Part 16 - Confrontation
ALEC
"Am I interrupting something?" Both our heads whipped around at the sound of the low, masculine voice.
"Yes!" Max snapped quickly.
"No!" I replied at the same time. I could tell that Max wanted him to leave, that she knew I was hanging on by a thread and that the smallest mistake on his part could result in serious damage.
"Ben! Get out of here." I heard her beg in a trembling voice. My eyes narrowed as I saw him, leaning against the wall near the stairs as if all were right in the world. My anger was too fresh, too raw and too recently exposed for me to act as if everything was all right.
"It's a public domain. So if this isn't a private party…" Ben shrugged and stepped forward.
"By all means, be my guest." was my sarcastic reply.
"Ben, turn around and walk away. Please. Just go." Max was desperately trying to get her point across but Ben seemed oblivious to what was going on.
With every step my brother took, my anger grew. My body was hot and I was breathing fast and hard.
"So, what did I miss?" Ben grinned as he reached out to put his hand on my shoulder. That was my undoing. Touching me was the wrong way to go.
I looked my brother hard in the eyes. "Just describing the beauty of Psy-Ops to Maxie, here." My tone was hard and I fisted my hands repeatedly against my sides.
"Um, maybe this isn't the best time for us to talk." Ben eyed me warily. As you should, big brother.
I grabbed his arm before he could move. "No, no. This is the perfect time. Cartoons aren't on for a while yet."
Ben pulled away, rubbing his arm and looking frantically between me and Max.
Max took a step towards me. "Alec, don't do this."
I growled at her. "Stay out of it, Max."
She wouldn't give up. "You're not thinking straight! Maybe if –"
"For once, Max, MIND. YOUR. OWN. GODDAMN. BUSINESS!"
"Goddamit, Alec! Don't screw this up too because you're selfish and stubborn!" Max pulled her arm back to hit me. But I was having none of it.
Obviously our talk earlier had meant absolutely nothing to her. And she'd lied to me that day in my apartment. Like hell she didn't think I was a screw-up. Here she was going on about it again. I broke free of her grasp and grabbed her tightly by the upper arms.
"Fuck you, Max! I don't have to take that shit from you anymore! You don't know what I'm feeling. You weren't there! So don't go spouting crap at me. STAY THE FUCK OUT OF IT!"
I shoved her roughly against a glass window. It shattered and she fell backwards into the Needle's abandoned restaurant. Now that she was out of the way I focused all my attention on my brother.
"Where do you come off knocking her around like that!" Ben yelled at me.
"Oh, she likes it rough, Benny-boy. I've been on the receiving end enough to know that."
I advanced slowly, eyes glinting dangerously. Ben unconsciously took a step back. And another. And another. I laughed derisively.
"What's the matter, big brother? Don't tell me you've gone soft. I expect more from someone with your capabilities."
"What the fuck do you mean by that?" he asked, cracking his neck and knuckles.
"You know exactly what I mean. Don't be a wuss. Let's fight this out, man to man." I mirrored my brother's actions and took up a fighting stance.
"You wanna feel like a big man, little brother?" he laughed scornfully. "Think fighting me will do the trick? Then let's get this bitch over with."
Finally figured out I mean business, huh. I grinned evilly at him. "I'm going to wipe the floor with your ass."
"Bring it on."
MAX
I was rooted to the spot as I watched Ben and Alec. The display was both frightening and wildly beautiful. Two tall, agile, strong X5 alpha males circled each other, each man's eyes, glowing with feral light, never moving from his opponent. In a flash they leapt at each other. The blur of motion as they tangled and tumbled to the ground made me gasp in shock.
Shirts shredded and discarded and the two were left in similar dark pants. I couldn't tell them apart anymore. Both bodies were covered in cuts and bruises and identical grunts and moans filled the air.
My shouts went unnoticed. And I didn't dare approach them. It was a fight for dominance on the one hand. Alec had baited Ben and he must have felt the need to prove himself. Alec on the other hand was fuelled on by pain and anger. Testosterone and sweat were abundant.
I couldn't take my eyes off the pair. Two perfect bodies with tortured minds were battling, punches and kicks interspersed between every primitive scratch, bite and growl. Like large, untamed jungle cats they attacked, all nails and teeth.
Ben's sudden shout of pain scared me. I looked down in time to see what had caused it. Alec kicked Ben hard in the gut and he rolled…and rolled…and rolled...
"Ben!" Alec's scream barely registered as I watched in growing horror as my brother slid down the slope of the Space Needle and disappeared over the side. Alec dove after him.
My brain turned to mush and my vision blurred before I fell to the ground, letting out a piercing shriek.
BEN
My fingers were slipping when a hand reached over the edge and grasped my arm tightly. I glanced up to see Alec's wide and frightened eyes staring down at me.
"Hang on. I've got you!"
I looked up at him in confusion. Just moments before we had been fighting. My brother had been intent on hurting me and he was strong enough to have killed me. But when I slipped and rolled, I'd gone over the edge. And now, here he was, hanging over the rim, holding on to me for dear life.
"Just let me go. Then it'll all be over, Alec." I said softly. "After what I put you through, it's only fitting. Poetic justice if you will."
"I'm not letting you die." His mouth was set in a straight line and his body was straining to support my weight. I could feel myself slipping slowly down as he slid, inch by inch, closer to the rim.
"Let go. Or we're both gonna die." I closed my eyes to fight the thought of my impending plunge.
"Max, get your ass over here! Grab my legs!" I heard him yell over his shoulder.
I heard running feet and felt the tight muscles in my arm strained even further as Max grabbed hold of Alec. Slowly, carefully, they started to raise me up and back over the side. Until one of them lost their footing.
Alec was breathing hard. He was shaking. His eyes held confusion, sadness and fear. My heart clenched when I felt myself slip again.
"Alec, LET ME GO." I begged. I would not be the cause of my brother's death. I had no idea where we stood but I had to make peace with myself. I loosened my jacket, watching as my brother's eyes widened with comprehension.
"Ben NO!" He scrambled for purchase but it was too late.
"Alec, take care of Maxie. And...I'm sorry." I wriggled out of my jacket and let go.
ALEC
I watched in horror as my brother plunged into the darkness of the night. I watched until I could no longer see him. Then I shut my eyes tightly and let out a roar of pain. Seeing Ben let go, to keep me from getting hurt or worse, from dying, made me feel so terribly guilty.
Ben's last words reverberated in my mind. "Take care of Maxie. And...I'm sorry." How the hell was I going to take care of Max? She'd never forgive me for causing Ben's death...I'd never forgive myself. I was beginning to understand the strength of Max's emotions and guilt at having murdered Ben all those months ago. Oh god, Rachel was bad enough. But Ben? I'm a monster! Max was right not to trust me. I'm a killer. I'll never be anything else.
TBC
Part Seventeen
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