Love Punched | COMPLETED

25. Backstory

(Derek's P.O.V)

"Are you sure he's here!?" I yelled in Warren's ear and he nodded, his face half lit for a second.

Then his eyes locked behind me and I followed the line of sight. Nora's scream made us both wince but she hurriedly wound her way through the crowd ahead of us.

"Michael!!"

The music and noise combined were making my ears hurt since we were near the exit and the speakers were booming right next to us.

The current groove Blue was sporting was Rihanna's Impossible and as Warren and I elbowed our way through the crowd, the cheers went up again.

I looked towards the ring where The Leopard had just secured her second victory of the night. 

Finally out of the energy filled crowd, we could breathe.

"Whew! That was surprisingly intense." Warren rubbed his ribs, probably having gotten a few elbows as we crossed the enthusiastic sea of people. Not that I was any different.

I'd had my feet stepped on at least thrice and even had a backhanded slap delivered to my pretty face but that was something I had to man up and take.

Hopping around on one foot here would make me feel ashamed every time I'd come into the arena as The Wolf. I was thankful for the cover of the darkness hiding my winces.

And as if on cue, the lights came on in the corner we were huddled in. Enough to view each other and be able to tell the expression.

Nora was hugging Michael and he looked a little surprised but wrapped his arms around her petite frame nonetheless.

It looked cute but then all thoughts of a happy romance flew out of my head when I saw the bruise Michael was sporting on his cheek.

"Hey." Warren was quieter–as much as you could be with the background noise here at Blue.

As a blushing Nora unwrapped herself from around the blonde boy, I noted how he looked exhausted. He lifted his lips slightly, arm still wrapped around Nora's waist as she shifted on her feet while pressed close to his side.

"Hi War." Michael nodded to me, "Derek."

I rose a brow. "You look bad." 

I always say: Honesty is the best policy.

Okay, so that may not be my go-to mantra but you get the point.

A sour chuckle escaped him and he cringed slightly, "Yeah. That."

Nora reached up to touch the darkening bruise and he looked down at her, his eyes softening infinitesimally.

"Had a bit of a scuffle with the officials that came in." His words were laced with a hint of shame.

War frowned. "What happened, man?"

Michael swallowed and shook his head hopelessly, an expression of utter defeat on his face. His blue eyes were no longer clear.

"What everyone in town knows." He closed his eyes briefly, pain making his features twist. "Dad's in custody right now but....I don't think he can avoid a jail sentence. It's going to be ten years, give or take. Plus a fine."

I blinked.

I think hearing it from the horse's mouth made it much more believable. As if so far, it seemed bit of a too far fetched a story.

This shit happened, Derek. It's real. So freaking real.

"So....it's true." Nora sounded aghast as if she still hadn't come to terms with the news.