“Now you want to fuck me? Right here with everyone watching?”
She purses her lips, trying not to laugh. “Good news. You’re not bleeding and your organs haven’t popped out of your cut.”
“It’s healing, remember? I’m fine.”
Sierra moves in closer and my arms go around her slender body. “I know. I just…nothing can happen to you, okay?”
“It won’t. I promise.”
“You don’t know that.” She takes in a shaky breath. “Promise me only one thing.”
“What?”
“Promise you won’t make promises.”
“I can’t do that,” I tell her and run a hand through her hair. “Because I promise you that I’m going to love you—and our baby—forever.”
“I can live with that one.” She inches closer, hooking her fingers through my belt loops. “Who were those guys? I’ve never seen them before.”
“They’re not from around here. Remember when I said people more times than not weren’t happy to see us? Those are some of the unhappy ones.”
“How did they find you?”
“They’re looking for Jax. He isn’t the best at covering his tracks.”
“Are they coming back?”
“Probably,” I say and Sierra’s face pales. “So I think you should go upstairs and lay down.”
“You mean you want me out of the way.”
“Yeah,” I admit. “I don’t want you to get caught up in the collateral damage.” I move my hand to her stomach. “Either of you.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’ll start with calling Jax. He started this mess. Usually when this happens, we’re able to get a restraining order issued and as soon as it gets violated, the unhappy parties get arrested.”
“Doesn’t that make them even more mad?”
“Oh, for sure. But most of the time that anger is redirected at the person or company who reclaimed ownership of their stuff.”
“So ‘don’t shoot the messenger’ isn’t foolproof?”
I laugh. “Not at all.”
“Sounds dangerous.”
“It is. That’s part of why I liked it. I need to make one more promise. I promise that I like this more than the danger.”
Sierra smiles and flattens her hands against my chest. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“It takes more than a couple of assholes like that to hurt me. Are you tired?”
“I am,” she says with a laugh. “I know I’m getting old here, but it’s barely eight o’clock and I’m ready for bed.”
“That’s all the more reason to go upstairs. Watch TV and rest. I’ll come up in a bit and check on you. Are you hungry?”
“Not really, but fries with cheese dip sounds good.” Sierra smiles, shaking her head at herself. “I’m going to gain a hundred pounds before this kid is born.”
“You’ll still be hot.” I kiss her neck. “I’ll get the key. Lie down and wait for me. If you’re still up, I’ll rub your back.”
“You’re too good to me, Chase.”
I shake my head. “I can never be good enough.” I go behind the bar to get the key to the apartment for Sierra. I get into the break room, grab them, and pick up my phone to text Jax and tell him about the shit storm he started. Then a scream comes from the bar. I drop my keys and the phone and sprint to the bar.
The Haynes brothers are back, blue eyes full or rage. Big Haynes is holding a gas can and a lighter, and Jay grabs Sierra by the arm, jerking her forward. My entire body seizes up. Nothing bad can happen to Sierra. Nothing. She is my everything. Sierra tries to pull away but Jay holds her tighter.
“Your bar for our cars,” Big Haynes growls. “And I need something new to ride tonight.” He gives a sideways glance at Sierra, then flicks the lighter and shakes the gas can. The world is spinning and all I can think about is how bad I’m going to hurt them both. The entire bar is watching, and I see two of the locals weaving their way through the frozen crowd. The people in this town might not like me, but they love this bar.
“Touch her and die,” I say, through gritted teeth. Sierra’s eyes meet mine, and I’ve never felt so helpless in my life. Sierra looks at a beer bottle on the table next to her, then back at me. Unspoken words pass between us, and I give her the smallest nod.
Big Haynes is a foot from me. I bring my fist back and hit him hard in the face right as Sierra grabs the beer bottle and hits Jay with it. The bottle doesn’t break, but hits him hard in the mouth, clicking against his teeth and causing his lip to bleed. It’s all that’s needed to make him lose his grip on Sierra. She jumps back, and Lisa grabs her arms, bringing her behind a table.
I hit Big Haynes again in the side of the head. My knuckles collide hard with his temple, knocking him out. He stumbles back, lighter falling from his grasp and clattering to the ground. Two of the locals who have been here drinking since we opened hours ago, take him by the arms and drag him outside.
Jay growls and kicks the table Sierra and Lisa are behind, shoving it into them. Lisa loses her balance and falls into Sierra, who stumbles back and trips over a chair. They both land hard on the ground. I don’t think. I just act. Consumed by rage, I grab a bottle of whiskey and bring it down over Jay’s head. The glass breaks, and blood streams from his skull. He wobbles but comes at me again, throwing punches. The smell of alcohol permeates the air. I turn away to check on Sierra. Lisa helps her to her feet, pulling her away from the fight.
In that half-second my head is turned, Jay hits me in the face. My vision blurs for a beat, and the pain adds to my anger. I charge forward at Jay, punching him in square in the nose. I feel his nose break along with hearing the sickening crack, but I don’t stop. I hit him again. And again. Until he drops to the ground.
“Chase!” Sierra calls. I kick Jay hard in the dick and turn, rushing to her side.
“Are you okay? Did he hurt you? I’m going to fucking kill him.”
“I’m scared,” she says and grabs my arms. “But I’m fine.”
I run my hands over her, needing to make sure. Behind me, Jay stirs, slowly coming to his feet. Lisa grabs the first thing she can get her hands on, and swings a dirty broom at Jay. “Move again and this handle is going up your ass,” she sneers. “No one hurts my cousin.”
Jay slumps back to the ground. No one says a word, and if it weren’t for that damn music, you could hear a pin drop. Sierra is safe in my arms, but rage still sears through me. I’m so fucking pissed.
I’m pissed at myself for not taking Sierra behind the bar with me to get the keys.
I’m pissed at Jax for creating a trail leading to Summer Hill.
And I’m pissed at these assholes.
“Are you okay?” Sierra asks softly, hands wrapping around my arms. “You just had surgery.”
“I’m fine. I’m more concerned with you. You fell. Isn’t that bad for the…the you know what?”
“On my ass. I’m okay. We’re okay.” Sierra closes her eyes and rests her head on my chest. She lets out a shaky breath then looks up and out at the bar. Everyone is still frozen, staring at Jay on the floor. Everything happened so fast, and if I would have been one minute faster, Sierra wouldn’t have gotten involved like that. She’d be upstairs, safe and sound.