AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“But…” I hiss, panic rising in my throat.” You can’t confront him! Not here by yourself! You’re gonna kill each other!”
Unbelievably, Connor just snorts. “That asshole?” he scoffs. “Ain’t no way in hell he’d even get the chance.”
“Connor, please!” I grip the sleeve of his cut. “I don’t want to see either of you end up in the hospital. Or a police station!”Or dead.
His hand traces a calming path across my back. “Sshhh, chill, Kat. It’ll be all right, trust me. But look, don’tyouget too close to that asshole. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
Hooch continues to lurch toward us. I flinch, but Connor doesn’t even break his stride. “You following me around, Hooch?” Connor calls to him. “Shit, I ain’t ever had a stalker before. It’s flattering, but honestly you could just send me flowers.”
“Get the fuck away from her, you motherfucker!” Hooch’s voice booms like a thunderbolt, ricocheting off the exterior walls of the building. Even though we’re still a good twenty feet away, the hostility is coming off him in waves. I freeze — deer-in-the-headlights petrified.This is it. Connor and Hooch are going to have it out right here. One of them is going to end up in the hospital.
“Now, why in the hell would I do that?” Connor asks, clearly amused.
“You got a death wish, fuckface?” Hooch roars.
I feel Connor still beside me. “Now, that ain’t polite,” he says acidly. “If you’re trying to get in my pants, you could be a little sweeter. I’ve always liked daisies. Just a suggestion.”
“That bitch is the sister of an Eagle’s Talon,” Hooch snarls, jabbing a finger at me. “Which means she’sourfucking property. Bloody Scorpions property.”
My blood freezes in my veins.Property.I don’t like the sound of that at all. But I don’t understand why Hooch is saying I belong to the Bloody Scorpions. This conversation is enough to make my head spin.
“You really gonna bring the entire Royal Bastards MC into this, Hooch?” Connor asks, shaking his head. “Over a girl who hurt your feelings? Ain’t that kind of… I dunno… a pussy move?”
Oh, god. Connor is actively antagonizing him. My hand tightens around his waist in a silent warning, but Connor doesn’t seem to notice or care.
“I don’t think you’re prepared for what you’re about to unleash if you continue down this path, Hooch. You got a problem with me, you settle it with me.”
“You’re goddamn right I will,” Hooch snarls, just steps from us now and seething so visibly that he’s practically vibrating. “Nobody takes what’s mine, you got that?”
“I’m not yours, Hooch,” I say quietly, before I can stop myself.
Now Connor’s fingers tighten against my waist.Careful.
“You shut the fuck up,” he spits, rounding on me. “You’re a fucking whore traitor. Quad will thank me for teaching your bitch ass a lesson.”
“That’s enough,” Connor’s voice is ice-cold. “You don’t use those words about her.”
Hooch shifts his body back to Connor, curling his hands into fists. “You’re gonna regret this, you motherfucker. Our club is gonna bring the fuckin’ hurt on you, and your club, and everybody in it.”
Connor lets go of my waist and gently pushes me backwards until I’m standing behind him. Squaring his stance in front of me like a shield, he shakes his head slowly at Hooch.
“You’re gonna rain down hellfire on your club,” he says quietly. “This is not gonna end the way you want it to. Do yourself a solid and stand down, man.”
The words are simple, but I hear the subtext.Last chance, Hooch.
“Fuck you!” Hooch roars. He launches himself at Connor. Connor takes a half-step to one side, and then delivers a swift, hard uppercut to Hooch’s gut before Hooch can hit him. Hooch bellows, doubling over, and then changes tactics and uses his body like a battering ram, hitting Connor in the abdomen with his shoulder and head. Connor starts to go down, but then flips himself somehow and uses his leg to knock Hooch’s legs out from under him. Hooch lands on his stomach on the ground, and Connor lands on top of him. In a split-second, Connor’s got Hooch’s arm twisted up behind his back. He yanks it up once, hard, and Hooch lets out something close to a scream.
“You dumb motherfucker,” Connor seethes. “You dumb motherfucker.”
I want to scream. I want to throw myself between them. But I’m rooted to the spot.
Hooch is struggling on the ground, a stream of expletives gushing from his mouth. But Connor holds fast. He just keeps saying, “Are you done?” and yanking Hooch’s arm up to make him squeal. Eventually, Hooch stops moving, though he’s still calling Connor every name in the book.
“Get the fuck off me!” he yells.
“Are you done?” Connor repeats one final time.
“Yes!”
