Page 25 of Knight Watch

The blush that rose on her cheeks was the prettiest he had seen. It was a risk to ask that considering what she had been through, and what he strongly suspected she had been through, but he knew she didn’t want to be seen as a victim.

“Deal, but you’re going to lose.”

“We’ll see.”

His coffee was plopped down in front of him with a thud as it splashed over the sides, making a mess.

“Thank you, Debbie.” He winked at the older woman, which caused another glare that Kingsley ignored. He’d been around women like her before; their bristle was their armor, he just had to get past it.

A few minutes later their food arrived, and they dug in with gusto until they had cleared their plates.

“I need to use the ladies before we leave,” Sydney said, standing.

He moved in front of her. “Let me check it first.”

“Fine, do your thing.” She waved her hand at him to lead the way.

Poking his head through the door, he called to out to warn any unsuspecting women, then entered when all was quiet. He checked the empty stalls and left after giving Sydney the all-clear.

Kingsley heard a large vehicle pull up close to the window as he walked to the cash register and turned to see a large Ford truck arriving. His attention caught on the furious man that jumped out and barreled toward the door, his face red and angry as he stared at someone inside.

Following his gaze, Kingsley landed on the harried mother and her young child. The woman looked terrified, and a trapped look came into her eyes as the bell over the door tinkled, and the man from the truck stormed in and toward her.

Everything in Kingsley wanted this to be a simple misunderstanding, but deep in his heart, he knew it wasn’t. This was about to get ugly, and it just wasn’t in him to watch an innocent suffer.

“You fucking whore. You think you can take my son away from me?” The man, who was over six feet tall with a slight potbelly, and lean muscled arms, bellowed.

“Please don’t do this, Chuck, not in front of Sam,” the woman begged as she cuddled her son to her body.

“What? Don’t tell him what a lying cheating whore his mama is? How she was planning on running out on me?”

He grabbed her arm roughly and tried to pull her out of the booth she was in, with the now wailing child still in her arms. Kingsley had seen enough. With a sigh, he tucked his wallet in his back pocket and walked to the piece of shit harassing this woman. Maybe she was his wife or girlfriend, and he had no idea what had gone on or who was at fault, but right now he knew this prick was scaring her and their son and that was not acceptable.

His hands on his hips, his posture open, Kingsley approached, his tone non-threatening even though he wanted to pummel the man. “Listen, mate, I don’t know what your beef is, but you’re scaring her and the kid.”

Chuck, as the woman had called him, looked at Kingsley at the same time the woman did, her frightened eyes besieging him to help her.

“I ain’t your fucking mate, you Brit ponce, so why don’t you run along and keep your nose out of things that ain’t your business.” The man dismissed him as he pulled at the woman’s arm, making her cry out in pain as the child cried louder.

“You’re right. We aren’t mates, so I don’t have to be nice. Now, get your hands off the lady before I break your face so even your mama won’t recognize you.” Kingsley moved in, drawing up to his full height as he felt Sydney come up behind him.

The man glared but released the woman with a shove. Something in Kingsley’s demeanor must have warned him he was no ordinary threat. Kingsley moved to steady her, and she ducked at the sudden movement making him angrier as he recognized the signs of abuse.

“This ain’t over Mary-Beth. You’re my wife, and I say what goes.”

Chuck moved to the door. Kingsley made to go after him, and the man ran to his truck, hightailing it out of there as Kingsley tried to rein in his temper. The man was a classic bully, happy to beat on a helpless woman with a child in her arms but couldn’t hold his own against a man. It made Kingsley sick.

“Are you okay, love?” He turned to the very shaken woman as she rocked her child, trying to settle him.

“Yes, thank you.” She nodded as the waitress put coffee and some chocolate chip pancakes down in front of her then reached to take the child and settled him on her knee to eat as his tears dried.

“Is there anyone we can call for you?” Kingsley asked as the woman looked at him with tears in her eyes.

“I don’t know if my folks would take my call, we lost touch when Chuck—” She stopped her head going down. “He wasn’t always like that you know,” she said making excuses for the man she had married.

“They never are, my dear.” Debbie, the waitress with the attitude, looked at the young woman with compassion.

“You should call your family. I’m sure they would love to hear from you.” Sydney moved closer to him as she spoke.