Page 51 of Lucky's Trouble

The club only had a few patrons, but they were too busy gawking at the talent to care about us walking in.

“What do you want?” Neal asks.

“I want to not be staring at your pork and beans. Mind putting that thing away, darlin’?”

She pops off him, and with shaky hands, she fumbles around, trying to tuck his deflating dick into his boxers. Neal grows frustrated and slaps her hand away before standing to put himself together.

“Now, care to tell me what the hell you want?” he sneers.

“Darlin’, I think it’s best you move over here.” I motion to the couch on the other side of the room.

She nods, her movements jerky and frightened. Lifting onto shaky legs, she does as I ask, and I take her spot next to the pissed-off asshole who practically has smoke coming out of his ears. If this pushes his buttons, how’s he going to feel about the next part?

With my left hand, I reach into my pocket and take out a pair of zip ties. Tucking my gun back in my pants, I manage to secure one of his wrists to the armrest of the chair before the fucker gets fresh with me and throws a punch into my side while he tries to get away. Except his wrist is already fastened into place.

My ribs scream in pain, but it only fuels my rage.

“You dumb motherfucker.” I shove his ass back into the chair and secure the other wrist, stepping on his toes as I go, just in case he kicks. “There.”

“I have men right outside.”

“If you were hoping for a rescue, it ain’t gonna happen. Your men are otherwise occupied.”

I don’t miss the flash of disappointment. “You want money? I have a safe over there.”

“You think I want your dirty cash? What I want is to send you a message you won’t forget.” I wrap my leather glove-covered hand around his throat and squeeze. “Tinleigh isn’t yours. And if I get wind you even asked around about her, my next visit won’t be this pleasant.”

I throw a punch that lands squarely on his nose, relishing the cracking sound it makes and the gush of blood that explodes over both of us. His head rears back, and I lose him for a second as his head wobbles back and forth like a goddamn bobblehead.

“You have her?” he mumbles as he comes to.

“Doesn’t matter who has her, only that you don’t, and you won’t ever again.” This time when I hit him, I aim for his right cheek, sending his head whipping to the side. The skin splits open, adding to the gory sight in front of me.

The girl screams, and I glance over, holding a finger to my lips. She covers her mouth and tucks her legs up to her chest.

“She owes me,” Neal says, blood and spittle flying from his mouth.

I spot a baseball bat in the corner that must serve as a deterrent for out-of-line customers. Grabbing it, I give it a spin, testing its weight, and decide it’s perfect because this asshole isn’t getting the message.

“I don’t give a shit what she owes you. Consider her debt paid in full, you hear me?”

His gaze locks on the bat and then up at me. “Okay. Whatever.”

“No, see, I don’t think you understand. Because I know what kind of man you are. You’ll say or do whatever it takes to get out of this situation alive. But the second I’m out that door, you’ll make some calls, find out who I am, and have the audacity to come after me. Am I right?”

“No. I don’t give a shit about Tinleigh. That cunt is nothing but problems.”

“Wrong thing to say.” I move to his side and, with all my might, swing the bat, hitting him across his arms and chest.

He doubles over, howling as the air leaves his lungs and giving me the opportunity to lift the bat above my head and slam it down on his upper back. The girl sucks in a sharp breath but doesn’t scream.

I toss the bat into the corner and grab a fistful of his hair, sitting him upright. He moans and whines, blubbering incoherently. “If I have to come back here, I will kill you, and it won’t be fast. It’ll take days, maybe even weeks, until you’re begging me to end your miserable life. Nod if you understand.”

His breaths are coming fast and furious, spraying blood with every exhale, and his eyes are wide as saucers, finally showing me true fear. Good. He nods as best he can with my hold on him.

“I knew you had some brains in there somewhere.” For good measure, I land one final punch, this one right to his temple. If Tinleigh has to walk around with a lump there, so does he.

The hit knocks him out, and I leave him there, tied to a chair, bleeding, and hopefully knowing who not to fuck with.

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