Let it go, Bri. Let it go. My blood was starting to boil. Think cold showers.
I waited, but nothing. My blood was still boiling. It kept going higher and higher, until I couldn’t contain it anymore. It exploded out of me. I looked back and locked eyes with Luke. He saw what was going to happen and started to throw up a hand, but dropped it right back down. A slow smile started to spread across my face. It was probably an ugly looking one, but I didn’t give a crap. I wanted Emerson’s balls. He was going to keep riding my ass if I didn’t do something about it, and today was that day.
I lunged for Emerson.
Throwing my body toward the backseat, I ended up sprawled between the seats. Without pausing, I rained punch after punch on him, using my fists. I didn’t use my hands—not dainty-like little slaps. I wasn’t going for his hair. I wasn’t going to scratch his face. I used as much of my body behind my blows as possible. Like I said before, I wasn’t a stranger to a fight.
Then everything turned into chaos.
Elijah and Luke did nothing. They didn’t hold me back or anything. Emerson was dazed after the first punch, so I continued, and Kelly screamed. The car veered toward the middle of the road, but she righted it before slamming on the brakes. At the abrupt stop, I fell backwards. Luke grabbed my arm, holding me still so I didn’t go through the windshield, but he wasn’t going to stop me. I wasn’t done with Emerson.
Then Kelly threw open her door, and so did Elijah and Luke. Emerson was still in the middle, covering himself with his arms now. He hurried out the side, and I tried to climb after him, dropping all the way into the backseat and following behind him, and he tried to shut the door in my face. Curses were spewing from him now. Seeing the door coming for my face, I blocked it. Flipping around in the seat, I kicked it open and was on my feet instantly.
I charged for him once again, but Luke wrapped an arm around my waist. He hoisted me up in the air, holding me like I was a doll. He said over my head to Elijah, who was somewhat blocking Emerson, “Are we going to let this happen?”
“Fuck you, Brielle! You whore!”
Elijah shrugged, ignoring Emerson. “I’m game. He deserves an ass kicking anyway. Bri can hold her own.”
I struggled against Luke’s hold, but his arm wasn’t going anywhere. He only lifted me higher, and his arm dug across my hipbones. I yelled back, wiping the back of my hand over my mouth, “Fuck you back, Emerson! You piece of shit. I’m tired of your mouth. I’ve never done a goddamn thing to you.”
Kelly whimpered from behind us, “You guys are nuts.”
Luke glanced at her, turning me around with him, and we saw she was sitting on the ground. Her face was ashen, and she was rocking back and forth, shaking her head at the same time.
Luke dropped me back to the ground, but kept his hands at my sides. “You okay?”
No. “Yes.” I pried myself from him to put some space between us. “I’m good. I just lost my momentum.”
“You sure?”
I turned my back to him. I didn’t want to see the concern and care in his eyes. I didn’t deserve to see that. Elijah’s gaze was hooded, and when he glanced at Luke, the speculation was deep in those greens of his, then he shook his head.
“What a cu—”
I saw that word forming on my cousin’s mouth, and I was in his face before he could finish it. No one would call me that name. My fist hit the side of his face just as he almost said it. All the anger that had left me rushed back in full force. Fuck it. I was taking him down, family or not.
Emerson fell back. I had used my entire body’s weight behind my hit, so there was some force there, but it was only enough to stun him. He was muscular, and I wasn’t an idiot. I couldn’t fight him that way, so I launched myself at him, wrapped my legs around his waist and flipped myself backwards. He came with me, and I was able to throw his body to the ground. Before he could get back up, I brought my knee down to his groin. A primal scream ripped from his throat, but he flung his hands up and shoved me off. I hit the ground, banging my elbows, and I knew my skin had been ripped on my arm somewhere. I felt the burn, but I didn’t care.
Emerson struggled to his feet and bent over, cupping himself. He looked up with pained eyes, so I waited. His features started to tighten. I saw the snarl returning and braced myself, waiting for his next insult.
“You fucking whor—”
One more time. I launched at him, wrapped my legs around his torso, and did the same thing. I hit the ground with my shoulder, jarring it, but I kicked at him once again. Another guttural scream came from him, and this time, when I stood up, he stayed in the fetal position, whimpering.
I wiped some blood off my face—not sure how that had happened—and flicked it to the ground. “Stop calling me names. Stop fucking with me. Just stop, Emerson! Stop!”
He looked up, and I stopped talking. There was so much hate in his eyes. I felt punched in the gut. Pressing my hands to my stomach, I moved back and shook my head. His hatred was never going to end. I considered him family, but he considered me an enemy.
I choked out. “What did I ever do to you?”
“To me?” He laughed, a bitter, ugly sound. He was still bent over, struggling to stand up. His face was pinched in pain. “It’s not me, you bitch. It’s what you did to these guys. He’s my best friend.” He pointed at Elijah, and then swung his hand to Luke. “And he’s like a brother, and you, you fucked them both over.”