Page 43 of Saving Chains

I move to the other end of the bar and lean back down on my forearms. “So, what brings you round these parts, guys? Business or pleasure?”

All three guys look mean, they’re all on the bigger side, carry beer bellies and have long beards. One has greasy, lank hair, the other is wearing his in a bun and the other guy, the one who put his hands on me, has a shaved head and a tattoo on his face. He turns around and with his beer in his hand, I see his tattoo on his knuckles that spells ‘souls’ across them.

“It’ll be pleasure if I get my way.” He snorts and looks to his friends. What a fucking moron. Rather than play to his innuendos, I keep my mouth shut and don’t give him any more ammunition. “Can we get a round of Patron, gorgeous.” Great… I think to myself, now the tequila is flowing, who knows what will happen. I grab three shot glasses and the bottle of Añejo Tequila and pour. “Why don’t you have one with us?” The same guy calls out and winks at me.

“No thanks. I’m working.” I answer politely and with a half-smile, one that I’m not really feeling. But this is my job, my business and with that comes customer relations.

“Oh, come on, I’m sure one shot isn’t going to kill ya?”

“No, thank you.” My tone a little sharper this time.

The one guy stares at me, inviting me to say something else but I stay quiet.

“So, what’s your name?”The other guy asks.

I sigh and stand up again. “Luna.” I move through the bar with my tray with the shots and place each one down carefully then collect their empty bottles. “Excuse me guys, I'll just take your empties.”

The same guy is still leering at me. He makes me feel dirty. As I begin to fill the tray up, his hands are on my hips and he yanks me backwards, the bottles topple over and one hits the floor, the others soon following along with the tray.

“Hey!” I call out, grappling at his hands.

“I got something for you right here.” As he tugs me onto his lap, his hardness digs into my ass cheek.

“Get your fucking hands off her.” The scraping of Frisco’s stool along the floor has me snapping my head his way. I scratch at the guy’s hands and glance back towards Frisco. “I think it’s time you guys left.” I watch the other two stand to their full height. “Pay your bill and leave.” Frisco goes on. Pushing back their chairs back they step away from the table to come around us.

“What the fuck you going to do; stop us. Your Brothers are nothing but pussies.”

I wriggle around in the hope he'll release me, pinching and scratching at his arm but he probably doesn’t even feel it.

“Oi, cuntface,” the sound of Levi’s voice has my ears pricking up, I didn’t even hear him come in. “Take your fucking hands off her, right now.” His cold and angry voice has me breathing a sigh of relief.

“Oh look, more of the pussies have joined the party.” I glance around just as I hear a fist hitting flesh, obviously catching Frisco off guard and he hits the ground.

“No.” I cry out. Just as his grip on me loosens, I dip my head and sink my teeth into this greaseball’s hand and bite down hard.

“Bitch.” He snatches his hand away, so I take the opportunity and thrust my elbow back into his gut before making a quick getaway and slide down his legs, off his lap and onto the floor, to scramble away. Before I’ve even got to my feet, I see an all-out brawl starting. Levi has grabbed the guy that had me and is punching him in the face, Reaper has the other in a chokehold while Frisco is dragging himself up, and the last one that I can’t quite believe is here, is my dad.

Well, this is going to be interesting.

CHAPTER 24

CHAINS

As soon as Luna is out of the way, I grab the fucker that had his hands on my girl and drag him out of the chair, punching the fuck out of the asshole until he’s on the floor. With my fingers gripping his cut, I drag him up. “Get the fuck out of here, and the next time you think it’s okay to put your hands on my girl, I’ll chop every one of your grimy fucking fingers off! Do you fucking hear me?” It was a rhetorical question and not one that I need him to answer. He kicks his feet attempting to find the tarmac to put his feet down, but I sling him out of the door before he can. “And fucking stay out. The Savage Souls ain’t welcome here!” I brush my hands off. “And make sure you tell the rest of the fucking trash.” I spin away to see Reaper dragging the other asshole over and I take his free arm to help him throw him out of the door too. Pres has the biggest one but Reaper goes over, so I leave him and go to Luna instead. Frisco offers her his hand to help her while I place my fingers under her arm and gently pull her up from the ground and to her feet. I take a moment to look her over. Knowing she’s mine gives me a sense of inner peace. I reach out, completely forgetting myself and push the hair that’s fallen over her face and tuck it away behind her ear.

“That’s better, I can see all of your pretty face.”

“Rescuing me again,” she smirks. “You know, this is becoming a habit.” With a small smile gracing her lips, she dips her head slightly and looks up at me with her big, beautiful doe eyes. Everything that happens around me disappears when I’m with her, and that could be as dangerous as it is distracting.

I’m lost in my own little bubble when I hear Pres bellow, “Chains.” His commanding tone breaks our stare and very reluctantly, I snatch my hand back and find his questioning gaze, he has a way of delving into my head to see if he can work out what’s happening in there. This is something else he’s going to be raging at me for. My brow cocks, “You and Reaper get rid of this scumbag.” My eyes find the heap on the floor, and I go over, putting a boot into his ribs. “I think it’s time we pay these bastards a visit.” Pres adds, I grip the fat shit’s cut and begin dragging him along the wooden floor, I don’t get very far though, this fucker is heavy. Reaper takes his other arm and together, we throw him outside with his asshole buddies.

“Well, that’s the trash taken out,” I laugh, swiping my palms down my jeans. “What’s next?” Pres looks between Luna and I, eyeing us carefully.

I assume Luna sees the same as I do, a deep frown etched between his eyes as he stares. “Right then guys, beers all round?” She says cutting the frosty air. Reaper moves for the doorway and leans his shoulder against it. I watch him for a minute before I hear footsteps behind me. Glancing over my shoulder, I find Pres approaching.

“Do we need to have another discussion, Chains?”

“That depends on what we’re discussing, Pres.” I look back towards Reaper, his shoulders are so tense. What is going on with him? “A certain woman. Maybe my daughter.”Pres pipes up and I turn around.