Page 32 of Trusting the Team

“Let’s get you something to eat before you go,” Hammer took over.

“I can’t?—"

“My treat,” he cut her off. He went out of the employee area and ordered some of the bar food on the small menu from the other bartender. While he was waiting, he caught his table up with what was happening. Chaos offered to help behind the bar while Brooke ate. The team looked flabbergasted at him, not knowing he knew how to bartend.

“A story for another time,” Chaos headed for the bar.

Hammer went back to the employee room with the snack food. Brooke looked at him hesitantly. “It’s okay, I didn’t poison it or anything.”

“You’re a stranger in a bar,” Brooke tried to explain.

“My name is Tyler Hall. My team calls me Hammer. I’m in the Navy. That’s all there is to know.”

“Hammer?”

“I can be forceful. Eat before your boyfriend gets here to pick you up.” Brooke wolfed down the jalapeno poppers and cheese fries. Hammer turned his back knowing she would tuck the chicken strips into a napkin and coat pocket. “What’s your son’s name?” Hammer asked nonchalantly.

“Asher. His father, my boyfriend, watches him when I work nights. It’s easy since they can both sleep.”

“I don’t care about his father,” Hammer answered instinctively.

Brooke’s phone went off. “He’s here. I should go.” She scrambled with her jacket, heading toward the exit. “Thank you for everything.”

“You have my number in case you need it,” he replied following her out. She noticed his entire table moved with himas he followed her out of the bar. As they headed toward their vehicles Hammer stayed slightly back. Brooke walked toward a year-old Chrysler 300. She pulled the door open, and music came blaring out.

“Can you turn it down please? Asher is in the back,” Brooke started. She backed up instinctively, Hammer stopped to watch what was going to happen. The vehicle jerked slightly as the driver threw it into park. The driver’s door opened and a 5’10” thug stepped out of the vehicle. He came around the front of the vehicle toward Brooke.

“What did you say?”

“Asher is in the back,” Brooke pleaded as he stepped closer.

He slapped her, she fell, and he continued, “get your fat ass up and get in the car.” Brooke felt Hammer’s hands under her arms, pull her up from behind. “Wha—” her boyfriend started before Hammer’s fist slammed into his jaw, dropping him to the ground.

Duke on the other side of the car, opened the door, “Asher, come with me buddy.” The small boy had just seen his mom get hit and was crying, scared with all the excitement. “It’s okay, buddy. I’m with your mom. Asher, we are here to help you.”

Arianna was calling the police to get an official report of the incident.

Brooke took Asher from Duke as he came around the car. She held him tight, checked him over. “The police are coming,” Arianna told the group. Brooke took Asher to a corner of the building. She sat down cross legged, him in her lap and pulled out the chicken strips she had saved for him. The three looked at each other, she was desperate.

29

BROOKE

When the police arrived, they took statements from the team and Brooke. Chaos had kept watch on Brooke’s boyfriend when he regained consciousness, keeping him pinned on the ground with a knee in his back.

“She’s filing charges,” Hammer stated as the police were starting to wind down and work dispositions.

“Is she?” An officer looked at Brooke, who was staring at Hammer.

“Yes,” Brooke nearly whispered, meeting the officer’s gaze.

“Ok, we’ll take him in for the night.” The officer looked at Hammer, “We won’t be able to hold him after tomorrow.”

“I understand.”

“Bitch, I will kill you!” Brooke flinched at the yelling through the police cruiser. “You fucking cunt!”

“Ma’am,” the officer directed at Brooke. “Do you have somewhere safe to stay tonight?”

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