“Her what?” He rolls around on the ground, trying to stand, and I clench my fists, waiting for him before I hit him again.
“That’s for mugging her,” I bite out as he staggers back from another punch.
Shit really hits the fan as the other three men try to pull me back, one even taking a swing that I dodge. Hudson springs into action, throwing down with one of his friends beside me and shoving back another. The asshole beneath me lunges while I’m distracted, his punch connecting with my cheek and sending stars through my vision for a few seconds.
I hear the front door open, relief momentarily taking over my rage as Tanner strides across the diner to us. He doesn’t have to even ask what’s happening; his eyes take in the scene of four strangers who now look like they’ve been through the ringer, Charlotte wide-eyed and standing at a distance, and both me and Hudson seething.
With Tanner’s hulking form approaching, Hudson pushes the other guy off him, one who still hasn’t caught wind of there being another strong man in their midst, until he collides with the booth, eyes snapping to me and my friends standing like a brick wall before all four of them.
“She isn’t worth the hassle.” The asshole I punched spits blood on the floor.
“Yeah, let’s get the fuck out of here,” another says, his cheek and nose red from where Hudson must’ve hit him.
Seeing that they’re now somewhat outnumbered in size and brawn, the guys start to step away, back toward the front door.
But they don’t leave soon enough.
“Why do you look so familiar…?” one of the guys says, looking at me like he just won the jackpot. He probably has; I heard the media is now offering well over half a million for a photo or a sighting. “Hey, you’re that movie star everyone is looking for!”
The four of them pause at the door, all with matching shit-eating grins.
“No one knows where you are, do they?” the asshole who touched Charlotte says as he smiles at me with his split lip and cut eye. My jaw tics, and I step forward to punch him again, when Charlotte grabs me.
“Sutton.” Her voice sounds like a sweet melody. Calming me almost instantly. And stopping me in my tracks.
“Well, well, well… Buckle up, because they’re all going to know in about five minutes,” he says with a sickening laugh, and all four walk out, taking my secret haven with them.
36
Charlotte
My eyes are wide. I’ve never seen a real fistfight before. Thank God Preston is still in school.
Spinning around, Sutton, wide-eyed, steps closer, his breathing hard. From protecting me.
“You alright? Are you hurt?” His hands land on my shoulders, hot, firm, scanning me for injuries. His jaw might be tight, but his fingers are careful, as if confirming I’m whole will bring him some peace. I swallow roughly as I look at his swelling eye, split lip, and raw knuckles.
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that question?” I hate how shaky I sound.
“I don’t give a shit how I am. I need to know you’re okay, baby,” his tone edging on desperation.
All I can do is nod before exhaling. “I’m okay.”
He doesn’t look like he believes me, but before he can say anything else, the door chimes as Tanner strides back inside.
“They’re gone.” Dragging his fingers through his hair, Tanner huffs a breath. “I called Sawyer and the sheriff.”
Hudson grumbles. “What assholes.”
I glance at the local doctor, who’s disheveled, his shirt ruffled, his cheek slightly bruised, looking as rattled as I feel. My body trembles from the inside out as I try to regulate my breathing. One moment, fear. The next, chaos. A full-on fight. Sutton throwing punches like his life depended on it.
Tanner’s gaze flicks between us all. “What happened?”
“He was touching Nikki. I lost it,” Sutton murmurs.
“He touched you?” Tanner’s voice sharpens, focus snapping to me.
I pull myself together, piecing my words into place. “Rochelle’s with the sheriff, so I was alone. They walked in, started getting… suggestive. Then he touched me. I pushed him off, told them to leave, but he did it again, and then…” Sutton was there.
