Chapter Thirty
They didn't have to wait long. Five minutes later the cars drove single file and parked along the street close to the diner. Kelley caught Juliana’s gaze and they stared at each other for a few seconds before Kelley looked at Hanson where he climbed out of the first car, a beanie over his head. Norah climbed out of the passenger side and Kelley looked at her with new eyes, as someone that didn’t love her.
“I wasn’t sure that you’d show up.”
Kelley gave Hanson a half smile. “You think because you beat me up three-on-one with a baseball bat that I’d be scared of you?”
“How’s your head?”
“How’s your hair?” Mason stifled a laugh and Hanson’s glare spoke of murderous rage.
“It’ll grow back.”
“What do you want, Hanson? You called for this meet.”
“I want this shit to end!”
Lee’s fists clenched next to his sides. “You were planning on going after Marella.”
“We were only going to take her home, where she belongs.”
Kelley stepped in front of Lee. “She is where she belongs, with us. She’s Public now.”
“And you, Kelley? Are you Public too?”
“Yeah, I am. You already knew that too which is why you went after me.”
“You’d really stick with them instead of us? We grew up together, did everything together.”
“Including Norah.”
Mason couldn’t contain his laughter anymore and Norah’s look would’ve melted the skin off Kelley’s face if it was at all possible. Norah took a step forward and glared at Kelley as she crossed her arms over her chest.
“Is that why you came running back, Kelley?”
The diner’s door opened but Kelley barely registered it. “I didn’t run back to you, Norah, trust me, soppy seconds don’t work for me, I wanted to help you stop prostituting yourself for the likes of him.” Kelley glanced at Hanson and he felt a hand on his arm.
“Is that the soppy seconds?” Mason and Lee’s mouths were open and Norah’s arms fell to her sides.
“Who the hell is she?”
Kelley looked at Juliana as she moulded herself against him. “I’m his girlfriend, soppy seconds, what do you want?”
“Girlfriend?”
Kelley looked at Norah and placed his arm around Juliana’s waist. “I ask again, soppy seconds, what do you want with Kelley?” Juliana turned her head towards Kelley and smiled sweetly. “You know that swirly thing you do with your tongue? You promised me a repeat performance.”
Norah’s face reddened and she looked at Kelley who could only swallow as he looked at Juliana. “Time to wrap this up, Hanson, I’ve got a promise to keep.”
“Norah …” She was still staring at Kelley and when Hanson called her name a second time she turned around to stand next to him.
“We can hash this out now, Hanson, I see you brought your muscle with you.” Mason now stood next to Kelley as well and Lee glared at him, ready to rip him to shreds.
Hanson pushed Norah to the side as he lunged at Kelley. Kelley turned his back towards Hanson to protect Juliana and the first blow hit him on the kidney. He pushed backwards and landed on Hanson with a thud.
Fights had broken out all around them as Public rushed out of the shadows and Private was surrounded within the blink of an eye. Kelley turned around and hit Hanson in the face with his left fist, telling himself not to use his right hand as well.
Norah lunged at Juliana and Kelley watched in slow motion as Juliana placed one leg behind her and her fist landed flush on Norah’s jaw. Norah sank to the ground in one motion and Juliana stood over her, cradling her fist.
“Come at Kelley again and I’ll keep putting you down, slut. I was born Public.” Juliana stepped away from her and caught Kelley’s stare.
“You okay?” Kelley yelled amidst the fighting.
“I’m good.”
“Your girl can throw a punch.” Juliana laughed at Mason’s praise as Kelley grinned.
Hanson turned on his stomach and got up to his hands and knees, coughing. “Kelley, enough of this.” Hanson was bleeding from his mouth and nose, bruises were forming on his ribs and chest and he felt like he'd been hit by a truck.
“Stay away from Public, Hanson … everything that belongs to Public.” Lee gripped Hanson’s collar and his feet dangled above the paved road.
“Fine! Fine! Put me down!”
Lee let Hanson fall back to the street and took a step back as Kelley made his way back to Juliana, taking her hand in his and examining it. “That was some punch.”
“I don’t like the bitch, okay.”
Hanson wiped blood from his mouth and turned to face Kelley. “Kelley.”
“Backtracking so quickly, Hanson? My boys want blood for the attack on me.”
“They got blood tonight … you can have Marella.”
Kelley looked around to where most of Private’s football players lay on the street and Public now stood behind him, Mason and Lee. Lee had a protective arm around Marella’s shoulder. Kelley turned to face Hanson again and smiled.
“If there’s any retaliation for tonight’s fight, you’ll regret it, Hanson.”
“There won’t be any retaliation, I’ll make sure of it.”
Kelley and Hanson nodded at each other, knowing it would only be a matter of time until something else happened. The truce would stand for now. Hanson walked over to Norah and helped her to her feet as she regained consciousness.
“That bitch will pay for this.” Hanson had a hand on her arm and he turned around abruptly.
“No! This is over now.”
Kelley realized as Norah’s gaze went over him that he still had his arm around Juliana’s waist and she hadn’t made a move to put distance between them. He had to admit that he liked it, liked Juliana and how she’d joined their ranks that night.
A loud cheer went through Public’s football team as the private school boys left the diner in defeat. Juliana smiled and shook her head as she turned towards Kelley. “You do realize this isn’t the end.”
“I know. Let me make sure you get home safely and get your hand checked out.”
“Only because you shouldn’t be in the streets alone.”
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