Rebuilt For Revenge (Editing)

14|

Dante:

BANG.

I ducked instinctively, a kick flying past where my head had been. My hand closed around a chipped mug and I smashed it across a man's skull, ceramic splintering and blood spraying like some grotesque firework.

"What the hell is happening upstairs?!" I shouted, dragging another man by the hair into my knee. His nose gave way with a sickening crack.

"I don't know, but if they've got themselves shot, I swear—" Xavier's voice cut through, as he hurled someone across the kitchen. He sounded equal parts furious and exhausted.

"I have faith!" I yelled back, twisting an attacker's arm until it bent wrong. His scream was sharp, cutting through the chaos. He kicked my shin hard enough to make me wince. Superhuman strength or just a bad attitude? Didn't matter. I repaid him with a boot to the gut, and more blood poured out of his mouth.

Tom skidded beside me. "My turn." He shoved me aside with a grin, climbing on top of the man and pounding his face into something resembling hamburger.

Cashe was still smashing plates over heads like he'd found his true calling in life. Seriously, how many plates did this place own?

I hopped up on the counter, breath heavy, surveying the mess. Half the attackers were out cold, the other half well on their way. For a split second, it was almost quiet.

Then a voice broke it. "You guys know how to put on a show."

I turned, and there they were — Octavia, bruised but upright, dragging exhaustion behind her like a second skin. Matthews looked infuriatingly fine, arms crossed as if the carnage was beneath him. And Tyler... of course Tyler was smirking.

"No one's shot then," I muttered, relief bleeding into my tone before I could catch it.

"Not for lack of trying," she quipped, nudging a groaning man with her boot. Then she turned her attention to Tyler, shaking her head. "You, though... just ditching me, standing there as I get strangled half to death."

Tyler held up his hands defensively. "Hey, I didn't ditch anyone! I was making sure Matthews didn't get his perfect hair messed up, and I didn't fancy getting mauled by a dog."

Matthews raised a brow. Octavia laughed — a tired, hoarse laugh but genuine. "God help me, I almost believe that. You're ridiculous, Tyler."

She said it with warmth though, the kind that made Tyler smirk like he'd won something. Not romantic — just... like a sister rolling her eyes at a brother she can't get rid of.

"Tyler," I said, narrowing my eyes, "you look way too smug for someone who didn't throw a single punch."

"I was busy keeping her company," he shot back, jerking a thumb toward Octavia

"Enough," Matthews cut in, his voice sharp. "Get them in the vans. The school wants them back in one piece."

We started hauling bodies. Octavia bent down and slung one over her shoulders like it was nothing. I blinked — these guys were built like bulls. She carried it like a backpack.

"What about the dog?" she asked suddenly.

Matthews gave her a flat look. "What about the dog?"

"I want it."

Tyler nearly choked. "You want to keep the beast that almost ate me alive?!"

Octavia smirked at him, eyes sparkling. "Yeah. He didn't bite me, though, did he? Maybe he's got taste."