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“Then disappear.”
He said the words slowly, as if he wasn’t asking me to do something as impossible as stopping the sun from shining in the sky. Disappearing from Sofia’s life now that I was a part of it wasn’t an option. I wouldn’t leave her side, especially not while this psycho was running around threatening her.
“No.”
“No?” He let out a disbelieving grunt.
“You heard me.”
“You really are as stupid as you look.” He pushed past me, his shoulder deliberately clipping me as he passed. “Watch your back, Ryan. And, remember, you did this to yourself.”
“Fuck off.” I flipped him the bird. Yeah, it was immature, I should have thought of something more intelligent to say, but it was all I had at the moment.
Anger fueled me as Derek got into a different car than he had been driving earlier today, and sped off into traffic without looking, almost causing an accident.
I stayed outside a few minutes longer, willing myself to calm down before I headed back in.
Our bouncer hadn’t arrived for his shift yet, so no one had been nearby to hear Derek’s threats. Derek knew exactly what he was doing, making sure there were no witnesses, and that only aggravated me more.
The familiar sounds of a busy bar hit me as soon as I walked back inside. Frank and Nick’s eyes immediately met mine, their curious expressions begging me to fill them in on everything that had happened so far.
“What was that?” Frank asked as soon as I rounded the bar.
I joined the girls and waved my brothers over so the five of us could form a tight circle at the end of the bar. I didn’t have secrets from my brothers, and they would tell their girlfriends anyway, so I figured everyone might as well hear my side of the story from me.
“He told me to stay away from Sofia.”
Nick closed our circle, his jaw tight. “We should call the cops, right? At least file some kind of report? This is the second time he’s come in here threatening you.”
“I’ve already talked to them. They said there’s nothing they can do unless I want to file a restraining order. Technically, he’s done nothing wrong that I can prove.”
“But you have witnesses,” Jess said.
Nick nodded. “You should get the restraining order.”
“I think it would only push him over the edge,” I said. “He seems unbalanced.”
Claudia gave me a confused look. “Why does he want you to stay away from her? Is he still in love with her?”
“I don’t know why. He said it was to get something he wanted.”
“What could he possibly want?” Nick asked, looking as perplexed as everyone else.
“I’m going to sound like a dick,” Frank said, finally weighing in, “but I have to ask you.”
Everyone turned their heads to stare at him, waiting to hear his question.
“What?” I asked.
“Is she worth it?”
“Yes,” I said without a millisecond of hesitation.
Frank cocked an eyebrow. “You’re sure?”
When he asked again, I couldn’t help but get defensive at the insinuation that Sofia was anything less than worthy. This drama wasn’t her fault. She hadn’t caused it, started it, or wanted it. I couldn’t blame her for something she had no control over. And I didn’t.
“I’m sure,” I said again.
