Run To You

you’re better than everyone else. Like your dick is special and you’re saving your hard-ons for some higher purpose. It’s bullshit. You banged Sadie’s sister the first chance—”
    Beau slammed his fist into Blake’s jaw. “I told you not to talk about her.”
    Blake’s head rocked back and he returned the favor with a right jab. “You say you don’t want to be like Dad. At least he isn’t a hypocrite.”
    Stella took off toward Beau but Vince’s strong grasp on her arm swung her around. “Best just to let them go at it until they knock each other out.”
    She looked into Vince’s face, then back over her shoulder. He was probably right. “I don’t think so.” She pulled her arm free and ran toward the two pissed-off trained snipers. “What the heck are you two doing?” she shouted as loud as she could.
    Beau slammed his fist into his brother’s jaw. Blake grabbed him around his neck and they both went down, sounding a lot like two tree stumps hitting the ground.
    “I’m nothing like that son of a bitch.” They wrestled in the dirt and weeds and somehow Beau ended up on top, sitting on Blake’s chest with his brother’s T-shirt wadded up in one fist.
    “Stop it!” she yelled as she halted several feet away.
    Without taking his eyes from Blake, Beau said through gritted teeth, “Go back to the house, Stella.”
    She moved closer. “Only if you come with me.”
    “Listen to your little girlfriend, Beau. Run back to the house, you pussy.”
    Her fingers felt tingly and she shook her hands. “Don’t make me get physical.”
    They both turned their heads and looked at her, ripped shirts and bloodied lips, identical handsome faces, staring at her like she was the one who’d lost her mind. She pointed at Beau. “Get off your brother.” They both continued to stare at her and she tried not to hyperventilate. “Don’t make me call your mom.”
    “What?”
    “Did she just say she was calling Mom?”
    “Yes I did.” She tried to swallow but her throat was suddenly very dry. “And I will, too.”
    “Breathe, Boots.”
    She took as deep a breath as possible and blew it out. “I’m sure Naomi will have something to say about you two hitting each other.”
    Of all things, Blake smiled. “Your woman is going to tattle?”
    Beau of course frowned. “That’s what she says.”
    “And for the record, fighting over who is the toughest superhero is so stupid. Everyone knows the Invisible Woman kicks ass.” She didn’t know where that had come from or really even what she was talking about. She’d seen Jessica Alba in Fantastic Four , and Invisible Woman was the only superheroine that came to mind. She took a few more breaths and added, “She has super powers, becomes invisible, and has cute gloves.”
    “You two are ri-fucking-diculous,” Vince said as he stopped next to Stella. “You’ve ruined Sadie’s dinner party.”
    Beau looked at the faces above him, then turned his attention to his brother. “Keep your Batcave shut, asshole.” He stood and wiped the side of his mouth with the back of his hand. “Sorry about your party, Sadie.”
    Vince offered Blake a hand and pulled him to his feet. “Yeah,” the other twin said, and spit on the ground to his left. “Sorry my brother’s a dickhead and ruined your party.”
    Beau looked at his brother as if he couldn’t stand the sight of him. “Drink until your liver explodes. Puke your guts up and drown in your own vomit. I don’t give a shit. I’m out of here.” He grabbed Stella’s hand and pulled her behind him. “Thanks for your hospitality, Sadie. Sorry again about your dinner.”
    His tight grasp about cut off her circulation and there was no way she could pull free. Good thing she didn’t want to pull free.
    “Are you okay?” Sadie asked, looking a bit stunned and worried.
    “Yes.” Stella glanced up at Beau as she practically ran to keep up with him. “Where are we going?”
    “Somewhere else.”
    Stella turned and waved to her sister with her free had. “I guess I’ll see you later.” She glanced up at the man who pulled her along. He was filthy. His black T-shirt was dusted with dirt and weeds. “You’re pulling my arm off.”
    “You’re lucky I’m just pulling it off and not beating you with the stump,” he said as they walked through the trees. “Don’t ever do that again, Stella.”
    “You want to beat me with my stumpy arm? Why? What did I do?” Gee, why was he so mad at her and why did