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Pushing my spilled drink into some random girl’s hand, I make a beeline for the front door. Once I’m in the parking lot, I catch sight of Butch tossing Colt on the pavement with a heavy thud.
“Fight, fight, fight,” chants some idiot in the smoking crowd. The bouncer starts pushing his way through the crowd to end this before it begins, but he’s stopped by Duke Montgomery—who might as well be Butch’s twin tonight. As he talks to the guy, Duke glances at me, his mouth lifting in a smug smirk.
My brow furrows.Am I missing something here?
Meanwhile, Colt gets to his feet. “Mind your own fuckin’ business, Montgomery.”
“How ‘bout you show me what you’re made of, tough guy,” Butch growls.
I subconsciously take a step forward. I don’t know why I do; I just do.
And I instantly regret it.
Colt sees me and his lip curls in disgust. “What is this shit, Cassidy? You with this asshole now? I always knew you were a tramp—”
Butch doesn’t let him say another word. He reels back with his massive fist and punches Colt square in the face. I gasp as Colt lands hard on the ground with a thud. He’s spitting blood as he tries to haul himself up with a dazed look in his blackening eye.
Part of me shivers with pure delight at the sight of Butch defending me. Protectingme. While another part, the foggy confused part of me, doesn’t understand what or why it’s even happening.
Colt laughs darkly. “She’s a good fuck. I get it, man.”
I don’t even have time to be offended by my ex’s disgusting comment before Butch is grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and hauling him to his feet. When he draws him in, Colt tries to throw a fist at him, adding a kick or two. But Butch doesn’t let him get a single shot in, landing a hard uppercut to Colt’s gut. He doubles over and Butch knocks him hard again, right in the jaw with his brutal fist.
The sheer force of it throws Colt back down in a heap on the cold pavement.
My hand slaps over my mouth as I start to cry—Why? I’m not entirely sure of that myself. Confused, I hurry back inside formy coat and to get the heck out of here. “Cass, Cass, slow down. Where you goin’? The night’s still early,” Garrett slurs with a smug grin. He smacks Mindy’s ass, making her giggle. “Right, baby?”
Ignoring him, I get my jacket from the bartender and throw him a twenty. I tug on my coat and take my phone out, stumbling to the door as I attempt to order an Uber through my glossy drunk, tear-filled eyes.Jeez, this phone screen is bright.
Pushing out the front door, I stumble and sway, stopping off to the side to kick off my heels—since theyclearlydon’t seem to be doing me any good. I reach for them just as someone comes up beside me. I jolt up so fast I see stars. Swaying, I start to fall back when a strong arm catches me.
“You called it, Butch. She’s had way too much.”
I narrow my eyes at the look-a-like Butch standing off to the side. His brother, Duke, I remember. “Buzz off,” I snap. Following the strong, tatted arm wrapped around my waist to the face of the town asshole himself. He caught me.
I stare up at him for a long moment. His dark eyes are seemingly softer, yet still full of…something else, I can’t quite figure out.
Pushing out of his hold, I fix my dress. “Thanks.”
“Do you need a ride?” Butch asks me.
I shake my headwaytoo quickly with a combo sway on my loose feet. “No, I got a car coming.” I check my phone to see the ride time saying twenty minutes out. “Shit.”
“Come on, I’ll take you home,” Butch says, reaching out to take my arm. I pull back before he can touch me—again, I note.
“Don’t touch me,” I scold. Leaning against the building I’ve somehow ended up beside, I put my head in my hands. Not even realizing I’ve started to cry until I find myself sniffling, “I should’ve left when I saw him here.”
“What did you do, Cassidy?”
I lift my head to Madison storming over to me while Colt’s busy getting picked up off the ground by the bouncer, holding his bloodied, beaten face.
Good. The low-life jerk.
Pointing her manicured finger in my face, she screams, “You think you can just get someone to beat up Colt because you’re jealous. You’re such abitch!” I flinch back at her words. “Colt told meeverything. You lied about him hitting you, all because you didn’t want us to be together. You’re a liar and a—”
“That’s enough.” With a tower of muscle and a low growl in his throat, Butch forces his way between Madison and me.
“You think I’d lie about something like that, Maddy?” I cry. “Screw you. And him. When he does the same to you, maybe then you’ll believe me.” The moment the words leave my mouth, I know I don’t mean them. I’d never want to see Madison hurt. Ever.
