Fifteen
Legend
Both men spin around,staring at me like I’m Tarzan, about to beat my fists against my chest. Good, because that’s exactly how I fucking feel right now seeing them standing between me and my woman.
I was exhausted after training, but as soon as I got that text from Hal, it was like mainlining adrenaline.
These two assholes, two men who should have protected Scarlett, are standing on her doorstep, and according to Hal, yelling at her.
Not on my fucking watch.
“Hey!” I yell as I point to the younger one. “You got no reason to ever come near this building or Scarlett again. Get the fuck out of here while you’re still able to walk, or I’ll remove you in a way that ensures you never will again.”
At least the shithead has the sense to step away from her and throw his hands in the air. “I didn’t do anything. I didn’t touch her. I swear.”
The older man, Scarlett’s father, steps in front of Chadwick. “I don’t know who you think you are, but this is a family matter, and you are not family.”
Oh, this motherfucker.
“Family?Family shows up when your girl is in the hospital getting cut open and sewn back up.Familyis there to make sure she gets home safe and is taken care of.Familyis there for her every fucking day while she’s recovering, making sure she takes her meds and isn’t in pain. I don’t remember seeing you here while I was doing all that, old man. So step the fuck down and don’t tell me any goddamned thing that has to do with Scarlett isn’t my business. She’s my woman, and if you so much as make her shed another fucking tear, so help me God, I will make you regret that decision for the rest of your life.”
A cold, calculating gleam comes to life in his gray eyes, which are the only damn thing he gave his daughter. “If you touch me, I’ll make sure you spend the rest of your worthless life as a guest of the State of New York. I hear Rikers is lovely this time of year. Don’t test me, because I will bury you.”
“Dad!” Scarlett comes forward a step, but I don’t need her to shield me from her father or his threats.
I open my mouth, about to tell him exactly how things are about to go, when I notice the wet spot on the front of Chadwick’s tan suit pants that’s growing larger by the second.
Instead of yelling, laughter booms from my lips.
“Are you fucking kidding me? You pissed yourself? Jesus Christ, I knew you were a piece of shit, but I didn’t realize you were a gutless coward too. Makes sense how you could stoop to harassing her online. Too big of a pussy to say a goddamned word to her face.”
Scarlett sucks in a breath as Hal laughs beside me. Chadwick’s face turns a mottled red as Lawrence Priest whips his head to the side to look at his crotch.
An expression of complete and total disgust crosses his face. “Whatever Chadwick is, he is notharassingmy daughter. Iprovided his alibi to the police for the time periods in question.”
“Was he even with you, Dad?” This comes from Scarlett, her words rife with betrayal. “Or did you just cover for him because that’s what you do for your buddies? Even when it’s yourdaughterwho is being threatened?”
Scarlett’s father turns so that he’s able to see both of us, and I decide I’ll make it even easier for him. I shove past him and take my position next to her. He shifts with a sneer on his face, recognizing the move for what it is—a power play.
With Hal at his back and me next to Scarlett, there’s not shit he can do.
“Chadwick isn’t behind any threats. He’s much too busy with company matters to bother you. Whatever the police think, you need to tell them they are mistaken.”
“Scarlett doesn’t take orders from you, old man. And she wasn’t fucking mistaken about anything. If your boy here didn’t do anything, then he’s got no reason to be pissing himself.” I look pointedly at the wetness on Chadwick’s pants and shake my head. “You might think I’m shit, but, man, you gotta recognize that your daughter leveled up.”
I take a step toward him, and impressively, the old man doesn’t back away. “Because I ain’t pissed myself since I was in diapers, and it would take an army to get between me and my woman. Whatever you came here for, it ain’t happening. So you better leave before we call the cops and have them question you again right now.”
Lawrence straightens and his jaw rocks from side to side. He cuts his attention from me to Scarlett. “I don’t even know who you are anymore, Scarlett. Come on, Chadwick. We have business to take care of. This was obviously a waste of time.”
Sixteen
Scarlett
My father turnsand strides down the sidewalk with his head held high and not a single care in it for me.
My knees go weak, but Gabriel’s arm wraps around my waist, and I lean into his strength. Never before has a man stood up for me like that ... and it kills me that it had to be Gabriel defending me from my own father.
“Let’s go inside,” he whispers into my ear.