Page 95 of Commander in Briefs

I can’t allow him to rob these people.

Lawson tries to shake free once more. “Please, sir. Please, run.”

I eye the man charging at us with unbridled rage. I can be calm. I can handle this situation.

The older gentleman approaches. I push Lawson behind me and hold my hands up in surrender. “Sir. What’s the problem?”

He grits his tooth, and I say tooth loosely since several are missing in the front. “Get out of my way. I have no beef with you. Yet.”

I nod, trying to buy us some time. “I realize that, sir. I’m sure we can handle this civilly.”

The redhead finally catches up. She’s out of breath and barefoot.

Ah, shit. Did Lawson fuck this dude’s girl?

I look back and cut him a look. The guilty expression on his face is all I need. He fucked her.

“Get out of my way, boy!” The man yells at me and charges.

Wild-eyed, the redhead screams, “No! Run, Lawson!”

The man turns, grabbing the girl. He shakes her, hard. “Get your whoring ass back to the house!”

Lawson pushes against me trying to get to her. The man has absolutely no self-preservation. “I got this, Laws,” I mumble, then say louder to the angry gentleman, “look, we don’t have to call any names. I’m sure there is a reasonable explanation for all of this.”

He points a meaty finger at Lawson. “He fucked my wife!”

The redhead starts to cry. Lawson is agitated, attempting to step around me but I block him with my body. I need to handle this situation now before it spirals out of control.

“I’m really sorry. I can’t change what happened but I can assure you that it won’t happen again.” I try to smile to diffuse the situation but it only serves to anger him more. Lawson scoffs behind me and the guy loses it.

He charges me and takes both me and Lawson to the ground. “I’m going to fucking kill you!”

I’m dodging blow after blow, trying to stay in between Lawson and this crazy man. He lands a punch to my ribs. It stings but luckily it doesn’t break anything. I try to flip over and take control but this fucker is strong.

“We can talk about this.” I try to deflect, but a punch to my mouth stops any further talk. I’m struggling, Lawson is caught under me, trying to push me off so he can get at this prick. Before he can the guy screams, clutching his side. He rolls off me, moaning in pain. I look up and see that it’s the angel of shit himself. Theo.

He’s standing there holding a bat with a scowl on his face. I can’t decide if I’m happy to see him or pissed off that he had to save me. When he catches me looking, he flashes me an arrogant smile. I’m definitely pissed he had to intervene.

“Okay, now. Fun’s over. Only I get to punch Cade.”

I roll my eyes, pulling myself into a seated position. Lawson springs up and tries to reach for the woman who still hasn’t stopped crying.

Theo points the bat at Lawson’s chest. “Sit down, playboy.” He looks to the redhead next. “Sweetheart, why don’t you grab Grandpa and hustle it back to the house.”

The girl stops crying long enough to glare at Theo. “You, bast—”

Theo holds the bat up, cutting her off. “Now, now, that’s no way to say thank you.” He takes a step closer, crowding her. “Don’t be a bitch. Take Gramps back to the house, maybe give him a little head for having to chase your ass down the block.”

Lawson is at Theo’s back before I can grab him. “Don’t fucking talk to her like that!”

Theo turns slowly, a sneer on his face. Without warning, he swings the bat, knocking Lawson to the ground. Then Theo’s on the ground, fisting Lawson’s shirt, coming nose to nose. “If you ever pull some shit like this again, I will let the fucker kill you. Got it?”

Lawson nods solemnly.

“Now, get up!” He slams Lawson back onto the ground before turning to look at me.

I’m frozen. I’ve never seen Theo like this.

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