AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ryan ducked, missing a wild swing, and then sent a hard elbow to one guy’s face just before side kicking the second guy, sending him flying.
I’d never been so up close and personal to a fight before, and I never wanted one to be over me, that was for sure.
Enzo was busy destroying the three men that had come for him. I wasn’t sure who to focus on. Ryan or him.
So many punches. Kicks. So much violence.
I startled when one guy’s cheek smashed into the window and he slid down the truck, leaving a trail of blood on the glass.
Ryan was breathing hard, a fierce intensity in his eyes when our gazes momentarily met in the window.
“Ryan,” I cried at the sight of the original asshole charging him with the knife.
He spun around and shifted to the side, knocking the knife loose and doubled the guy over in one fast movement. Ryan was quick and efficient with each punch, elbow, and kick he delivered.
The kid from the bar started screaming when Ryan twisted his arm back. Ryan took a knee, forcing the kid to the ground, and shoved his face against the concrete with his other hand.
“I’ve been busy fighting overseas to deal with the War on Terror,” Ryan seethed, “but it looks like there’s a war that needs fighting back home.” He continued twisting his arm, but not quite breaking it. “A woman can’t dance without someone bothering her. Can’t go for a run with both air pods without worrying someone might creep up on her.”
I looked back over at Maria, whose attention was fixed on Enzo kicking ass. “Enzo.” I smacked my palm against the glass, terrified he’d kill the guy he was pummeling.
Ryan looked up at the sound of my hand thudding against the window. Winded, he let go of the guy and stood.
But . . . oh shit.
I’d distracted him, and one of the guys had retrieved the pipe he’d dropped in the midst of the chaos.
I yelled out in warning, and Ryan turned just as the object connected with the side of his head.
Ryan shook it off, and then snatched it from the guy, chucked it, and flipped the attacker, laying him flat on his back.
“Enzo,” Ryan snapped out. “You’re going to kill him. Stop.” He went over and grabbed Enzo’s arm, but Enzo flung his arm defensively, nearly hitting Ryan.
Ryan surrendered his palms, a reminder he wasn’t the enemy.
Enzo’s attention shifted a moment later, and I followed his eyes to see the elevator door opening. Two women screamed at the sight and immediately backed into the elevator, and the doors shut.
Assuming the men on the ground were no longer a threat, and probably never were, I exited the truck and rushed to Ryan’s side. “Enzo, please. They’ll call the cops. You shouldn’t be here.”
Enzo let go of the guy on the ground and stood tall, his eyes going to his bloody knuckles as if finally realizing he’d nearly taken a life.
Ryan faced me, his breathing ragged, and I noticed the cut over his eye from the pipe. A trickle of blood ran down the side of his face from the wound. “Natalia, are you okay?”
I frowned, worried about his head. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” Ryan nodded, then sidestepped me and crouched alongside the main perpetrator who was still struggling to stand. “Keep your hands to yourself from now on. Understood?”
The guy jerked his chin my way, his teeth covered in blood when he hissed, “War on Terror, huh? Sounds like you’re some psycho vet who needs his head checked. Kiss my ass.”
Anger fueling my bravery, I started toward him, ready to knock him out myself, but Ryan was back on his feet and blocking my path. “Easy,” he said, eyes on me. “It’s okay. I got this.” He blocked my body with his, then took out his phone and snapped a picture of him. “For target practice,” he gritted out. “And to track you down from time to time to ensure you’re behaving.”
Ryan fisted the man’s shirt, urging him to stand, and silently stared him down in warning.
“Yeah, okay . . .” the guy cried, probably pissing his pants right about now.
And then Enzo joined Ryan and seethed, “Or maybe I just cut your hands off now so there’s no risk of you ever touching another woman again?”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
