they should train a little more."

Kade gives Wilder a proud clap on the back, but it's like Wild isn't even listening, eyes watching each movement in the cage. He straightens up as the crowd goes wild, cheering on Travis who just knocked out his opponent.

"Looks like you're up, Jace," Monte nods before walking away with a trail of smoke.

Everything's a blur as I jog down the stairs behind one of Monte's men. He clears a path through the crowd of faceless fans, making it easy for me to reach the cage. One guy's pulling the loser from the last fight out of the ring. Travis isn't far behind, patting me on the back as I enter and he exits.

Taking a stance on the other side of the ring, I watch as my competitor walks in and stands across from me. Dante's about my age if not a little older. He gave Travis a good beating last time and moved up in the ranks. Giving me a toothy smile, he emits confidence. I almost feel bad for him.

Almost.

But it's two grand on the line and I'll be damned if it goes to him.

Monte's announcer yells the rules, his voice blending in with the chants of the crowd inside my head.

Two grand.

One fight.

All I gotta do is kick his ass as easily as I did Lexi's dumbass fucking boy toy.

The memory of him screaming at her while she cried fills my mind. It makes the blood in veins boil, and I let it. Use it as fuel, allowing it to consume me.

"Get 'em, Jace!" I hear Wild yell from above followed by Kade's, "Kill him!"

It's all the encouragement I need as the bell rings, sending me charging at the enemy. Picturing dumbass Derek as Dante is all I need to spill the first stream of blood across the floor, wiping away his confidence in the process.

Yeah, buddy, you're fucked.

💋____________________________________💋

Another long chapter, sorry not sorry. 😁

Anyway, what did you think of the showdown between Jace and Derek? What about Victor and his Vipers? Curious about anything the mentioned during that 'meeting'? How about the fight scene?

I did fade to black with the fight scene but I promise that won't always be the case. I just wanna save the goods for another time. I'm also really excited about next chapter. Halloween Party, baby!

Let me know what you think in the comments and if you like what you read, please hit that star button!

That said, I also want to give a shoutout to one of the book clubs I'm a part of, PrettyInPunkBookClub Getting feedback from this has really helped me with this story and highly recommend them for anyone that's looking for some advice. 

Another note, updates might slow down just a pinch just because school has started and I have little monsters doing home from school right now. But I swear it's not going to be a big issue, just an extra day or two. Though after next chapter I might take a few days to try and clean up the previous chapters. Not positive yet.

A teaser for chapter 18 will be posted on my Instagram and Twitter in a day or two, so keep a look out!