Here’s the prologue for tomorrow’s release—Dali: The Demolisher
Synopsis:
Dali demolished his opponents in the ring.
Dali demolished any threats that came his way.
Dali demolished his goals and dreams.
Dali demolished my pu**y.
The only thing he hadn’t been able to demolish were the fears that guarded my heart… but he was a fighter, even if he’d retired… and I knew he wouldn’t stop until he conquered me.
Unedited Prologue
When We Were Young
With her elbows pressed against the window panel, Kassadee looked out at her brother and his friends. The pout that turned her lips downward was usually enough to make her parents give the six year old anything she wanted. That day, it wasn’t enough to give her permission to annoy her brother, Kennessy, and his friends. Kennessy was three years older than Kassadee, and though the pair usually got along well, when it came to his friends, Kennessy was possessive and didn’t like to share. It was extremely important to him that he had time with them to himself that didn’t include his hovering parents or annoying little sister.
Kassadee’s eyes shifted around the living room, and when she was sure her parents were nowhere near, she darted out of the room as quietly as she could. It was as if the fresh wind hitting her face gave her an immediate recharge. She inserted herself into their football game, catching the ball Kennessy had tossed to his friend Everett before he could catch it.
“Hey!” Everett yelled, pushing her forward. “I could have caught that!”
Usually, Kassadee was prepared for the rough housing and able to defend himself. Since she hadn’t gained her footing fully from flying into the air to catch the ball, Kassadee fell face first onto the concrete driveway.
“Ow!” she yelled, rolling over to her back.
Kennessy growled and rushed over to her with Dali, his best friend, close behind. With a huff, Kennessy placed his hands on his hips.
“Are you okay, Kas?” he checked, not bothering to help her up.
“Clearly she’s not,” Dali replied, stepping in front of Everett.
“Well, it’s her fault for jumping into the game when I told her to stay inside.”
“Nah, I don’t like that,” Dali said, pulling Everett close by gripping the front of his shirt. “Help her up and apologize, or I’m going to pummel your fat, ugly face.”
Everett sucked his teeth as Dali’s brother, Dynasty, mumbled under his breath and walked over to them.
“I’m not apologizing to that girl. She shouldn’t have got in my way.”
“I agr—”
Before Kennessy could get his words out, Dali’s fist connecting with Everett’s head sent him shuffling backward. His eyes rolled into the back of his head and his body connected with the concrete.
“Are you okay?” Dali asked, kneeling next to Kassadee as she sniffled.
Her head shook as she avoided his eyes, not wanting the boys to see her cry or to see her burning, bleeding, scratched up face. That didn’t matter to Dali. Gently, he tilted her head by her chin and wiped her eyes.
“Where does it hurt the most?” he asked, looking her face over intently.
“M-My leg,” she said almost in a squeak, eyes shifting toward her big brother and the scowl on his face.
Dali’s hand on her thigh felt like a jolt of electricity that pulled Kassadee’s attention back to him. As Dali hissed, he shook his head. “Yeah, that’s definitely a deep cut, but you’ll get a pretty cool scar.”
Dali shot her a wink that made Kassadee blush as her brother griped.
“See, Kas! Now Dad is gonna be mad at me because you have to go to the hospital. Why couldn’t you just stay in the house?”
Ignoring her brother, Kassadee accepted Dali and Dynasty’s help to stand. Her eyes briefly looked down at an unconscious Everett. He always teased her because he liked her, but she didn’t like him. Dali was the nicest friend her brother had, and he’d given her bully the nicest shiner too.
#
A Few Hours Later
Kassadee’s head rested on her father’s chest as he carried her to her bedroom. Spending the afternoon at the hospital had drained her. It also didn’t help that her brother had been upset with her because their parents were upset with him.
Though her parents insisted Dali didn’t have to join them, he did. He made his brother go too. Even then, Dali followed closely behind Lincoln, looking up and into his arms to make sure Kassadee was okay. Lincoln chuckled and shifted slightly so that Dali could see Kassadee.
“She’s okay,” he assured the boy. “The pain medicine will have her sleep soon, but she’s going to be just fine.”
“It doesn’t feel like it,” Kassadee said, words slurred. “It feels like my face is going to fall off.”
The sound of the boys laughing caused Kassadee to struggle in her father’s arms to look at them to no avail. Lincoln tightened his grip around her, cooing. “Aht, be still, princess. We can’t risk you ripping your stitches.”
“And you three,” Carolyn, her mother, said, “come with me to the kitchen. I think we need to have another talk about the difference between you all and Kas.”
Kennessy groaned. “Ma, please. It was an accident. She jumped in front of Everett an—”
Lincoln turned swiftly, and Kassadee’s feet kicked his head. She covered her mouth and giggled but immediately regretted it when her cheek stung. The pain medicine they’d given her hadn’t fully taken effect. It was beginning to numb the pain, but she still felt it slightly.
“I know you are not about to fix your mouth to defend what that boy did to my princess. To your sister.”
Kennessy’s head lowered in sadness. “But, Dad, it really was an accident.”
“I don’t care. You’re your sister’s protector. You better be glad Dali was out there to handle him, otherwise, I was going to knock you and Ev out because you let him hurt my baby.”
Not saying another word, Lincoln charged down the hall with long, sure steps.
“Come on, baby,” Carolyn said, wrapping her arm around his shoulders. “Let’s let him get her settled.”
Kennessy nodded, looking back in the direction of Kassadee’s room as they walked in the opposite direction.
“Uh, Mrs. Smith?” Dali called hesitantly.
“Yes, baby?”
“Is it okay if I go make sure Mr. Smith doesn’t need any help with Kas?”
Carolyn’s eyes shifted from Dali to the hall as a slow smile spread her lips. She gave him a soft nod.
“Go on, son. But come back soon. I need to get you boys fed before I send you home.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Dali agreed before rushing down the hall.
At that moment, he didn’t care about food, going home, or anything else. The only thing on his mind was making sure Kassadee was okay, and he wouldn’t leave until he was sure.