Dirty little Summer

After the punch

Aurora's pov

The sharp CRACK of thick glass shattering echoed across the stone patio like a gunshot, cutting straight through the music.

The entire crowd went dead silent.

I slowly pulled back from Jack’s chest, my heart pounding against my ribs. I turned my head, my gaze cutting straight through the shocked partygoers to see where the sound had come from.

Damian stood frozen under the warm patio lights. Broken crystal glittered around his expensive leather shoes. Amber whiskey and dark red blood dripped slowly from his palm, pooling onto the light stone floor. He didn't even flinch.

Victoria rushed to his side instantly, her annoying voice high and panicked. "Oh my God, Damian! You're bleeding! Are you hurt?"

"It's just a scratch," Damian said quietly. His voice was dead calm, but his dark eyes were burning, locked straight on me with a dangerous intensity that made my chest tighten.

Beside me, Jack frowned, his blue eyes shifting back and forth between his father and me. He opened his mouth like he was about to ask a question, but behind us, Nick ruined the moment.

"You crazy bastard!" Nick spat, pushing himself off the stone floor. He stumbled slightly, holding a hand over his split, bleeding lip. He glared at Jack with total hatred. "What the hell is your problem? Why did you punch me?"

Jack didn't hesitate. He took one step forward, blocking me with his massive frame. "You put your hands on her first. What did you think would happen."

"She’s my girlfriend!" Nick yelled, his voice cracking with rage. "You had no damn right to interfere!"

"Ex-boyfriend," I corrected loudly, stepping out from behind Jack. My hands were shaking, but my voice was pure ice. "The minute I caught you with your hands under another girl's shirt on graduation night, you stopped being my boyfriend. So don't stand there and play the victim."

Whispers broke out through the crowd.

"Damn, she called him out..." someone murmured near the bar.

"Jack shouldn't have hit him, though," a girl whispered back. "He's on the team."

Before the crowd could turn it into a full circus, Anna shoved her way between us. She threw her hands up in the air, looking utterly done with both of them. "Okay, everyone shut the hell up! Can we have one normal night without someone ending up in the ER?"

Footsteps crunched over the broken glass. Damian walked toward our group. He didn't yell. But the moment his shadow fell over us, the surrounding crowd fell instantly silent. He wrapped a white cloth napkin around his bleeding hand, his expression completely unreadable.

"Security," Damian said softly.

Two large men in black shirts immediately appeared from the side of the house.

"Escort this young man off the property," Damian ordered, pointing a long, steady finger at Nick.

Nick let out a bitter laugh, wiping blood from his chin onto his sleeve. "Are you serious, Mr. Jordan? You're throwing me out over one stupid fight? Jack started it!"

Damian looked down at him like he was a bug under his shoe. "Nobody is being removed because of a punch, Nick. You are being removed because you grabbed a woman after she explicitly told you to leave her alone. I don't tolerate trash like that in my home."

Daniel stepped out from the crowd, his face pale as he looked at Damian. "Mr. Jordan, wait. Nick is one of Jack's key teammates. He was invited."

"It’s my house, Daniel," Damian replied, his tone low and chilling. "I decide who stays, and I decide who leaves."

"This is bullshit!" Nick snarled, refusing to move as the security guards stepped closer. He pointed a shaking finger at Jack. "He should be the one leaving! He's just trying to get into her pants!"

Jack’s jaw clenched so hard a muscle twitched in his cheek. "Blame whoever you want, Nick. But if you touch her again, a split lip will be the least of your worries."

"Let's go, buddy," one of the security guards said, gripping Nick's shoulder firmly and forcing him back toward the front gates.

Nick dragged his feet, fighting the guard's grip just long enough to lock eyes with me one last time. "You're going to regret this, Aurora! You hear me? You ruined everything!"

I crossed my arms, tilting my chin up with a cold smile. "Keep walking, Nick. You're embarrassing yourself."

He cursed loudly as the guards finally shoved him out of sight.

Slowly, the tension on the patio began to ease. The DJ restarted the music, and people went back to their drinks, though everyone kept sneaking glances in our direction.

Anna let out a massive sigh, running a hand through her blonde hair. She grabbed my arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. "God, what a disaster. Come inside with me, Rory. Let's grab a real drink and pretend none of this happened."

"I'm right behind you," I said softly.

Before I could walk away, Jack reached out and lightly caught my wrist. His skin was warm, sending a quiet spark up my arm. "You alright?" he asked quietly, searching my face.

"I'm fine," I said, offering him a genuine smile. "Thanks for... you know. Punching him."

Jack smirked, though his eyes stayed serious. "You never have to thank me for that. Just promise me you'll stay away from him if he shows up again. He's reckless when he's mad."

"Trust me, I have zero desire to ever look at his ugly face again."

"Good." Jack let go of my wrist, his thumb brushing against my pulse point before he stepped back.

I turned to follow Anna toward the glass patio doors, but a deep, commanding voice stopped me dead in my tracks.

"Aurora."

I froze. My heart dropped straight into my stomach. I took a slow breath, turning around to face Damian.

He was standing a few feet away, having tossed the bloodied napkin into a trash bin. His dark eyes held mine with terrifying intensity.

"I apologize for the disturbance in my home," Damian said smoothly. "Are you hurt?"

"No," I answered quickly, forcing my bad-girl armor back on. "I'm totally fine, Mr. Jordan. You don't need to worry about me. I can handle myself."

A faint smirk touched Damian’s sharp lips. He took one step closer, his heavy presence filling the air between us. "I know you can."

He studied my face for a long moment, taking in my messy hair and the way my heart was beating visibly against my collarbone.

"There is something important I need to discuss with you," Damian said quietly, his voice dropping so low that only I could hear it over the music. "Meet me in my study tomorrow morning at eight."

My stomach flipped violently. Panic flared in my chest.

"Oh," I stammered, trying to keep my voice steady. "Sure. Should... should Anna come with me?"

Damian tilted his head slightly, his dark eyes darkening as he gave his answer.

"No... I'd rather speak to you alone.”