Rain “Rebel” Crawford #2
“You thought you could walk into my bar, destroy my business, and embarrass me?” he said with a smug grin. “Looks like you’re the one getting embarrassed.”
I smiled through the blood coating my lips. “Fuck you.”
Titan’s grin disappeared. Without warning, his fist slammed into my face.
Instantly, my head snapped to the side. Then Gao followed with a hard punch to my ribs.
After that, Rudy buried his fist in my stomach, knocking the wind clean out of me.
Before I could recover, Titan hit me again.
They took turns beating my ass while everybody in the bar stood there and watched without helping.
Every punch and kick rattled my body. Blood began to drip from my nose onto the floor.
Still, I refused to scream and beg. If they wanted me broken, they were gonna have to kill me.
Titan then grabbed me by my chin and forced me to look him in the eyes.
“You ain’t so tough now, are you?”
I laughed, then spat blood at his boots. “That’s the best you got?”
“You still don’t know when to shut your damn mouth.”
“And I never will.”
He wrapped his hand around my throat and squeezed just enough to remind me who he thought was in control.
“The only reason you’re leaving here alive is because you’re still my blood.”
I stared right back at him. “That’s funny... because I stopped claiming your bitch ass a long time ago.”
He released my throat and nodded toward the door. “Throw her out.”
Gao and Rudy dragged me across the floor.
I fought them every step of the way, cussing, kicking, and trying to break free until they threw me through the front entrance.
I hit the pavement hard as my Louisville Slugger clanged against the concrete a few feet away.
The bar door slammed shut behind me. I laid there for a moment, tasting blood in my mouth before forcing myself back to my feet.
Every inch of my body hurt. But my hatred hurt even more.
I picked up my bat and looked back at Stone’s Bar. Honestly, I was too fucked up to ride my motorcycle, so I left it parked outside Stone’s Bar and started the long walk home.
Every step hurt like a bitch, my ribs throbbed with every breath, and my jaw felt like it’d been hit with a damn sledgehammer. The bastards had gotten me today. But they hadn’t broken me.
Streetlights cast long shadows across the sidewalk as I limped toward my house.
Normally, I’d enjoy the ride home on my bike, letting the wind clear my head.
Tonight, I barely had the strength to walk.
By the time I reached my building, I dug my keys out of my pocket with shaky fingers and unlocked the door.
The second I stepped inside, I let out a long breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.
I tossed my keys onto the entryway table before making my way down the hallway to the bathroom.
The fluorescent light flickered on as I looked at myself in the mirror.
I barely recognized the woman staring back at me.
Slowly, I reached up and brushed my fingertips across my swollen eye.
Just as I did that, the doorbell rang. I wasn’t expecting anybody.
Hoping whoever it was would get the hint and leave, I stayed quiet. But then came three hard knocks.
“Rain!”
I knew that deep voice anywhere. It was my best friend, Crow. I closed my eyes and sighed. Of all the people I wanted to see me like this, he would be dead last.
“Go home, Crow,” I called through the door. “I’m good.”
“Bullshit,” he said calmly.
It was the same voice he’d used right before knocking a dude unconscious in high school for putting his hands on me.
“Open the damn door.”
“I ain’t opening shit.”
“I heard you got in a fight,” he revealed.
Damn, I should’ve known. Crow had spent years building relationships all over the city through his garage. Bartenders, mechanics, bikers, tow truck drivers... somebody always knew somebody. Word traveled fast, especially when my name was attached to it.
I unlocked the deadbolt and slowly pulled the door open.
Crow filled the doorway. Fresh off work, he looked like sin wrapped in grease and leather.
His fitted black T-shirt stretched across a broad chest and thick shoulders, the result of years spent rebuilding engines rather than lifting weights.
Tattoos disappeared beneath the rolled sleeves hugging his muscular arms, while his worn leather cut hung open over faded jeans that fit him a little too damn well.
His beard was neatly trimmed, his dark hair was slightly messy like he had run his fingers through it on the drive over, and the familiar scent of engine oil mixed with cedar cologne clung to him.
Most women would’ve gotten lost in those hazel eyes. Tonight, they weren’t warm. They were damn near black with rage. His gaze slowly traveled across my face, lingering on my busted lip before dropping to the bruises around my neck.
“That motherfucker,” he spoke through gritted teeth.
He didn’t have to say Titan’s name. We both knew exactly who he meant.
Without waiting for an invitation, Crow stepped inside and shut the door behind him.
For the first time since walking out of Stone’s Bar, I realized I wasn’t the angriest person in the room.
Crow didn’t say a word. He just stood there looking at me.
His hazel eyes slowly swept over every bruise on my face before settling on the fingerprints circling my neck.
The muscles in his jaw flexed as his hands curled into fists at his sides.
I gave him a look that told him to leave it alone.
Right away, he didn’t move or say anything more.
The anger on his face was almost tangible.
I knew the energy he was given wasn’t for me.
It was for Titan. I wasn’t about to entertain the conversation.
Instead, I turned and headed toward the kitchen.
Of course, Crow followed. Opening the refrigerator, I grabbed a bottle of water and twisted the cap off before taking a long swing.
“Why the fuck didn’t you call me?”
I ignored him, but he kept talking. “You really thought I wasn’t gonna find out?”
“How did you?” I asked.
“Somebody from Stone’s called me before you even made it home.”
I leaned against the counter. “So?”
“So?” His voice rose. “That’s all the fuck you got?”
Crow was my best friend. I knew exactly how he would react. We had known each other since first grade. Back then, we had raced each other home from school, argued over whose bike was faster, and spent every summer getting into some kind of trouble.