Page 87 of Serenade Me

“Stop. She can take care of this herself.”

I push the air away and look up at its owner. “Jez, are we not seeing the same thing? Your little sister is being molested by a bunch of guys in a bar, and you don’t want to do anything?” He just looks at me and shakes his head.

Over the noise in the bar, I can hear her voice, it’s raised, and I can’t quite make out the words she’s saying. The blood in my veins boil and I take another step forward. Jez grabs my arms and pulls me back, hard

“Don’t do it. man. Take a breath first. Trust me, she’s not going to appreciate you intervening if she can take care of the situation herself.”

“Fuck you, Jez. Look!” I point over to the growing crowd of men tightening around her. “You’re okay with that? If you are then FUCK. YOU. Don’t sulk just because she said she doesn’t need you anymore.” I shake my head at his pettiness.

“Maz… you shouldn’t talk like that,” Cadence warns me, but I ignore her as I tear my arm out of his hold.

“It’s okay, Cadence. We both know he doesn’t care how I feel anymore. So,let him go, It’s not the first mistake he’s made.” I hear Jez say as I push through to where Anca’s standing.

There’s shouting and laughter and my chest tightens with worry. I elbow one of the men as I force my way into the middle of the circle, where Anca is standing. Emily’s been pushed out of the circle. They’re all pressing closer around her, beers in hand, eyes roving all over her body.

“Hey, babe!” she says to me as I come up next to her.

I spin around, taking in the scene. “What the hell’s going on?

“What do you mean?”

“I’m just… what are you doing?”

“I’m telling these guys my story of meeting Vanessa Mae at my college-…” I don’t let her finish and grab her wrist, pulling her towards a gap in the crowd. “Whoa, where are you taking me?”

“Yeah, buddy, where are you taking her? She hasn’t finished yet.” One of the men says, blocking me from stepping forward.

“She’s done entertaining you for tonight.” I spit in his face.

“Marius!” She shouts at me and tries to pull her hand out of mine.

“Hey… is this guy bothering you?” One of the other meatheads comes up and tries to push in between us.

I can’t believe what’s going on. Who the fuck do these guys think they are? “You’ve got to be kidding me, right? I’m saving her from you guys.”

“Oh my god,” I hear her say, her hand coming up to her forehead.

“Saving her from us? It looks like you’re the one she’s trying to get away from.”

“No, I’m her…”

“Her… her what?” meathead number 1 interrupts me.

“Her bodyguard?” meathead number 2 jumps in.

“Her boy toy? Her momma?” The crowd starts to get into it.

Anca steps in between us and grabs my hand. “Guys, it’s fine… let’s go Marius.”

“Or maybe she’s your momma? Go home little boy…” meathead 1 sneers.

I move out from behind Anca and push myself against him. “That’s it…just shut the fuck up.”

“You’re gonna make me? Mommy’s boy?”

“Marius! Stop it!” I hear her yell somewhere in the back of my head.

“Just stay out of this Anca. I’ve got this.” I jam my finger into meathead’s chest. “You’re going to fucking regret you ever came here tonight and messing with my girl.”