Rimmel was dazed, and I chuckled.
The back door slammed against the house with a sharp crack and someone yelled. “Where the hell is the nerd that suddenly got hot?”
I stiffened. Rimmel’s eyes cleared and filled with confusion.
Her phone went off again, and she pulled it out of her blazer and glanced down at the screen. She snorted loudly and shook her head.
“What?” I asked.
She turned the phone so I could see the latest Buzz. It was about her. I swore under my breath.
“I heard she was out here, putting the moves on number twenty-four!” the guy yelled again.
Some guys laughed and someone else chimed in to add, “You know that ass has to be fine to get his attention.”
People laughed, and I went rigid and turned around. My eyes landed on several guys wandering out near the grass. Of course it was Zach’s followers and one of them was a fellow Omega.
He glanced over and saw me; his face screwed into a smile. He swaggered over, probably thinking he looked cool when he really looked like he had a full diaper.
“I gotta hand it to ya,” he said. “You got some game.”
“You need to step away,” I said, my voice dead calm.
Some of my friends and people I knew stepped forward as if to show I wasn’t alone. I gave them all a grateful, subtle nod.
“Why don’t you step aside and give us all a look at her?” he said, ignoring my warning.
I kept my body firmly planted in front of Rimmel and crossed my arms over my chest.
Braeden materialized beside me, taking up the same braced position. “What seems to be the problem?” he asked.
“No problem. Just came to see the nerd who got hot,” the guy replied. I think his name was Jack.
“There aren’t any nerds out here,” Braeden countered.
Ivy came out the back door, followed by Missy. They were both clutching their phones. When they saw me, they rushed around me and to Rimmel. “The BuzzBoss is totally talking about you!” Ivy said like she was impressed.
“All I did was comb my hair,” Rimmel remarked.
I wanted to laugh.
Zach materialized behind his crew, and they parted to let him come to the front. “I’d be interested in meeting your date tonight as well, Romeo. After all, I did invite her.”
“He invited you?” Ivy asked Rimmel behind me.
This guy was seriously asking for it. He was doing everything humanly possible to screw things up for me. So I called his bluff.
I stepped aside and reached for Rimmel’s hand, drawing her forward. “Rimmel, this is Zach. He’s the president of the Omegas.”
Zach’s eyes latched onto her and a little bit of surprise sparked through them. Then his lips curved into a smile I instantly wanted to wipe off his face. He came forward, his stare never once leaving Rimmel.
“I have just one question,” he said.
“What?” she replied.
My hackles rose just because he was speaking to her.
“You give it up to him yet?” Behind him, his crew laughed.
Rimmel didn’t say anything; she just stood here with pink cheeks.
“Because you know when you do, he’s gone.” Zach finished.
I didn’t even have a chance to talk myself out of it. Hell, I barely even thought. I just heard his words and saw the calculating and nasty look in his eyes, and I was done.
Even though I was beyond angry, I moved Rimmel out of the way with care, placing her beside Braeden, and then I spun, plowing my fist into the side of Zach’s jaw.
He went down immediately, like a scarecrow in the wind.
I stood over him as he rolled onto his side and grabbed his jaw. My chest was heaving, and all I saw was red. Zach looked at me with sheer hate, launching himself up off the ground, and rushed me.
I was ready, and we locked together as he tried to knock me down.
I wasn’t falling. I outweighed him by fifty pounds easily and I was a head taller. He reared back his arm and took a cheap shot in my kidney. It was enough for me to let him go, but it didn’t help his cause.
He threw his fist at me, and I caught it. Holding his arm suspended in midair, I brought my free arm around and caught him in the face again.
He went down and didn’t move.
I turned back to Rimmel, who had a horrified, stricken look on her face. I snatched the car keys out of my pocket and put them in her hand. “Take the Hellcat and go to my place. I’ll meet you there.”
“But—” She began.
“Go,” I growled as commotion erupted behind me.
Someone rammed into me from behind, and I stumbled. I reached around and pulled Jack off me and tossed him into a couple of his buddies.
“Now!” I shouted, and she jumped.
“Romeo…” Braeden warned me, and I turned away from her.
Zach was on his feet and approaching me once again. He threw out his fist and I dodged it, but he kept lunging. His lower lip was busted and bleeding and his jaw was already bruising.
I wasn’t proud of myself, but I sure as hell wasn’t sorry.
“Enough!” Trent yelled, and a bunch of Omegas swarmed through the crowd. Zach and I were both restrained and yanked apart.
I shook them all off and straightened my shirt.
“What the fuck, man?” Trent said, turning to me.
“Ask your president,” I spat. “I might be just a pledge…” I snarled, not caring that I wasn’t supposed to announce it. “But I will not roll over and take his shit anymore. He crossed the line.”
Everyone looked at Zach, who was standing there bleeding all over himself.
“I want him out of here!” he yelled, his voice slightly thick from his fat lip.
I held up my hands. “Oh, I’m gone. Omega can kiss my ass.”
Trent glanced at me sharply. I saw the warning in his eyes, the reminder that we were going to get rid of Zach together. I shook my head. “I’m out.”
He frowned slightly but nodded his understanding.
Braeden clapped me on the back. “I think we should go.”
After giving Zach another long, measured look, I turned to leave.
“This party is lame!” Braeden said loudly. “WOLVES, party at my dorm!” he yelled.
People cheered.
“Dude, how the fuck are you gonna fit all these people in your tiny-ass room?”
He grinned. “Sure as hell will be fun to try.”
Out in front of the Omega house, there was hardly anyone around; they were all too busy in the back, checking out the drama. We were silent a moment. Then Braeden said, “You don’t need them. You got more than enough talent to bring in the NFL on your own.”