The College Bully (Love Came In #2) ✔️

Chapter 34

Alex took a step forward and I instinctively put myself between him and Reece.

"Alex," I started. "Don't be rash, I can explain –"

"Explain what? Having your tongue down his throat? The man who treats you like shit?" Alex burst out, meeting my eyes with anger and pointing to Reece.

"Hey, watch how you talk to her," Reece said calmly but with a hint of a threat before I could say a word. He stepped closer to Alex, which made me step forward as well.

"You don't get to say anything right now, much less correct me." Alex stepped further as well, his eyes turning dark with anger.

Before I could say a word, Dad strode towards us, a confused look on his face. He took in my closeness to Reece and his eyebrows furrowed as he turned to Alex. "What happened?"

"You remember I came to Durham a few months back end of the season? It was for this. I was made aware that someone," He almost spit out the words as he gestured with his head at Reece, "had been bullying Iris for the better part of the last few years. His name is Reece Jenkins."

I watched as Dad's eyes widened slightly and his face palled as he realized who Reece was – the son of the man he had put in jail. His jaw hardened as he stepped closer to me, making me automatically block Reece with my arms and stick closer to him. He stopped and put his hands up. "I'm not going to do anything, Iris, we can talk about this later."

"Screw this." I hear Alex mutter before he strode forward and grabbed my arm tight, yanking me forward to presumably lead me to the car, making me wince.

"Alex, please -"

Suddenly Reece was there, yanking my hand out of Alex's. "You're hurting her." He muttered as Alex turned back around in shock. "She has the right to do what she wants, you can't force her to -"

Alex laughed ironically in a way that made me shiver. Reece's face was drawn tight and his eyes were filled with anger. Alex leaned into Reece's face, making me step back between them and separate them with my hands. "Forcing her? She needs to be away from you for her own good."

"Who the hell are you to decide what is good for her and what's not?" Reece's tone was laced with frustration.

"I'm her brother you asshole, I get to decide, and who are you to say a word about her decisions when you've treated her like crap?"

"Alex -" I tried to get a word in but Reece and Alex were fuming at each other.

Alex made for another grab at my arm but Reece yanked me back again, this time placing me behind him.

"Don't you dare touch her. She's not going anywhere." His voice was menacing and low. "You don't get to just decide when you want to be involved in her life. You were barely there for her and now you want to make decisions for her? You act like you have a say but you and your father ignored Iris when she was little and turned a blind eye to everything your mother did to her. You don't get to suddenly be involved and protective when you didn't even try to stop the abuse she had to go through."

"Reece!" I gasped, horrified at his words. I turned back to Alex and saw that he was frozen in place, breathing fast. Dad had also gone still and white where he stood. He turned a little and put his hand on his forehead, and I could tell that he was piecing together things mentally.

"What is he talking about?" Alex's voice was barely above a whisper as his horrified expression turned towards me.

I swallowed and pushed Alex forward, and he went without complain. "I'll explain everything at home, I promise." I clutched Dad's wrist as well for him to follow. I turned around slightly as we walked forward, Reece's angry but broken expression breaking my heart further. A tear slipped out as I tried to tell him everything through my eyes that I couldn't in the moment – that I loved him, but that this mess he had unknowingly created may need time.