Chapter 32 #3
Rider’s single syllable answer set the next five seconds in motion, Kylie leaping to her feet on instinct as Lyle’s elbow shot back, his arm like a thick piece of split firewood.
Luke moved with lightning fast reflexes and nearly broke his nose on Lyle’s elbow as the bigger man cocked back his arm, aiming to punch Rider.
Who dodged back fast –
– leaving Luke holding Lyle in a chokehold, his arms shaking but body resolute. Lyle thrashed in Luke’s grip, trying to headbutt, the alcohol that soaked Lyle’s bloodstream making the match more even as his reflexes were slower
“Stop it, Lyle,” Luke said, panting hard. “Think about your kid.”
Lyle jolted. “My what?”
“Jace. Your son, Jace. Can’t play ball with your kid in jail, man.”
“Why are you talking about my kid?” The question came out more like a whine than a real inquiry.
“Because he needs his dad. Our kids need their dads. I don’t want my little girl being told Jace Morgenstern’s daddy beat hers up, and you sure as hell don’t want Tabby to have to explain to Jace where his daddy went after a bar fight.
So if you won’t stop this for yourself or Tabby, do it for your kid. ”
Luke’s words echoed through the tavern, the place so quiet you could practically hear the sour sweat on Lyle’s brow plunking onto the bar, drop by drop.
“You’re the reason Tabby had to explain the first time, Luke,” Lyle spat out as Kell appeared to hit his limit, walking over to Luke, standing five feet behind him in silent support, arms crossed over his huge chest.
“Don’t let there be a second time, man,” Luke said softly in his ear. “I could take you in just for this.”
“Haven’t hit anyone. Yet,” Lyle hissed.
“Let’s keep it that way.”
Before anyone could take the next step, the front door to Bilbee’s Tavern was flung open by a woman Kylie hadn’t seen in fifteen years, but would recognize anywhere.
Tabby.
Tabitha Bilbee.
Rider and Mikah’s sister.
Wait. Wait.
Lyle Morgenstern was dating Tabitha Bilbee, and Jace was their son? Kylie’s mind raced to piece it all together, her mental map of “Who’s Who” starting to fray at the edges, turning into ashes that blew off on the winds of change.
Back when she lived here, Tabby had worked at Love You Chocolate the one and only year Kylie had worked there, too.
Tabby was short on sense but full on heart, the kind of person who rescued kittens from bushes and nursed abandoned baby bunnies.
A fixture at the local humane society, she spent more time petting strays and making homemade bandanas for dogs to wear on adoption day than she did on her studies.
Clearly, that tender heart wasn’t doing her any favors in the human relationship department.
“Tabby!” Rider shouted. “Come collect him.”
“Shut up!” she screeched, coming to a dead halt in front of Luke. “What’re you touching him for?” she said, her whole demeanor changing, cowering a bit in deference. “He’s not under arrest, is he?”
“I’m trying to keep him from punching your brother and going back to prison.”
“Gawd, Lyle! Honey, come home. Let me take care of you the way you deserve.”
Rider and half the men in the tavern all snorted. Kylie noticed no one from their table did, though she suspected Darren was close.
“Lyle,” Tabby said, her voice going syrupy-sweet. “Luke’s going to let you go, and we’ll go home so I can – ” She stood on tiptoe and whispered something in his ear that made the man’s eyebrows shoot up, one corner of his mouth curling into a leer.
“Gross,” Rider groaned. “I can hear you, Tabby.”
“Then move away!” she snapped.
From the look on Luke’s face, as he slowly let Lyle go and moved back one step, he heard it, too.
“And get me two bacon cheeseburgers, no tomato, Sriracha on one. And a kids’ burger with fries the way Jace likes it.”
At the mention of Jace, who must be Rider’s nephew, his face softened, what looked like a brewing objection instantly diffused. Rider stormed back to the kitchen and told the guy who looked like Mark Faroni what to make.
Then Rider stomped back to the counter and pointed at his sister.
“Get him out of here, and from now on,” he said, pointedly snagging Lyle’s keys off the hook behind him and shoving them in his front jeans pocket, “I’ll let him swing. Won’t hit me, but it’ll give Luke a reason to bring him in.”
“Never,” Lyle said in a low, spine-tingling voice, throwing his arm across Tabby’s shoulders, cupping her breast with a vulgar grab. “Never going back.”
“Then think of your little boy,” Luke said, hands on his hips, eyes scanning the room then settling back on Lyle. Not backing down, he wasn’t escalating, either. Another man would have let Lyle make the hit, and welcomed the chance to put the guy away.
Luke didn’t.
And that took a different kind of strength.
Still nervous, Kylie felt her worry draining, Luke’s steady command of the situation triggering a deep calm in her.
How did he know exactly what to say? What made him so brave?
Lyle was big and drunk, angry at Luke, and Luke knew the right combination of words and actions to get the best possible outcome.
No one got hurt, and Lyle stayed out of police custody.
“C’mon, baby.” Tabby shot Luke a glare. “Don’t give him another fake reason to take you in.”
“Tabby,” Luke said in a firm voice. Whatever he meant by it, the way he said it made her shut up.
Fast.
“I’m not leavin’,” Lyle declared. “He’s the one who should go.”
“Jace is in the car, freezing, baby,” Tabby crooned. “Let’s go home and be a family. Rider’ll pay for dinner. Least he can do. You know how you love the bacon cheeseburgers here. We can chow down and watch a fun movie.”
Kylie’s throat tightened at the thought of a little kid sitting outside a bar, waiting for his mother to pick up his drunk dad, fresh out of jail. Tears threatened to choke her. That poor little boy.
“Listen to Tabby,” Luke said to Lyle, who was so drunk his eyes couldn’t even focus on Luke.
“Hmph,” she said, pulling on Lyle, the big guy finally headed toward the door, half the tavern’s population letting out their breath in relief. “I’ll meet you at the back door for those burgers, Rider!”
The door slammed shut as they left.
Kylie went straight to Luke and touched his arm, finding him steady, her own hands shaking, though. “That was amazing.”
“That was stupid,” Luke spat out. “Dumb Lyle. Trying to take a swing at his own brother-in-law?”
“My fault,” Rider said with a sick look. “Didn’t realize how drunk he already was when he came in. Should have cut him off a long time ago.”
“Sorry you had to see that,” Luke said softly to Kylie, worry in his eyes as he took a step closer to her, his tense protectiveness making her feel safer. “That doesn’t happen often.”
“But it does happen.”
“Sure. I’m a likable guy, but not for people I arrest.” He let out a sour laugh through his nose. “Or ticket. Or put in jail.”
“You have enemies.”
He made a face. “Lyle’s a rare one. Most people accept that they have to follow the law.”
“Lyle, not so much?”
“Lyle’s on a collision course with the law because of the bottle. He’s got an addiction and it’s been sad all around to watch him decline.” Running his hand through his hair, he walked her back to the big table, where Moore and Colleen broke out in polite golf claps.
“Bravo, bro,” Kell said. “You were like a bomb squad expert.”
“Huh?”
“Defusing an explosive.”
“Tabby did that, Kell.”
“I can’t believe Tabitha Bilbee and Lyle Morgenstern have a child!” Kylie gasped.
Everyone looked at her like she was crazy.
“A child who is telling Harriet a bunch of lies about how babies are made,” Luke muttered before draining the rest of his beer.
“A child who is waiting in a car in the dead of winter outside his uncle’s bar, while his p-p-poor mom collects his drunk dad by pleading and begging,” Kylie said softly, fighting tears, feeling profound sadness and sympathy for that small child.
Everyone went quiet as she took in a deep breath and got her emotions under control.
“If it’s any consolation,” Colleen said, reaching across the table to hold her hand, “social services is aware of everything. Tabby’s getting lots of support. Jace is in school. He’s fed, his grandma helps out, and people are stepping up. It’s not ideal, but….”
A shaky inhale made Kylie nod. “I don’t even know him, but I feel so bad for little Jace.”
“Of course you do. Because you’re a caring person,” Luke said as Edina, one of the servers, came on over with a fresh drink for everyone at the table, and a huge tray of nachos.
“What’s this?” Moore asked, moving empty plates into a stack to make room.
“This is your mess, Moore!” Colleen snarked. “You always order too much food. Now there’s no room for this new stuff.”
“Exhibit A, Colleen,” he replied, holding up empty dishes. “It’s not too much food if everyone eats it.”
She just rolled her eyes. “And you cover the check too often, you softy.”
That last comment just made him grin.
“Rider had me bring it over,” Edina explained to the table. “His way of saying thanks,” she announced, all grins and winks. “Lyle’s been an ass the past couple of days, Luke. Thanks for that.”
“I can’t guarantee he won’t be back.”
“I can guarantee he will,” Kell said in a voice dripping with distaste.
“I know.” Edina patted his cheek gently. Older than the group by at least a generation, she was someone Kylie didn’t remember. “But this time, he’ll think twice.”
Luke and Darren made sounds of disagreement.
Edina took the dirty glasses and dishes away, leaving them all to stare at the newfound bounty.
“Whew,” Darren said with a long sigh. “Not my idea of a relaxing evening with friends!”
“Not mine, either,” Luke said, reaching for the fresh beer, Kylie mirroring him as she took in most of the rest of her drink, her heartbeat slowing down, the tension fading as Rider welcomed a large group of people, none of whom she recognized.