Page 29 of Skid
Sighing deeply, I looked up at the dark sky filled with stars, and the sound of the band filtered into the air. “Yeah, she’s okay.”
“I’m glad. Whenever you bring her home to visit, tell her I want to try this best pie ever created.”
Laughing, I replied, “Don’t get butt hurt, Sadie. You make amazing desserts.”
She laughed with me and said, “I’m glad you’re happy, Dalton. Promise to call me soon.”
“I will. Tell Jacob I’ll call him in a few days.”
“Love you, brother.”
“Love you too, Sadie,” I replied and hung up the phone.
Shaking my head, I walked across the parking lot and nodded to the doorman as I went inside. Sliding through the crowd of people, I tried to see Grace behind the bar, but there were too many people lined up in front. Moving to the bar, I stepped to the side, seeing Eddie but not Grace. I pushed through the people, and the few that gave me lip shut up when I looked down at them.
Eddie saw me and walked straight to the end of the bar, leaning over as I yelled over the music. “Where’s Grace?”
“I told her to take a break before the band stops, and we get swamped with orders. She’s out back,” he explained and smacked the bar as he turned and began to pull beers from the cooler of ice.
Walking around the bar, I dodged drunks and a few groping hands as I made my way to the break area Eddie built for the staff. At first glance, a breakroom outside made no sense, until the noise got too much to think. By having the secluded area, you could give your eardrums a rest while you got some fresh air. It was a nice oasis away from the smokey bar.
As I approached, I saw there were two douche bags standing near the door, their eyes moving through the crowd as everyone around them drank and enjoyed the football win from today. When I got closer, I saw them step together, trying to block the exit.
Standing in front of them, I crossed my arms over my chest and rose to my full height, my gut telling me something was very wrong. “Move.”
The pimple-faced douche shook his head with fear in his eyes and glasses douche started to step to the side, only to be tugged back in front of the door.
“I said fucking move, asshole.” My voice grew louder but was still lower than the excessive volume of the speakers from the band.
They both swallowed deeply, and I was done with their stupid shit. Gripping into both their shirts, I fisted them and pulled them away from the door before shoving them to the ground. I went to open the door, and it wouldn’t open from the inside.
Something was definitely wrong, and I stepped back, kicking the wooden door with my heavy boot, splintering it from the frame as it swung open. I ran through the door as Eddie yelled at me, and when I got outside, blinding rage overtook me.
Grace was pinned over the table with a man pushing her down, trying to shove his body between her legs. She was punching and kicking at him, but his size was so much greater, that he had her at a disadvantage. Her cries for help gripped the monster deep inside and dragged him to the surface, ready to kill for my woman. I ran toward the table and grasped him by the shoulder, spinning him toward me.
Grace scrambled from the table and fell to the ground as I punched him in the face, blood spraying from his nose as he yelled into the night air.
“What part of no don’t you understand, you stupid motherfucker?” I screamed as he tried to push me away from him.
The music was coming through the door as I hit him over and over, bone crunching under my fist as his face became a bloody mess. Reaching into my waistband, I grabbed my knife in its sheath and was ready to sink it into his chest when I heard her voice, breaking the monster’s hold on my anger. Hearing Grace yell was the only thing that snapped me out of the murderous rage I was locked in.
“Dalton, please. You’ll kill him.” Her small hands tugged at my shirt, and I turned to see tears flowing down her cheeks and her shirt torn at the collar.
Jumping up from my position over him, I pulled her into my chest as she wrapped her arms around me and sobbed into my chest. “Grace, baby, are you okay?”
She nodded into my chest as the tears continued. A noise over my shoulder had me turning to see Eddie entering the area, and his eyes grew wide as he took in the scene in front of him.
The asshole on the ground was moaning and wailing, “I’m going to have you arrested. You don’t know who you’re messing with.”
Eddie ran to Grace and pulled her away from me as he inspected her for injuries. She had bruises coming up on her arms and inner thighs, and there was a drop of blood on her lip, enraging me again. I kicked the asshole on the ground in his gut as his two friends stumbled outside, threatening to call the police.
“I’ve already called the police,” Eddie yelled as the band’s music came to a stop, and some of the regular customers stuck their heads outside to see what the ruckus was about.
Grace was wrapped around Eddie, and he made eye contact with me before I stepped up and swept her into my arms. Carrying her to the other side of the fenced-off area, I sat down with her on my lap, her legs dangling to the side, as her tears subsided and the shaking started. Her adrenaline was wearing off, but her fear was palpable.
I sat there with her, stroking her back and whispering, “You’re safe, Grace. I promise no one will ever hurt you again. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to stop him, baby. I’m so sorry.” She looked up at me, and I gently brushed her hair away from her damp face as she focused on me. “Are you okay?”
“I am. Thanks to you. You saved me.” Her bottom lip trembled, and I kissed her on the forehead.
