For a moment, all the city noise—honking horns, murmuring conversations, the breeze—seemed to fade into the background.
"Don't panic and I beg you don't fight or argue him." she whispered, her voice tight.
"I'm not panicking," Ashton muttered, even though he could feel his heartbeat in his throat.
The man across the street hadn't moved. He was still as a statue, his stare fixed on them like a sniper sighting his target.
Then, without warning, Jenny dropped Ashton's hand.
"What are you—" he started, but she was already walking toward her brother, her face set in a mask of calm.
Ashton stood frozen for a second. He could've left—should've, maybe—but his feet didn't move. Not when Jenny was walking into what looked like a storm.
She reached her brother. Ashton couldn't hear what was being said, but her brother's expression twisted in disbelief. His head snapped toward Ashton once. Just once. It felt like getting punched without the impact.
Jenny was speaking fast now, her voice cracking, hands fluttering as she tried to calm the storm that was her brother. But Kade's stance hadn't softened—if anything, his jaw had clenched harder. His eyes, sharp and unyielding, locked onto Ashton like a predator sizing up prey.
And then, without a word, Kade brushed Jenny aside—not violently, but firm enough to make her stumble a step. He started striding toward Ashton.
Ashton's heart thudded. Not in fear—but in restraint. He straightened his spine, eyes narrowing, and began walking too—toward Kade. Step for step. Like two magnets pulled into collision.
Behind them, Jenny was still trying to reason with her brother, her voice trembling now, as if she might cry.
And then—they stood face to face.
The tension between them was electric. Kade was taller by a hair, broader in the shoulders. His aura was suffocating, built on a reputation Ashton could feel even without knowing the full story. The guy reeked of danger. And power. The kind of power that comes from being unafraid of consequences.
But Ashton didn't flinch. His face remained still, eyes sharp, posture relaxed—but coiled.
"I know you, Blackwell," Kade said. His voice was rough, strong. "You better be just a friend of my sister."
"Oh really? What if I'm n—" Ashton started, but his eyes met Jenny's. She was shaking her head, her eyes filled with tears.
Ashton paused. He really wanted to go all out, but seeing Jenny like that—he stopped himself.
"Huh? What were you saying?" Kade leaned in, cupping his ear like he didn't hear.
Ashton didn't answer. He simply stared—locked in.
"What you lookin' at, huh?" Kade suddenly grabbed Ashton by the collar. "Keep your eyes down when you talk to me."
Ashton's voice was low, unwavering. "What if I don't?"
Kade barked a laugh, letting go of his collar and stepping back. "I don't think you know me, kid."
He turned to Jenny. "Did you not tell him? Are you trying to get this idiot killed?"
Jenny said nothing. Her eyes were red. Her lips trembled.
Kade turned back to Ashton, his smirk curdling into something cruel. "Oh look at you… did your mommy beat you up? Or were you just the playground punching bag, huh?"
Ashton tilted his head. "You think I'm scared of you?"
"You should be," Kade said. "But I like you. You've got guts talking to me like that. So let me tell you a little story—last time a teacher raised his voice at me, I cracked his skull with a chair."
He stepped forward again. Close. Close enough that Ashton could feel his breath.
"You wanna know what happened to the last guy I saw with Jenny?" Kade's voice dropped lower. "I beat him until he couldn't walk for two days. Broke his jaw, his arm, and one of his legs. Just for asking her number."
His hand lashed out, gripping Ashton by the neck—tight, knuckles white.
"Imagine what I'll do to you," Kade growled, "for holding her hand."
Ashton didn't even blink. His jaw clenched. Blood rising.
Then he smiled.
"Try me."
The next second exploded.
Kade shoved him hard—but Ashton didn't move. He stood solid.
Ashton's hands came up—fast. Fists clenched, guard raised, a classic boxing stance. His eyes gleamed. He was done playing nice.
Kade threw a left hook—quick, brutal.
But Ashton slipped back effortlessly, dodging it like he'd done it a thousand times. Because he had.
He reset his stance, ready to strike—
"STOP IT, KADE!"
Jenny's scream pierced the tension like glass shattering. Both men froze.
She was sobbing now, standing in the middle of the sidewalk, shoulders shaking, makeup smudged with tears.
Ashton blinked, chest heaving, his fists still raised.
Kade looked around—the crowd had formed. Bystanders were staring. Whispers everywhere.
Someone murmured loud enough for them all to hear, "Should we call the police?"
Kade's expression changed in an instant. His jaw ticked. Rage simmered, but calculation won.
"You're lucky," he spat, backing off, "I can't afford four police cases in a week."
He pointed at Ashton. "But remember the name—Kade Graveson. We're not done."
He turned, heading back toward his bike.
Then, he looked at Jenny—his voice dripping venom. "You said you were out with girls. You meant this bitch?"
Jenny flinched. Her head lowered. Her tears fell freely now.
"Looks like I need to talk to dad about this…"
Kade climbed onto his motorcycle and grabbed the helmet from the mirror. the engine screaming to life. One hard rev. Loud. Aggressive. A warning.
Then he roared off into the night.
Ashton didn't move. His fists unclenched slowly.
Jenny stood frozen, shaking.
Ashton walked up to her—silent.
He didn't say a word. Just held out his hand.
Jenny stared at it for a moment, hesitant. But then, without speaking, she reached out and took it, quickly wiping away her tears with the back of her other hand.
He looked around. The bystanders who had gathered were slowly beginning to disperse, their curiosity satisfied, their murmurs fading into the background noise of the city.
Ashton's grip tightened gently around her hand, not forceful—just enough to remind her that he was still there. Still standing.
Without exchanging another word, the two of them began to walk away—shoulder to shoulder, step by step—leaving behind the heat, the stares, and Kade's threat echoing faintly behind them.