Tortured Souls (Rebels of Sandland 2)

“Pat has fights lined up for me. The pay’s pretty good too.”

Ryan gave a low chuckle then stopped and glared at me.

“So, you’re coming back. Are you gonna just rock up to Sandland like nothing’s happened? Leave it to us to break the news to Harper? That girl’s sanity is hanging by a thread as it is.”

“Don’t fucking say her name!” I shouted.

“Why? ‘Cos you can’t handle it? Can’t take the blowback, mate?”

I was seconds away from reminding Ryan why I was the undefeated fucking champion in our town.

“No,” I hissed through my clenched jaw. ‘Cos she isn’t yours to talk about. So shut your fucking mouth.”

“What?” Ryan glared at me and gave a fake laugh, but Finn cut him off.

“You’d fight for Pat and not us?”

“Why would I fight for you?”

“I don’t know. Because we’re friends? We stick together. Ryan might be pissed, but if you want to settle your differences with your fists, I’m sure he’ll get over it after.” Finn did have a point.

“I don’t need to fight him. I have an important meeting with the college tomorrow. It won’t look good if I rock up with a face covered in bruises,” Ryan replied.

“College?” Had I heard him right?

“Yeah. I’m doing a business and accountancy course. Hoping it helps to grow the kit car business,” Ryan said, suddenly losing the bravado and talking to me like he used to.

“Cool. I’m happy for you.”

And just like that, the atmosphere started to shift.

You see, that’s what we did. We fought like brothers. Said shit that most people wouldn’t and then we took a step back. I took that step back and realised that the guys standing in front of me were the only family I had. I’d been pissed at them, but if I was honest with myself, I knew they’d done their best given the circumstances. Could they have done more? Probably. But then I wasn’t always easy to deal with. I knew that.

“If I come back, would you let me fight again?” I asked, knowing what Zak and Finn’s answers would be, but it was Ryan I wanted a response from.

“Yeah. That’s what we want,” Finn said.

“I’ll miss the limelight.” Zak smirked. “But yeah. The fights were our unique selling point. Anyone can put on a party.”

“Not like us they can’t,” Ryan stated proudly.

“Whatever. But no one can put on a show like Brandon. Those fights were the shit.”

Yes, Zak. Yes, they were.

“Well, that’s two votes,” I said, folding my arms and standing tall. “Am I going to have to veto you, Ry, or am I back in?”

He took a deep breath and stared me down.

“We want honesty.”

“Yeah,” I shrugged and then nodded in agreement.

“No bullshit,” he added.

“Cool,” I replied, trying not to smirk or look smug. I knew this was a big step for Ry. It was for me too, and I didn’t want to jeopardise this truce we were slowly building.

“And you leave Emily and Harper alone.”