Page 7 of Marked By Night

But nothing happens.

I look over to find the man with the gorgeous silver eyes and red hair with a tight grip on the man’s wrist. He squeezes until the asshole has to drop the porcelain plate. It clatters to the ground, shattering into a million pieces against the concrete floor, making an awful noise in the deathly quiet room. Anyone who isn’t already paying attention stops eating to watch the spectacle.

“You think you’ll be able to stop me, boy?” the brute spits angrily, rearing back. Red’s eyes widen and then narrow in fury. He and I move at the same time, reaching out to block the hit. He beats me by a fraction of a second, looking over to give me a small smirk, gracing me with those dimples. If we weren’t in the middle of a fight, I’d give him a high five.

“You think you can pick on a lady on my watch?” Red tsks, turning his attention back to the brute and adjusting the black-framed glasses on his nose with his other hand. Fuck, why does that turn me on?

Red looks at me incredulously and I stare back at him, confused. Then it dawns on me. “Did I say that out loud?”

He nods.

“Damn, I’ve got to stop doing that.”

He chuckles. “I’m going to need you to not distract me like that, Love,” he says before refocusing his attention on the matter in front of us. Red drops the man’s hand, giving him the benefit of the doubt. Bad idea

The brute rounds on him, but the younger and more lean man doesn’t even blink. Something tells me Red gets underestimated a lot, like I do, but that’s how I like it. It’s even more rewarding when you hand someone their ass. Quick as a striking snake, Red snatches his wrist mid-punch. A sickening crack reaches my ears before the brute howls in pain, clutching his meaty paw to his chest.

Did he break his wrist?

For me?

Phew, somebody get a fan in here stat.

Red gives the man a scathing look that sends shivers down my spine. If I were a lesser woman, I’d be taking off in the other direction. The brute finally seems to get the picture, because he looks between us, weighing his odds before he takes off, scrambling for the door like his son did. Cowards.

Of course, Cruze chooses this moment to appear. You know—after the confrontation is already over. “What did you do to that poor man, Sadie?”

I gape at him. “But he—he attacked me.”

“And I’m sure you did nothing to provoke him,” he retorts.

Indignation flares in my chest at his insinuation. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” I note the hard set of his jaw and a rock plummets to the bottom of my stomach. I already know he will not back down from this. I’m going to lose my job and, after the gossip gets around, no one will ever hire me again in this Godsforsaken town. Ash—my roommate and best friend—and I will lose the duplex.

Maybe I can sell my car? But even that will only get us through the next month or two.

Red steps forward, interrupting my internal debate. “What she said is true, sir. The man attacked first, and he started the verbal dispute as well.”

Cruze’s narrowed eyes snap to Red. “I don’t care. She knows better than to act like that in my establishment,” he says.

Then he turns to me. “You cost me a paying customer and that’s not to mention the fact you smashed one of my top dollar porcelain plates. Look at all those pieces,” he says while looking down at the smashed plate. His expression seems like he cares more for the plate than he does his employee. “Those damn things aren’t cheap you know!”

“Cruze, I can’t lose this job, please.”

It’s so silent in the dining room you could hear a pin drop.

“You should’ve thought about that earlier, huh? If you would’ve kept your fucking mouth shut, that man wouldn’t have done anything to you.”

“So it’s my fault that the dude has the world’s shortest fuse on the planet?” I ask incredulously. “You’re going to defend his actions because he merely didn’t like what I had to say? Plus his kid was an asshole to me earlier. C’mon Cruze.”

He studies me long and hard before he speaks, then of course pisses me off. “Women should be seen and not heard. All of this is coming out of your last paycheck. Pack your things and leave. Lauren will finish the night out.” I gape at him. Now I won’t even get to keep the rest of my tips because he’s forcing me to leave before my shift is over.

Red gives my shoulder a reassuring squeeze and my skin tingles where his fingers brush across the sensitive skin. “It’s not your fault the man got more than he bargained for by picking on you,” he says.

Then Cruze ruins the moment by waggling a finger in my face. I force myself not to bite it off. “You’re testing my patience, girl. Get out of my restaurant, both of you, before I make you.”

Red’s jaw clenches and he stalks off, but not before stopping by his booth to grab his personal items, then he exits without a backward glance. My heart pangs with guilt. Poor guy, taking the heat for my drama.

After gathering my belongings, I square my shoulders, hold my head high, and saunter out of Harborview restaurant for the last time. I already know I’ll never come back here.

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