Clash
954 Words
Alessia
“What the hell, man?” the guy said, squaring his shoulders. But his bravado faltered when Jay took a step closer, his expression cold and unyielding.
“You heard her,” Jay said, his voice low and dangerous. “Walk away.”
“And who the hell are you?” the guy asked, his tone dripping with bravado.
Jay didn’t answer right away. Instead, he moved closer, his presence towering and unrelenting. He wasn’t just angry—he was calculating, the kind of calm that made danger feel imminent.
“I’m her bodyguard,” Jay finally said, his voice low and even. “Which means I have a problem with you putting your hands on her.”
The guy let out a laugh, though it sounded forced. “Bodyguard? What is she, royalty?” He turned to me, his grin widening. “You didn’t tell me you needed a babysitter, sweetheart.”
“Let her go,” Jay said, his tone darker now, each word carrying the weight of a threat.
The guy hesitated, his grip on me loosening, but not enough for Jay’s liking. I could feel the tension crackling in the air between them, a powder keg waiting for a spark.
“I don’t think she wants me to let go,” the guy said, doubling down on his bravado. “Do you, babe?”
That was it.
Jay’s hand shot out, gripping the guy’s wrist in a hold that made him flinch. “You’re going to let her go,” Jay said, his voice like steel, “or I’ll make you.”
The guy sneered, yanking his hand back. “Big talk for a babysitter.”
He swung without warning, his fist aiming for Jay’s face. But Jay moved like lightning, ducking the punch and driving his shoulder into the guy’s chest. The impact sent him stumbling back into the crowd, which scattered with startled shouts.
The guy recovered quickly, lunging at Jay with wild swings. Jay dodged each one with a precision that was almost graceful, his movements efficient and controlled. When the guy overreached, Jay stepped in, landing a solid punch to his gut that made him double over with a grunt.
“You don’t want to do this,” Jay said, his voice calm but menacing.
But the guy wasn’t done. He straightened, his face twisted with anger and humiliation. “You’re dead, man,” he spat, charging again.
This time, Jay caught him mid-swing, twisting his arm behind his back and pinning him against the wall in one fluid motion. The guy struggled, cursing and thrashing, but Jay’s grip was unyielding.
“You’ve got two choices,” Jay said, leaning in close. “You leave now and forget this ever happened, or I break your arm and drag you out myself.”
The guy’s struggles slowed, his bravado finally giving way to fear.
Jay held him there for a moment longer, as if deciding whether or not to follow through on his threat. Then he released him, shoving him back toward the crowd. The guy stumbled, clutching his arm as he glared at Jay.
“You’ll regret this,” he muttered before disappearing into the throng of people.
The tension in the air didn’t dissipate immediately. The crowd was still watching, their whispers and murmurs filling the space left by the fading music.
Jay turned to me, his expression unreadable. “Let’s go.”
I hesitated, my legs feeling like jelly. “Jay, I—”
“Now, Alessia,” he snapped, his tone sharper than I’d ever heard it.
I followed him silently, weaving through the crowd and out into the cool night air. The streets outside were quieter, the distant hum of traffic a stark contrast to the chaos we’d just left behind.
Jay didn’t say anything as we walked to his SUV. His jaw was tight, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.
When we reached the car, he opened the passenger door for me without a word. I climbed in, the silence between us growing heavier with each passing second.
As he slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine, I finally found my voice. “Thank you,” I said softly.
His hands tightened on the steering wheel, but he didn’t look at me. “Don’t thank me,” he said, his voice low. “You shouldn’t have been in there in the first place.”
The ride back to the mansion was tense, the air thick with unspoken words. I wanted to explain, to apologize, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, I stared out the window, the city lights blurring into streaks of color as we sped through the streets.
When we finally pulled into the mansion’s driveway, Jay cut the engine and turned to me. His dark eyes were intense, filled with a mix of anger and something else I couldn’t quite place.
“You can’t keep doing this, Alessia,” he said, his voice softer now but no less firm. “One day, I might not be there to save you.”
I swallowed hard, his words hitting me like a punch to the gut. “I know,” I whispered.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Get inside. We’ll talk about this tomorrow.”
I nodded, slipping out of the car and heading for the mansion. As I stepped inside, the weight of the night finally hit me, leaving me exhausted and ashamed.
But beneath it all, a small part of me couldn’t shake the memory of Jay standing between me and danger, his presence a shield I hadn’t realized I needed.
And that terrified me more than anything else.
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- Writer
