Ruin - By N.M. Martinez Page 0,66

out and touching him, redirecting him when he reaches out for her. In one instance, she runs her hand along his bare side as she side steps him. Her mouth moves, but the words don't travel. Whatever she's saying is just for him.

I glance over at Brandon and Angel, both still watching the fight with interest as if they were each dissecting it. Brandon looks up and past Angel who then looks over too. Two men round the corner, one of which I recognize right away. I take a step back and nearly step on Mitchell.

It's Jimmy and a tall blond man. He sees Brandon and smiles right away, reaching over to hug him.

Maria turns and looks at me with her brows furrowed as if she wants to escape and take me with her. "Shit. Aaron."

Kyrene, distracted by the new arrivals, stops for a second, and Alex taps her throat before he stands up to his full height when he notices the new comers. His eyes fall on me with that same look Maria has.

Everyone else turns towards the two new arrivals. Next to the tall blond, Jimmy gives a tiny shrug of his shoulders.

"He followed me home." Jimmy grins at all the eyes on him. "I couldn't say no.”

Eighteen

Kyrene steps forward to greet Aaron with a quick hug. She seemed so mature and untouchable before, but now, standing next to him, her smile wavers, shaky and unsure.

Alex slips away to stand on our end of the building. He squeezes between me and Mitchell, one of his hands clasping my shoulder and pulling me back a step. Mitchell glares at Alex as he nearly steps on him, but it doesn't seem to bother Alex. He still keeps a hold on my shoulder with one hand and with the other motions for Mitchell to go around.

Mitchell does, but Maria stops him from going any further past her. "Stay here. Paula, stay with Alex."

I glance up and Alex has his eyes on the blond man. It worries me, and in a low voice, I ask him, "What's going on?"

Alex looks down at me then, putting both hands on my shoulder before he turns us around so that I'm in his place on the end and he's in my place, between me and Mitchell again. "Aaron is dangerous."

After the display with Kyrene and Alex, I can't help wondering who isn't. But I don't bother asking. In front, the others are talking, including the blond, Aaron, and Brandon who speak like they're good old friends. Brandon is someone I trust, and while I'm not stupid enough to extend that trust to everyone he knows, I doubt that this person would hurt me if he's friends with Brandon. Still, I stay near Alex, his skin radiating heat from the sun and his exercise with Kyrene.

Jimmy stands near Brandon and Aaron with his arms crossed and a smile. I'd thought Jimmy was a giant, but the blond is much taller than him with the same broad shoulders as Brandon. I catch faint words drifting from them over the buzz of the others.

"... Join us."

Aaron looks around and actually sniffs. He does it with a smile on his face, but still I catch the inherent insult in the dismissal. The others don't say anything at first. It's Jimmy who speaks up, "Don't be an asshole or I'll fight you."

His deep voice is clear over the silence of the others. Brandon smiles and Aaron actually laughs. But then, Maria moves. She steps forward, hardly up to the blond man's chest, and in her comparably girly voice, says, "I'll fight you."

Everyone falls silent then and turns to look at her, but she stands straight. Her back is to me so I can't see her face, and Alex takes a step over to block me from Aaron's view. I cross my arms, but I don't say anything, not even to give an annoyed exhale.

Maria and Aaron step forward and take their spots on the dirt. He's massive compared to her, and everyone seems to hold their breaths seeing her small body facing his. It's the first clear view I get of him without others standing in my way. The clothes he wears are strange for the area. Everyone here looks as if they're wearing handmades or hand-me-downs, but his clothes are crisp and clean. They're casual, and yet his shirt has a collar and his shoes are made of real leather.

Alex looks down at me, his fist up near his