Page 2 of Mercenary's Redemption

My mouth goes dry as Jayden gapes at them in shock, "B-But...I thought we were all friends?"

The bikers throw back their heads and laugh again.

"Friends?" Rog hoots. "Nah, kid. Your money was good, that’s all."

White-hot anger flares in my chest as I glare at the two men.

"You...You used my son?"

Before I can react, Rog vaults over the bar towards me, moving with surprising speed for his bulky frame. He grabs my arm in a vice-like grip and yanks me close, his rancid breath fanning over my face.

"You know, I'm having second thoughts about letting you two go," he growls, giving me an appraising look that makes me feel sick.

I try to squirm away, but his grip is unbreakable. Where is everyone? Why isn't anyone helping us? I open my mouth to scream for help when a booming voice cuts through the din.

"Get your hands off her. Now."

Rog whips around, still gripping my arm tightly. A massive, imposing biker is striding towards us, his face set in a hard glare.

"Well, well, if it ain't Chance coming to spoil our fun," Rog sneers, pushing me behind him roughly.

The biker - Chance - cracks his knuckles as he approaches.

"Fun's over, you piece of garbage. Let the lady go before I make you."

Rog barks out a laugh, "Is that so? You and what army?"

In a flash, Rog's buddy comes barreling over, fists raised. He takes a wild swing at Chance, but the bigger biker ducks easily and slams his fist into the guy's gut. He doubles over, wheezing.

"That would be my army," Chance rumbles.

I shrink back, half-shielding Jayden as Rog shoves me aside and launches himself at Chance with a roar. The two men grapple, and trade blows that seem to shake the whole bar. Chance may be bigger, but Rog is scrappier, clawing and kicking to try and gain an edge.

A stray punch catches Chance's jawbone with a sickening crunch. He staggers back, then wipes a trickle of blood from his split lip, fury blazing in his eyes. Before Rog can react, Chance tackles him to the ground in a tangle of fists and flesh.

I clutch Jayden close as the brutal fight unfolds. I've never seen such rage and violence. Part of me wants to run, but my feet are rooted in place, unable to tear my eyes away.

Chance lands one final, brutal punch that sends Rog crumpling to the floor, out cold. He rises to his feet, chest heaving, and spits a mouthful of blood onto the unconscious man.

As he straightens up, adjusting his dirtied leather vest, I can't help but stare. Despite the split lip and blossoming bruise on his jaw, he cuts an intimidatingly rugged figure - a thick beard framing his chiseled features, icy dark eyes surveying the room, those broad shoulders seemingly twice as wide as any regular man's.

Jayden tugs my sleeve, jolting me from my daze.

"Mom...should we go now?" he whispers uncertainly.

I open my mouth to respond, but Chance beats me to it.

"You two aren't going anywhere," he rumbles, turning that piercing gaze on us. "Not until this situation gets solved."

He glares down at the groaning Rog and the other biker still clutching his stomach on the floor.

"You heard me, didn't you?" Chance demands, his voice filling the now-silent bar. "I said get your hands off her. You two mugs have gotten a lil' too big for your trousers around here."

Rog pushes himself up on one elbow, holding a hand to his bloody nose.

"Y-Yessir, we heard you...didn't mean no disrespect to the Rogue Riders."

A shudder seems to go through the crowd at the mention of the Rogue Riders. Chance gives a curt nod.

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