Cerberus

11. Landslide

It was 8pm when Kassidy got a call. He was currently in a poorly lit back room of a popular nightclub on the strip. It was still too early for the club to open its doors to patrons so it was relatively quiet outside. He let the call go to voicemail but it immediately began ringing again. He looked at Isaac and excused himself from the table where they sat across from two other men in black suits.
It was the man he'd left in charge at the house. Concerned, he answered.
"This is Kassidy." He said tonelessly.
"I'm sorry to bother you, sir, but we have a situation." The man was speaking loudly over blaring music in the background. What the fuck was going on?
"Where are you?" Kassidy asked aggravated.
"At the house sir. There's people here. A lot of people."
"What the fuck do you mean there's people there?"
"Miss Jackman had two men stop by and they seem to have invited more guests. It's getting out of hand." Glass shattered in the background and there was a loud cheer.
Fuck.
"I'll be there soon. Tell them to get the fuck out of the house." Kassidy could feel rage boiling at the back of his neck.
"Sir, I've tried but... they won't." The man sounded defeated.
Kassidy hung up the phone and returned to the table. Isaac took one look at him and was on his feet.

~

It took an hour to get out of the city with traffic. They drove up the winding street to the Jackman house just to find cars lined up and down the sidewalk. By the time they could see the house coming up, Kassidy could tell it was packed. Isaac pulled into the driveway and Kassidy was out before he could get the car in park. Rage clawed up his throat with every step he took towards the side entrance of the house, his jaw clenched so tight he could almost taste blood.
He slammed the door open and felt his anger intensify at what he saw.
There were people everywhere, very, very drunk people. Music was blasting over the chaotic voices coming from every floor of the house. Over a dozen people were in the pool, others meandered before him, laughing and drinking.
On the floor, one of the light fixtures had fallen from the second floor. That must have been the crash he heard. Beyond that, he saw a man he recognized as Josh Freeman. No. Fucking. Way.
The rage had him in a chokehold now. He could feel his heart beat in his ears. Breathe, assess, react. He told himself. Where was Lydia? He scanned the first floor but didn't see her. He walked stiffly to look in the back kitchen and the other rooms on the ground floor. Nothing. He made his way upstairs.
There were just as many people up here. They sat at the bar and leaned against the railing that looked down over the ground floor. Kassidy checked the rooms on this floor as well. There was a couple who looked like they were trying to eat each other's faces in the pool attached to his room. He wanted to tell them to get the fuck out but his first priority was finding Lydia.
He made to walk towards the stairs leading up to Lydia's floor but was stopped when he saw her already descending them. She gripped the railing tightly and stumbled. She caught herself with both hands and laughed loudly. Her hair was loosely pulled back in a clip but pieces around her face were falling out. He knew that look on her face. She was very drunk...
Behind her, a stout man was also descending the stairs and he recognized the other Freeman brother, Scott. He grabbed Lydia by the waist, laughing, and helped her down the stairs. They made to walk to the bar but Lydia caught sight of him at last and froze, before turning to the other man and saying something. Kassidy began stalking towards her. He fought against the heat of his anger. It was like hands wrapped around his throat, grip tightening. Breathe.
Scott Freeman looked up at him and smiled, knowingly. He slid his hand lower on Lydia's waist. The sight only made the heat in Kassidys throat pulse. He stopped in front of the two and said between clenched teeth, "What the actual fuck is going on here."
He'd said it to Lydia but it was Scott who answered, yelling over the music, "just a little get together for our girl here." He smirked.
Kassidy kept his eyes locked on Lydia, not giving the other man an ounce of his attention.
"What does it look like, it's a party." Lydia slurred.
"It's over." Kassidy said.
"Says who?" The other man said.
Kassidy finally turned to face him. He was big, but Kassidy was bigger. He stepped closer to Scott, until there was only a foot of space separating them and said, voice low, "me."
The man smirked again, and Kassidy felt his control slipping. He worked very hard to keep his composure. Anger had always been his downfall, and it had taken a long time to get a hold of it. But this man in front of him was testing his patience. Breathe.
"I think we should ask our hostess if this party is over yet, don't you?"
"No, we're done here. Get the fuck ou-" Kassidy was cut off by Lydia's hand on his arm. He looked down to see her looking at him with those stellar green eyes again.
"Come on, Kass, don't be so mean. Have a drink, have some fun!" Her words were still slurred but her voice had softened to a plead. His knees almost buckled at how she said his name... no not his name... his nickname.
"Don't call me that." He growled. "Get these people out of here or I will."
She pulled her hand back as if he'd bit it. She was about to say something but someone down stairs started shouting.
"Lydiaaaaa!" It was a man's voice, "babe, Lyyyyd. Come down stairs!"