Page 93 of Wish I Didn't Want You Back

It happened so quickly that I didn’t have time to prepare. One minute, I stared him down, and the next, I felt his knuckles connect with my jaw. It wasn’t even a good punch, but it still sent me off balance. I didn’t think he had it in him.

Before he could even think about taking another swig, I shot my fist up to the bridge of his nose.

He fell back, and suddenly, Ryan was hopping over the bar to break things up. He pulled me back, and Finn appeared at my side.

Ryan stood between us; his chest was heaving.

The entire bar went silent.

“That was your last warning, I said, as he staggered to his feet. “You aren’t getting another one. You lost. You know it. I know it. The whole damn town knows it. So, pack up your shit and go back to the city and don’t bother coming back.”

He wiped at the blood flowing from his nose and came at me like a drunk frat boy with something to prove.I guess he wasn’t listening. Don’t say I didn’t try to warn him.

He took a wide swing and barely touched the side of my head. I was fueled by adrenaline and five years of bad blood. I landed a hot, angry hit to his stomach. He doubled over so I finished him off with a headbutt. It hurt like a bitch, but it hurt him more. He bent to his knees, trying to catch his breath. I was about to give him one last pop before someone grabbed my wrist, stopping me from going after him again.

“Enough!” Ryan held his arm out, keeping his hand on my shoulder.“No fighting in my bar.”

I yanked my arm free. “Fine. We’ll take it outside then.”

“That won’t be happening,” Tuck said, appearing at my side. “Let’s not forget who the sheriff is in this town.”

“Brooks.” Hayes’ voice sounded like a plea as he held on to the back of my shirt. “Please, for once in your life. Listen to Tuck.”

I wiped the corner of my mouth where I could feel a sting and pointed toward the door. “Somebody, get him out of my sight.”

Baz staggered to his feet, glaring at me like a man who was more pissed about losing his pride than he was about losing the fight.

His collar was ripped, and his nose was swollen and bloody. “You’re going to regret this. You have no idea who you’re fucking with.”

I rubbed my burning knuckles. “You can throw your name and money around all you want, but it won’t change anything. And if you know what’s good for you, you won’t step foot in this town again, and if you do, I’ll do more than kick your ass next time.”

Tuck was already dragging him toward the door. “Get your hands off of me,” he spat. “You’ll be hearing from my lawyer.”

“Keep it up and you’ll be sleeping in one of my jail cells,” Tuck snapped.

I tucked my shirt back in my pants and exhaled. I glanced down at my swollen hand. It was sore, but Baz definitely took the brunt of the blows.

“Well,” Hayes said, throwing me a towel. “That escalated quickly.”

I rolled my shoulders back as Ryan slid a cold beer in front of me. “Sorry, Ry.”

“All good. I’ve seen worse.” He gave me a salute and walked back to serve his customers.

Tuck dragged an empty stool up to the table. “You okay, brother?”

I leaned back, sore and pissed. “I am for now.”

I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring. There was a good chance he would only stir up more trouble, but tonight, I didn’t care; I stood up for her. For us. And I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

BROOKS

It was late, almost nine o’clock by the time I pulled up to the house, so I was surprised to see that the lights were on. After my fight with Baz, I hung back with my brothers while Finn went home to help Molly tuck Emma into bed. I needed to cool off because I knew Harlow would have a million questions. The last thing I wanted to do was walk through the door with bloody knuckles and a bad attitude. I called her on the way home because I didn’t want her to worry or get second-hand information.

I peered through the windshield, where she was patiently waiting for me on the porch swing. Her brown hair was pulled back, her legs were tucked beneath her, and she looked like she had been crying.

She stood the second I stepped out of my truck. I wasn’t sure what to expect when she started walking toward me. Was she going to hit me or hug me?

---