Page 75 of Doc's Decision

It also explains why she's been crashing at my trailer on the club grounds more and more lately.

She must've known Tony was sniffing around, maybe even trying to track her down.

Fuck, I should've seen this coming.

I force myself to keep still, jaw clenched so hard my teeth ache. "Mandy wants nothing to do with you," I grit out. "So I suggest you stay the hell away from her if you know what's good for you."

"Or what?" he taunts, stepping closer. The reek of stale cigarettes and booze wafts off him. "You'll kick my ass? Please. I ain't scared of you, boy."

I curl my lip in disgust. "You should be. Because if you so much as look at her wrong, I'll do a lot worse than kick your ass." The threat comes out low and lethal.

Tony just laughs, cold and brittle. "Big talk. But I've known Amanda a lot longer than you have. There are things about her...things she's done...that would make even a tough guy like you think twice about having her be your woman."

Bullshit.

I know exactly what kind of man Tony is, the vile things he's capable of.

Nothing he says about Mandy could change how I feel.

"You don't know shit about her," I snarl. "Or me. So take my advice and crawl back into whatever hole you slithered out of. Because trust me—you don't want me as an enemy."

We stare each other down, the tension stretching taut between us.

I can practically feel his wheels turning, trying to figure out if I'm serious or just blowing smoke.

He chuckles, "Well, you're gonna have to get used to it since I've moved out here permanently and all."

He's got to be kidding. This can't fucking be permanent.

Licking my lips, I need to get down to the thick of this. "Why are you out here?"

Tony's expression completely shifts. "I needed a fresh start, boy. My old life wasn't any good, so I'm here to try to give it another go."

I don't buy what he's selling for one second.

I grab the piece of shit by his shirt and slam him up against the stone gas station wall. "I don't know what the fuck you're smilin' about," I growl in his ear.

Tony's grin widens, eyes glinting with malice. "I'm smilin' because you know why I’m here. She stole from me, and I'm not the kind of bastard who gets crossed and doesn't pay 'em back."

That's when I snap.

My fist is a blur as it connects with his jaw, snapping his head back and sending a few teeth flying.

Tony stumbles but doesn't go down, which only fuels my rage further.

Not that I needed any more reasons to hate his guts, but damn if he isn't dedicated to proving just how much lower than scum he really is.

"You lay so much as a finger on her, I'll make you wish you'd never been born," I hiss, voice low and menacing.

Tony massages his jaw, smirking through the blood and pain. "You're in for a rude awakening, pretty boy.”

“I will make myself abundantly clear. You’re not gonna lay a hand on my woman.”

Tony laughs once more, "Oh, I'm gonna lay more than my hand on her for what she did—or put something in her."

Tony's smirk only fuels the rage boiling inside me.

I lose it.

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