Page 94 of Very Special Forces

"You'reunbelievable!" I snapped as I came to a stop next to histable.

"Andyou're the chick that punched me in the face because I wouldn'tgive her a job," said Bryce. He reclined slowly in his chair,assessing me with a cool expression that showed I hadn't rattledhim. A small cut was etched across his nose. "No means no. You needto understand that. Stop harassing me."

"Ipunched you because you attacked your fiancée," I said, loud enoughthat the neighboring tables could hear.

"Careful, I think you just admitted to assault." His smilemocked me.

"Do youknow what kind of man you're sitting with?" I asked hiscompanion.

"Mygirlfriend is a wonderful woman who knows exactly what kind of manI am," he said, answering for her as the woman frowned, lookingbetween the two of us.

"Girlfriend? It's been less than a week."

"Kendraand I met a month ago and it was love at first sight." Brycereached for her hand and she beamed at him. "I knew I had to bewith her. Thanks to her, I've got my self-respect back. I know whatit's like to be truly appreciated and respected now."

"Oh,bullshit!" I scoffed.

"Honey,why don't you powder your nose?" he said, giving Kendra's hand asqueeze. Without a word, she pushed back her chair and got up. Asshe stepped around me, she gave me the filthiest look she couldmuster and narrowly avoided stepping on my toe.

I leanedover him and pointed my finger in his face. "How long do you planon keeping up this charade? I know what you did to Julia and I knowwhat you did to Jessica too."

"Ididn't do a thing. It's my word against theirs and who's going tobelieve them?"

"MaybeKendra will." But even as I said it, I knew shewouldn't.

Brycesaw my dilemma and a nasty smile spread across his lips. "Kendrabelieves she rescued me from that horrible relationship and who amI to correct her? She's been a wonderful shoulder to lean on thispast month and she knows she's got it made with me."

"Youthink flowers and dinners can hide your real nature?"

"I'mgiving Kendra exactly what she wants. I gave Julia and Jessica thattoo. It's not my fault they lost out on me. I'm a realcatch."

"Theyfound out who you really were."

"Haven'tyou heard? I'm a great guy. Everyone loves me. Ask anyone. My boss.My parents. My buddies."

"Oneday, people will realize."

"Willthey? No one wants anything to do with Jessica. I hear that psychois leaving town and good riddance. No one will believe Julia'shysterics either. She's always been highly strung. All I had to dowas tell Kendra what she wanted to hear. No one will believe theword of my psycho ex-girlfriends."

"Youdiscredited them all along."

Brycesmiled again, slimy and satisfied with his devious nature. "I justsaid my truth and no one saw anything different. I'm just the poorguy with bad taste in women. Now if you'll excuse me, my lovelydate is back and we'd like to enjoy our dinner without the likes ofyou hanging around. Before you think about saying a word to her,consider this. That kind of behavior plays into exactly what I toldher about Julia. All you're doing is reinforcing that my exesspread lies. I'm the real victim in all this."

He hadme stuck because he was right. If he discredited Julia so much,then anything I said would just be viewed as malicious mischief byKendra. Yet, if I said nothing, she might end up being the woman heattacked so badly, he killed her.

I pulleda business card from my pocket and walked away, anger filling me.Halfway, I intercepted Kendra. "I know you don't believe anythingbad about Bryce," I said as I pressed the card into her hand, "butcall me if you ever need help."

Sheturned it over and looked at it. "I don't need any help," shesaid.

"Keep itanyway," I said, stepping around her and walking away, knowing Iwas leaving her with a horrible man but hoping that for a littlewhile, his behavior would be good and she would be safe. I couldn'tpersuade her to come with me, even if I wanted to, but maybe shewould keep my card. And maybe she would wonder why so many womenwere scared of him.

Solomonwaited at the entrance to the dining room, his arms crossed. "Whowas that?" he asked.

"That isthe man that assaults women," I said.

"Not aman," he said. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, Ijust want to get out of here." Before we left the lobby, I waved toGarrett who had just arrived and I called him over. He unlinked hishands from his two younger kids, and handed them off to hiswife.

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