Rivals In Love (Love In Montana Book 4)

However, all Ryan's resolutions to stay away from Georgia crumbled to dust when the next day, Georgia sat right beside him. His eyes popped out and so did that of many others. "Greg's friend's mom saw us in front of the cafe yesterday. Brian might ask you about it today. Please deny it, Ryan, " she pleaded with scared eyes, grasping hold of his hand. Ryan nodded, as 1000 volts of current shot through him again at her touch. He nodded, catching hold of her hand in case she released his. 

"Why does your brother interfere so much in your life, Georgia?" He asked, feeling bad for her. "Doesn't he have any other work?" 

Georgia shrugged. She couldn't tell him what a terrible atmosphere they create at home. It was a wonder how her mom survived so long with them. They were intolerable. "Both of them are the same. No wonder they can't reach the topmost position and then they bicker, " she shrugged. Greg was six years older and as bad as Brian. She didn't get on well with them and usually stayed away from them but it wasn't easy since they had made it their mission in life to escort her to and from college. She tried to protest many times but her dad silenced her with the threat to stop her studies completely. 

The professor walked in and Georgia couldn't go back to her seat. Ryan released her hand and they concentrated upon their studies. After the class was over, Georgia went back to sit with her new friend, Macy much to Ryan's disappointment. He had wanted her to sit with him throughout the day. Andrew and Carl slipped into the seats beside him and wiggled their eyebrows at him.

"Did she confess her feelings for you just now, dude?" Asked a curious Carl. 

"Don't deny it. We saw her holding onto your hand," said Andrew.

"Yeah, right and we saw the electric shocks that you were receiving, " chuckled Carl. 

"Shut up you two. Stop imagining things. She was just telling me about her brother. Their family is our business rival at Fordsville. Her brother doesn't want us to talk at all," shrugged Ryan. He wouldn't tell these two exactly what Georgia told him.

"Oh, Romeo and Juliet?" Said Carl with a grin. Ryan groaned and hit him with his book. He could see Georgia looking at them with a small smile on her face. Ryan's heart somersaulted with sheer joy. At least he could make her smile for once.

After his classes, Ryan was summoned by coach Harrison and he rushed towards the football field. Ryder and the rest of the boys were also there but there was no sign of the coach.

"He called us and now he's missing? Is this a joke?" Asked one of the boys, angrily. 

Ryder sat down on the field. "Next year I'll just drop out of football," he said, pulling out grass with his fingers. 

"Me too, " said Ryan. The others too grumbled under their breaths. Ryan saw Georgia fighting with her brother near the campus gates. 

"Isn't that Brian McLean, the criminal of Fordsville?" Asked Ryder under his breath. Ryan nodded. 

"Why is he looking at us? Hold on, I think he's running towards us," said Ryder. Ryan looked and panicked. Georgia's brother was indeed running towards him with Georgia following him, trying to stop him. 

"What have you done Ryan? Why is he so mad?" Asked Ryder with horror. Ryan shrugged.

"He's insane, maybe, " he said, knowing that there would be a scene now. Ryder got up and stood beside Ryan, ready to support his brother. Brian came to a halt right in front of Ryan. 

"What the f*ck were you doing with my sister yesterday after college in front of a cafe?" He growled, pushing Ryan continually. He was a giant compared to Ryan and ten years older too. Ryan tried to keep his balance as he staggered backwards at being continually shoved.

"Stop. I wasn't at any cafe. I have practice after college, can't you see?" Defended Ryan. Ryder supported him and saved him from falling. 

"Yeah, he's right. We have practice everyday. Get out before I call the security, " threatened Ryder.

"Brian please stop this immediately. This is my college and I come here to study. Please, let's go home," said Georgia with tears in her eyes but Brian only saw red. He jumped at Ryan and punched him twice, busting his lips and making them bleed.

"My friend's mom saw you with Georgia and I know that she isn't lying," gritted out Brian, squashing Ryan's jaws with his iron-like grip.

"Let him go, you son of a bi*ch," shouted one of their teammates who had been watching Ryan being assaulted with horror. The others rushed forward but Brian was too strong for them. He punched and kicked them till they all lay on the field groaning. Ryder threw a punch at him but he caught him by the neck, nearly choking him to death. 

Georgia sobbed and hit her brother's hands. "Brian, you're killing Ryder. I'm calling the security, " she cried out. Brian left Ryder and he fell to the ground, trying to grasp for air. Brian kicked Ryan repeatedly till he lay flat, holding onto his bleeding face and body. 

"If you don't stop pursuing my sister, I'll resort to other means. Remember you have two younger cousins studying in Helena," said Brian, his eyes flashing with mad fury. Ryan's eyes widened at his implication and he was scared of Brian McLean for the first time in his life. Would he murder or kidnap his cousins, Raine and Ronald who studied at a boarding school in Helena?

Coach Harrison came rushing with the security guards. Thankfully,  the other students had complained about Brian. Brian was detained till the police arrived. The college authorities banned him from entering the premises in future. Everyone in the college came to know of the incident and about Georgia's criminal family. Ryan, Ryder and the other boys were taken to the nearest medical facility for check up. It was the most gruesome incident at college and soon everyone started discussing it. Afterwards when Ryan and Ryder returned home, the whole family was worried. 

"Stay away from the girl, Ryan, " warned his mom. 

"I was just helping her since it was raining and she had no way to return home," shrugged Ryan. He didn't tell anyone about the last threat of Brian which even Ryder hadn't heard since it was meant for his ears alone. 

"Let her family worry about it. Why do you need to bother?" Asked his dad. 

"We'll change your college if you both talk to that McLean girl," warned their granddad. 

"Yes, they've caused us a lot of trouble in the past and I don't want this issue to blow up," said granny. 

"Okay, I've got it. We'll stay away from her," said Ryan and Ryder too agreed.

"Remember your promise," said his mom, giving them a look of warning.

Later, as he lay on his bed, all he could think of was Georgia's tear- stained face as she winced when her brother hit him. His heart went out to her. She didn't deserve such a family! However, there was nothing that he could do. He couldn't put his family at risk. He would really stay away from her. Ryder came to his room to talk to him.

"Stay away from Georgia, bro," he said, watching Ryan's face for his reaction. 

"I will don't worry," he assured his brother. 

Georgia returned home at last. Her brother had been banned from entering her college and the police had lodged an FIR in his name and interrogated him in the presence of coach Harrison, Ryan, Ryder and their teammates. Ryan being popular, many of the students stood up for him. The police didn't hear a word of what Brian said and issued a warning to him. Georgia felt ashamed of her brother and took a cab and returned home. She couldn't face the judging looks that she received from all the students for no fault of hers. She knew that when Brian returned home, he would take out his anger on her. 

She went to her mom and sobbed. "Mom, I can't stay here any longer. Let's go to aunt Dorothy's house, please. You'll get better faster there," she tried to convince her mom. 

"What happened?" Her mom asked slowly. Georgia told her everything that happened at college. Her mom sighed. 

"Stay away from Ryan, for your own as well as his well-being," said her mom. "I'm not fit enough to travel to Wyoming. I release you, dear. You can go back if you want," said her mom. Georgia wept more.

"You know that I can't leave you like this and go," she said helplessly. 

"There's nothing much you can do here," said her mom.

"Still I'll stay and look after you. When you're stronger, we'll leave this place forever, mom," said Georgia. Her mom smiled sadly.

"I don't have that much time with me, sweetie," she told her, sadly. Georgia hugged her mom. She wouldn't leave without her. She was ready to face anything for her.