Silence Me (Dare Me Series Book 1)

Part 31

"Where'd she go?" I ask Ben.

He points to the dance floor as I lift my hat, dropping it back down lazily on top my head. I see her and Claire dancing, and I need another beer. Walking over to the bar, I order a round and turn my head toward the dance floor. She hates wearing heels, and that dress is tight as shit.

Is she trying to impress me? Or is it these fucks here?

Anger bubbles up inside of me with that thought, and maybe I need something stronger than this beer. I order another shot and throw it back, and that's all it takes. My head is swimming now, and I've had one too many.

I bring the bottle to my lips just as a guy grabs Alexis's ass. My actions don't let my thoughts catch up, and before I know it, I'm punching the man in the face over and over. I hear my name being yelled, and I see blood when it splatters from the guy's nose. "Keep your fucking hands to yourself!" I snarl before being yanked back.

"Colby, what the hell?" A says as I find her in the crowd, looking wide-eyed with her hand over her mouth. The music has shut off, and my eyes look down at the guy I've hit repeatedly.

"Let's go," Ben says to me. I look back at him like he's lost his mind. This is my fucking place. I'm not leaving. His expression says play along. I yank out of his hold but walk to the door that leads out of the club.

"You need to get upstairs, Brock. You've had one too many, and that fuck could sue the shit out of you. Luckily, you're not dressed like the club owner you are." He looks down at my clothes before peering behind him as I run a hand over my busted knuckles. Jesus, I've done this too many times in the past couple of days.

A comes storming out in too high heels and a wrinkle between her brows. "What the hell was that?" she demands, walking up to me.

I cross my arms over my chest, lifting my chin toward the club, like what I just did was justified. "That guy grabbed your ass."

"And you didn't even give me time to defend myself."

"Well, if you weren't wearing that outfit, he wouldn't have even touched you." My mind goes back to our breakup and the dress she was wearing that night.

Why does she do this to me?

She slaps the side of her thighs. "Oh, so you're saying if I don't dress up, I'm not even worth looking at?"

I rub a hand up my face, hitting the flat bill of my hat. "No. Fuck."

I turn and hear Claire. "Lexi?" she says, walking over with Brennen close behind her. Claire's eyes dart to me, and I see the unsureness in them. She thinks I'm bad for her friend, and maybe I am. "Let's get home. You two need to cool off."

I want to say mind your own business, but A speaks up. "Yeah. Let's go." She shocks me before turning and walking to her friends.

"A," I call out.

She turns back as she speaks. "I'll call you in the morning. Sleep it off."

I go to walk after her, but Ben stops me. "Brock, I think she's right, man. What good is going to come out of this tonight?"

My eyes dart to him before looking back at A. She's walking away from me...again. That's the second time in one day.

I shrug out of his hold. "Fuck this." I turn and walk around the corner to the alleyway. Jogging up the metal stairs that lead to my apartment, I barge inside and toss my hat onto the counter, walking to the door that leads into the private area where my brother is.

"Party's over," I say, walking to the bar and grabbing a bottle. "Get the fuck out."

The girls scramble to grab their clothes, and the guys at the table slide the chairs out.

"Yo, your brother has some issues, man," one of them says to Gage.

I eyeball him. "What the fuck did you just say?"

He holds up his hands. "I don't mean any disrespect, dude. Just stating a fact here." He lifts his brow. "We'll call you tomorrow," he says to Gage who lifts his hand lazily, giving them a wave, looking down at the table as he holds on to the bottom of his beer. The lights dance over his face, and I walk to the window, looking down at the crowd of people still here, dancing, drinking, in their own little worlds of shit.

I'm drowning here.

I bring the bottle to my lips as our own music in the room switches from dance to soft lyrics about fading into you. Mazzy Star croons and my insides feel like melting lava.

I've got a temper; I have a hard time controlling it. More so now than ever. Lexi makes me crazy. I've never thought I had anything to lose, but the thought of losing her terrifies me and is making me act out.

Gage is sinking farther down, and I don't know how to help him. My mom is in a fucking coma, and I don't know how to wake her up.

Lexi's probably ready to jump ship, and part of me doesn't blame her. She didn't sign up for this mess. The song switches to "Every Time the Sun Comes Up" by Sharon Van Etten, and I lean my forehead against the window as I hear my brother snort another line.