Oh, shit.

Oh, shit.

Panic replaced irritation when I saw the infamous vein that meant trouble as it appeared near Keiran’s forehead. Sean never bothered to take his eyes off my breasts, and then he made the catastrophic mistake of groping me. It was the first time he’d ever been so bold and, of course, he picked now.

Keiran rose from his seat, and I thought he would make his way to the other side of the table, but he didn’t. He pulled Sean across the table with a grip on his throat.

I jumped from my seat at the same time the entire football team did. The cafeteria, including the staff, had gone quiet. Keiran was outnumbered, and now he had their star quarterback in his hands.

This would end badly for Keiran—I was sure of it.

I looked down and grabbed my fork. It was the best option, and if used in the right spots, it could do severe damage. I was prepared to protect Keiran as fiercely as he was determined to defend my honor.

“You’re making a big mistake, bro. I suggest you let him go or our entire defensive line will make this very painful for you.”

“Pain?” Keiran had transformed into his most sinister self right in front of every eye in the cafeteria. Without warning, he kicked out, sending the quarterback to his knees. His grip transferred to Sean’s right arm, and with one motion, he forced it in an awkward angle just enough to make him cry out. I remembered another time, similar to this moment when Keiran had stopped Trevor from raping me in the girl’s locker room. “Let me school you about pain. Pain for who I guess is your star quarterback here is when I break this bitch’s throwing arm in two. Pain for you is when you lose your game tomorrow and break your winning streak because he doesn’t know when pussy belongs to someone else.”

“I don’t believe you.” The guy who I recognized as Jerald motioned to his team, and they moved to surround Keiran. My anxiety kicked into high gear as I held my weapon that seemed meager now and wondered if I could get across the table in time.

Keiran didn’t move or speak as he was surrounded.

One of the biggest players in the circle stepped forward. I started to warn Keiran because I didn’t think he would see him. Keiran jerked Sean’s arm back infinitesimally. His cry was loud, causing Jerald to unload a string of threats to Keiran. Judging by the angle of Sean’s arm, it wouldn’t be long before his arm broke. I wasn’t entirely sure his arm would even be useful tomorrow as it was.

This was not going to end well.

Even if Keiran managed to get out of this unscathed, I would officially be the school pariah and target.

Again.

“His arm isn’t going to last much longer,” Keiran taunted, voicing my thoughts.

“Fuck!” Jerald’s face was red with rage while Keiran stood calm and cool as if he weren’t threatening to break someone’s bones in a room full of witnesses.

“Please,” Sean yelped.

“You know what to do,” Keiran stated.

“Stand down! Stand down!”

Everyone moved at the same time. I watched them back away and only then began to breathe easier. We weren’t out of the woods yet.

Keiran had let him go, so what would stop them from pouncing now? Sean stumbled into the safety of his team

“Lake.” I forced my gaze back to Keiran. “Head for the door, baby.”

“No.”

“Lake.” His tone was no longer soft.

“I’m not leaving you.”

“This will end much worse if you get hurt. Now go.”

I let the distress I felt rip from me as a whimper.

What do I do? What do I do?

“What the hell is going on here?” The team’s coach thundered by me leaving behind a gust of wind. Along with him were two members of the campus police. Everyone scattered, leaving us alone with a different kind of trouble.

Keiran’s arrest was imminent, and suddenly, I was no longer afraid for him. I was crazy mad and wanted nothing more than to drive the fork into his brain and dig out his common sense.

I knew for sure someone would snitch—and wouldn’t he deserve it? He did almost break a guy’s arm… for groping me. The reminder of that sleaze ball’s hands on me made my skin crawl.

“Nothing, coach. Just goofing around,” Jerald spoke up though his glare never left Keiran.

“Why is my quarterback clutching his arm, and who the fuck are you?” the coach bellowed between Jerald and Keiran.

“Misunderstanding,” Sean whimpered.

Keiran smirked, and I knew if he could reach him, he would offer a pat on his head.