Page 37 of Stuck With His Mate

No one will be able to help me out in time, not even Sienna, who’s busy yelling orders to the kitchen staff only ten feet away. She’s not aware of the danger I’m in.

The man’s hand flies out and grabs my elbow before I can blink. I try to pull away, but he painfully wrenches my elbow and starts dragging me to the door.

I struggle relentlessly, my heart about to beat out of my chest, a scream somewhere between livid anger and ice-cold terror bubbling up my throat.

Damn the job! I won't stand here and allow this man to assault me!

“The lady doesn’t want to go with you!” a familiar voice thunders.

My captor turns around, and I see Adrian glaring at the man.

“Stay out of it. Mind your own business!”

Adrian’s lip curls into a snarl. “Who says it isn't?”

“You are asking for trouble, pup?”

“Not at all. But you are.”

Before I can say Jack Robinson, his fist flies into the man’s face. He grunts, releasing his hold on me in the heat of the moment, and I scramble away. He growls, his eyes darkening with fury, and I can see a trickle of blood on his lips.

Serves him right.

The man throws a punch at Adrian, who is quick to duck, and yet another one. Sienna finally notices the commotion and furiously hits the bell on the counter.

“Security!” she yells.

On hearing this, the jerk signals to his friend, and they take a walk of shame out of the bar, but not before giving me a death glare. I make a mental note to report the case to the cops just in case the jerk decides to show up again.

“Are you okay?” Adrian asks.

He walks up to me, eyeing me carefully. The memory of how I behaved earlier comes crawling back to haunt me, which hurts more than my arm, so I look away from him. I simply shrug off his question.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

It’s nothing,” he says. He glances at my arm. “That looks like it’ll bruise. You’re sure you’re not hurt?”

I nod. “I’m fine.”

"Okay, then.”

He returns to his seat, and I hurry off behind the counter, feeling my legs shake with every step. I lean on the counter to steady myself as I take a moment to collect myself.

“Sorry about that,” Sienna says, putting her hand on my shoulder. “I’ll try and be quicker with security next time.”

I simply give her an appreciative nod, unable to speak.

The atmosphere in the bar soon returns to normal, and I carry on with my bartender duties. After a few hours, Sienna prepares to leave, and she waves goodbye as she clocks out and walks out the back door.

I notice that Adrian remains at the bar, even several hours into my shift, and I wonder why. I am so embarrassed; I wish he would just go already. But he saved my sorry ass today, which I never expected from him.

I’ve hated him for so long without a second thought, and yet here he is, running in to help when I’m in trouble without a moment of hesitation.

“Martini and two tonic shots.”

Ella’s voice pierces my thoughts. I didn't notice when she approached the counter because my mind wandered again. I am now taking up the position behind the counter, where Sienna was during her shift, and Ella has taken over my job as server.

If only those hooligans had come over when it was her turn to serve, maybe that little brawl wouldn't have happened. Ella is a lot sweeter than I am.

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