Read Online Above the Noise by Michelle Kemper Brownlow - Free Book Online Page B

he’d enamored her.
    “Dude. Listen.” Bones yelled over the techno vibe. “She’s our manager. She’s supposed to be schmoozing with the big guys, right?” Bones rarely had a good point but that was one.
    “Right.” I didn’t take my eyes off them. I blinked hard a few times then took a couple deep breaths to calm my pulse, which was out of fucking control. I felt like I’d run three miles between getting to the top of the stairs and where we stood.
    It was a strange duality. It was like everything in the room moved in slow motion, but, at the same time, everything my body did was revved up to Mach speed. I saw Max lean in, and I saw Becki plant her hands firmly on his chest. She leaned back into the arm of the couch, distancing herself. The wide neckline of her top slipped down over her shoulder, and the fucker leaned down and licked her uncovered bare shoulder.
    I traveled across the room to their little nook in no time at all. On my way to her, there appeared to be a struggle. Max had the advantage and with one knee on the couch, he leaned over her. His hand moved up the inside of her thigh and under the edge of that short damn skirt she wore. He was about to have his liver removed through his nose when I got my hands on him.
    “You fucking asshole!” I tore the sheath from the ceiling and threw it to the side, and in the same swoop with my arms I pushed Max off Becki. She screamed, and he regained his balance and stood and smiled. Smiled.
    “Becki! The guys are over there. Go!”
    Becki stood up right next to me. “Don’t you bark at me, Calon Ridge!” My face spun to hers, and the disgust that flared in her eyes was vile.
    “Becki! Go! I don’t want you near this!” I turned back toward Max. I’d allowed my eyes off him for way too long.
    “This? What is this about, Calon?” Max was a dumbass for challenging me with semantics.
    “You’re hands all over Becki. That’s what this is about, Max!” I motioned between us with my hand.
    Just then the beat of “Tsunami” by Dvvbs and Borgeous bounced the floor. The music was so loud it’s all I could hear. Max’s mouth flapped, but I had no idea what he said. I didn’t need to hear anything to read his cocky swagger as he walked toward me or the two middle fingers he shot up when he got within reach. That’s when it all went down.
    Max threw the first punch, seemingly in response to what he knew was coming his way. He caught me in the jaw, and I heard Becki shriek my name, but my head sprung back instantly, and my eyes locked on his. My fist connected with the side of his head right at his temple, and I felt something in my hand crack, but I felt no pain.
    “Calon James! Knock it the fuck off!” Becki’s voice was garbled, like it was coming at me through liquid.
    I wanted to just leave with her and keep her safe, but the cocky motherfucker in front of me needed to feel the line I was drawing in the sand. He came at me again, this time he ducked and ran straight into my chest with his head. I curled my arms under his and brought them up violently and made contact with his chest with a deep thunk. I could feel the hit reverberate through my forearms. He staggered back, but his feet caught up with his body and he kept his footing.
    “You think you’re such a fuckin’ hot shot, don’t you?” He was calling me the hot shot?
    I shook out the hand that hit him, and then ran it through my hair. I shoved the other hand in the pocket of my jeans. “Are we done, Max?” I had to yell over the music, and he was less than three feet from me. I drew my line. He needed to understand his boundaries if we were going on tour together, but I didn’t need to kill him. We could be done as soon as he got the point.
    “Dude, we’re done when I walk out the front door with Becki.” His lip curled when he said her name, which sent a shock through my body I’d never felt before. I could only imagine what went through his mind as her name rolled off his