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“Well….”
His words are cut off when a man walks over, his voice obliterating the moment.
“Mr. Dawson?”
At the sound of his voice, Dominic lets go of my hand.
I sit back, feeling like an invisible fist has slammed into my chest, as Dominic turns toward the voice.
It’s Jerry from the shelter, his arm wrapped around who seems to be around my age.
I stare as he walks over to us, wondering how much he saw, wondering if he’s going to report back to Lizzy.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Dominic
I can tell right away Jerry’s drunk, just like the woman at his side. Both of them are weaving this way and that, as if finding it difficult to keep their footing, with sick smiles on their faces.
The woman is probably around Danni’s age, but she seems younger, somehow, as if the alcohol has stripped her of her years.
Jerry stops short of the table as though not sure what to say now that he’s here.
“Hi, Jerry,” I say, a niggling thought telling me he might’ve seen….
But surely he’s too drunk to realize. Or care?
Part of me wants to snap at him for interrupting us.
Part of me wants to thank him.
I was about to tell Danni the truth, all of it. I was about to tell her how I really felt.
We’ve been dropping so many hints – at least, it seems that way to me – but it’s impossible to know how that conversation would’ve gone.
“Who’s this?”
A man walks up behind Jerry, joined by two more.
They’re taller, wider, and have the look of steroid junkies sharing some of Jerry’s facial features. I’d guess they’re his older brothers.
“My boss,” Jerry says, his head ducking a little.
There’s a strange energy coming from the four men.
I’ve sensed it many times, like the prelude to violence. Who seems to be the oldest brother, steps forward, maybe even taller than me, with a shock of brown hair and sharp features, despite his swollen arms.
“You mean the guy who refuses to pay you?” he says.
“No, Luka. It’s an internship.”
Jerry stares at me as if to say sorry. These men are clearly drunk too, but that’s no excuse for the way they’re crowding the table…and it’s definitely no excuse for the way two of the men are leering at Danni.
They’re younger and shorter but still just as swollen with gym muscles.
It’s like they think they’re coming across as intimidating, and maybe they would be to another man, but I’m icy calm and ready for any bullshit they want to pull.
“Yeah, yeah…,” the older one steps forward, coming a little too close for comfort. “Why aren’t you paying my little brother, big guy?”
I sigh, pushing my chair and standing slowly.
I can feel the fear emanating from Danni, like she’s sending me silent signals, but I have none of that.
I think of Rocket, of how bravely he charged into battle and how bravely he took his last breath.
“You’re drunk,” I tell him. “Your brother came over here to say hello. You decided to follow and act like an ass. Turn around. Walk away.”
“All right, all right,” the man grins sickly, stepping back, hands raised. Then he nods at Danni. “But only if you let me have a go on her.”
In my mind, I leap at him.
I grab his head in both my hands and swing him around, sending him hurtling across the room. Then I fall upon him, turning feral.
But the law stops me as I impose calm on myself.
Instead, I walk closer to him, staring him right in the eye.
“You’re a sad, pathetic man,” I tell him, keeping my voice steady. “You’ve never achieved anything. You never will. You get away with being tough because you pick on people who can’t defend themselves. You’re a fucking loser.”
He tries to laugh, but I can see it’s working. His words replay in my head.
Have a go on her….
“Be careful,” he says, voice shaking.
I laugh in his face, using it the same way I would a flashbang grenade to disorient him, forcing him into foolish behavior.
I’m goading him into a fight, sure, but the fucker deserves it.
“Or what? You’re not going to do anything.”
“Chris!” Jerry yells when the man swings at me.
Danni cries out as the fist connects with my jaw, but I take it, turning with the punch, dispersing most of the impact.
I can hear people yelling for security, not giving me much time, but there’s no way I’m letting this bastard get away with what he just said about my woman.
I leap at him as he tries to throw another punch.
Hooking an arm around his middle, I spin, dragging him down, so he falls to his knees.
He yelps as I twist his arm up behind his back, giving it a savage yank.
He gasps, and the other two men move as if to intervene.
I turn, looking at them coldly, and they take a step back.
