Chapter 23
Chapter twenty-three
The bar falls silent with the exception of the little bitch in front of me who clutches his hand as he screams. Parker stands there, staring at him with amusement as she grabs the bar rag and starts wiping her arms. Her eyes meet mine and my dick hardens instantly when she lifts her chin and smirks.
God, I love that nothing seems to rattle her. I love how fierce she is.
“Now, get the fuck out.” She says calmly and points towards the door.
“Fuck you, you stupid bitch!” He shouts and spit flies from his mouth.
“Wrong answer.” I say, my voice low and calm; though I feel anything but. He turns his head to look up at me. He didn’t notice I was behind him. His eyes trail up my body until they meet mine and his jaw goes slack. His eyes widen then glance to my side where Cole stands.
“Fuck-” He starts but I grab the back of his head and send his face bouncing off the top of the bar before he can finish.
His nose makes an audible crunch sound as his face meets the wood, and when he groggily lifts his head, blood pours from his nose and mouth.
He lets out another pained scream and the rest of the customers gasp.
“Cole, get everyone out of here.” I say as I grab the piece of shit by the back of his hoodie and yank him backwards, sending him flying off the bar stool.
He lands on the hardwood floor flat on his back and the air leaving his lungs gives off an audible whoosh sound.
Cole whistles and turns to face the crowd that’s gathered to watch the commotion.
“You heard him folks, time to go. Everyone out. You can settle your tabs tomorrow.” He announces and starts ushering people to the door.
I leave the man laying on the floor and make my way over to where Parker stands.
She remains rooted in place and her body is tense.
She’s breathing heavily but her eyes remain locked on the asshole who’s now rolling on the floor crying and cradling his injured hand to his chest.
“Hey.” I say quietly as I round the bar and come up behind her then place my hands on her shoulders. She jumps at the contact and spins to face me. Her wide eyes soften when she sees me and her shoulders fall slightly. “Are you okay?” I ask, searching her face. She nods.
“I’m fine. I just need a minute.” She says and I nod, letting her pass by me and walk into the bathroom.
Once the door closes I round the bar again and slowly make my way back over to the sack of shit.
Cole has effectively and swiftly gotten everyone out of the bar and he comes back inside then locks the door behind him.
He comes to a stop next to me and looks down at the man who's now staring at the both of us from his back.
“What do you want to do with him?” Cole asks.
I think for a moment and then start walking a slow circle around him.
His eyes follow my movements and I come to a stop again at his feet.
Tipping my head to the side, I contemplate what to do.
He tries to hurriedly scoot himself backwards away from me.
Cole laughs and stomps down on his arm. I can hear his bones crunch and he does his best to hold in a scream.
Glancing over my shoulder, I see a chair that’s sitting against the wall by the pool table area and walk to grab it.
I stride back to where the man is and slam the chair down on the ground above his head.
He startles, his eyes widening briefly before he schools his expression and attempts to give me a look that says “you don’t scare me”, which I find comical–considering his blubbering just a few minutes ago.
Cole bends down and grabs the scrawny fucker by the front of his hoodie and drops him onto the chair. Still holding the hand Parker smashed, he glares at me. Cole pats the man on his shoulder and chuckles before he leans down next to the man's face and speaks.
“You’re about to have a really bad night.
” He stands and looks at me. His eyes glitter with amusement.
“This is giving me deja vu.” I can’t help the laugh that escapes me.
I’m starting to like this kid a little more.
I drag the chair closer to a table that sits against the front windows of the bar, and the man tries to get up and run but I grab him by the shoulder; pushing him back down into the seat.
“Calm the fuck down. We’re just going to have a little chat.
” I say, rolling my eyes at his dramatics as the bathroom door opens and I look over to Cole.
“I have some chains in the bed of my truck.” He nods, understanding exactly what I’m wanting.
He turns to walk out the front door and Parker comes to a stop beside me.
“What are you going to do with him?” She asks in a quiet, curious tone. Looking down at her, I see her amber eyes locked on the piece of shit who writhes underneath my iron grip on his shoulders. He stops when he sees her and speaks.
“You’re going to regret this, you fucking whore.
” He spits and blind rage consumes me. My fists clench and my mouth runs dry.
But before I can make a move to wipe this son of a bitch from existence, Parker steps forward and launches her foot into his chest, knocking the chair and him over.
The chair clatters to the floor beside him and he lands with a loud crash, his pained groans becoming louder.
Parker looks over at me and I see the fury in her eyes. God, she’s perfect.
“Do you know this guy?” I ask with my eyebrows raised.
“I don’t know him. He’s been in here a few times, though.
I threw him out about a month ago for the way he was hitting on me.
He was waiting for me in the parking lot when I left.
His name is Alex, I think.” My blood boils when I hear this isn't the first run she's had with him. He waited for her? What the fuck was he going to do? I’ve met a handful of Alex-types in the past. Little man with a Napoleon complex who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
Unfortunately for him, Parker isn’t his. She’s mine.
Cole strolls back through the door as I bend down to pick up the chair, the chains hanging from his hands rattling together as he walks towards us. Reaching out, he places them in my hands then bends down to yank Alex to a stand before depositing him into the chair once more.
“Put his left hand on the table for me.” I tell Cole and he complies. Alex begins to squirm as I step toward him.
“Quit fucking moving you scumbag.” Cole says, rolling his eyes as he easily holds said scumbag in place.
“You’re going to regret this. All of you. Fucking let me go!” Alex shouts.
“Yeah, yeah. Heard it all before.” I grab his greasy hair in my fist and wrench his head back, forcing his eyes to meet mine.
“Now, shut your fucking mouth.” I warn. Releasing his hair, I begin wrapping the long, thick chain around Alex’s shoulders and torso.
I cross the tail ends behind his back and look at Cole.
He looks down at the chain then smirks when he realizes what I’m asking him to do.
“Oh this is going to be fun.” Cole chuckles and grabs the ends of the chain and pulls tight, causing Alex to scream.
“Maverick, what are you doing?” Parker finally chimes in. Her voice is calm and still curious. Stepping toward her, I reach a hand out and cup her chin.
“Teaching him a lesson, Sweetheart. He touched what doesn’t belong to him. No one touches you and gets away with it.” Her eyes stay locked on mine and I brush my thumb along her cheek. Her eyes soften and she gives me a small nod.
Keeping her gaze for a moment longer, I drop my arm then turn to walk toward the pool tables.
There was a game happening at one of them when Cole threw everyone out.
Pool sticks lay scattered on the ground and on top of one of the tables.
A few striped pool balls and the eight ball still remain in play.
Reaching out, I grab the eight ball from where it lays in front of one of the corner pockets, and a stick from off of the floor.
I prop the pool stick against my shoulder and take a few steps back to where Alex watches me from his seat, struggling for a breath as Cole yanks the chains a little tighter.
Stopping in front of the chair, I toss the ball in the air and catch it.
I tilt my head and stare at Alex, who still glares at me angrily.
“You mother-” His sentence is cut short by Cole who pulls at the chain again.
“Shut. The fuck. Up.” He growls. He looks up at me and smirks. I never figured him for a sadistic little fuck. Guess I was wrong.
“Now, Alex. Let’s have a little chat. You see that girl over there?
You know the one that fucked up your hand for touching her?
” I ask him, nodding my head towards Parker who sits behind me on a bar stool with her arms crossed over her chest. I thought she might want to get out of here when she realized I wasn’t finished with Alex just yet.
To my surprise, she hasn’t left and it only makes me want her even more.
“You see, that girl over there is mine, not yours. Did your mother not teach you that you don’t fucking touch what doesn’t belong to you?
” I say in a dark and low growl. Cole loosens the chain around his chest and Alex sucks in a deep breath before his eyes squint and his lips turn into a snarl.
“She’s nothing but a worthless fucking tease. Just you wait bitch.” He spits, and white hot rage slams into me.
“Oops, talky talky time is over.” Cole mocks and yanks the chain again, so tight this time I hear some of Alex’s ribs crack.
Cole’s expression remains relatively calm, but I can see the anger in his eyes over Alex’s last statement.
I’d say Parker’s growing on him a bit, and he’s beginning to feel protective over her as well.
Any other day of the week, I’d break his damn jaw for having any kind of reaction like this over her.
Today though, I’m just thankful he no longer sees this as some bullshit job.
Seems that putting Cole here was a smart decision.
I was going to drag this out a bit but I’m seeing fucking red.
Gripping the pool stick with the hand that still holds it, I swing and the skinny end hits Alex in the side of his neck with a thwack.
He gasps for air and blood begins to trail down the side of his throat before I drop the pool stick to the ground and toss the eight ball back into the air.
In one swift motion, I catch it and swing my arm down, smashing the ball on top of his left hand that sits splayed on top of the table.
The bones in his hand make a nasty crunch and he releases a scream.
Now both of his hands are fucking useless.
I drop the ball next to his hand on the table and bend down, placing my hands on my knees and getting in his face.
“Wrong answer, again. Listen to me carefully, Alex. If I see you anywhere near this bar, or anywhere near my girl again, I’ll fucking kill you.
You got it?” I ask. Alex’s eyes swim with unshed tears.
Cole loosens up on the chains slightly before tugging them again, then leans down next to Alex’s face.
“I believe he asked you a question, Alex. You might want to answer. He’s not a patient person.”
“I…got it.” Alex struggles to speak. He’s gasping for air and what breaths he’s actually able to get are wheezy. Cole drops the chain and he inhales a sharp breath.
“Get him out of here. Call Slater and have him send someone over to clean this place up. I’ll take Parker home.” I tell Cole and he nods. He unwraps the chain from Alex’s torso and it clatters to the floor. He grabs the back of Alex’s hoodie and yanks him to a shaky stand.
“Come on cupcake, time to go.” He says and I shake my head. Definitely going to keep him around after tonight.
He guides Alex to the door and right before they reach it, he shoves him forward. The move causes Alex to trip and crack his head on the door's metal frame.
“Whoops. Careful there, clumsy.” Cole taunts and pushes the door open, then leads Alex to his car.
I watch as Cole shoves him roughly into the trunk of his car, then he gets into his driver's seat and speeds out of the parking lot.
I let out a sigh and turn to see Parker frozen in her spot on the bar stool.
Her breathing is ragged and her eyes are fixated on the eight ball that sits on the top of the table.
I go to her and cup her face in both of my hands and her eyes flash to mine.
“He won’t bother you anymore, Sweetheart.” I say in a whisper and her eyes search mine. “As long as I’m around, no one will ever fucking lay a hand on you.” Her breathing picks up and I drop my hands from her face to grab her hand.
“Come on, let’s get you home.” I tell her, but she remains frozen in place. I search her eyes for a moment and her cheeks flush. She must feel it because she pulls her bottom lip between her teeth again and a low groan rumbles in my chest.
“What did I tell you about that lip, Sweetheart?” My cock strains painfully against my jeans.
She releases her lip and lifts her chin to look me in the eyes.
I wanted to take her home, to get her out of here before the clean up crew came in.
She takes a deep breath as the blush deepens and spreads down to her chest. Her chest rises and falls with her breathing as she gazes up at me through hooded eyes, desire glinting in those amber irises that haunt me.
Fuck it.