Page 14 of When He Defends
He hauled Trevor to his feet. Flipped him around and faced him. Even let go of the creep. For the moment. “You the reason that Misty has a black eye?”
“Fuck off?—”
“Dumbass, you just assaulted a federal agent.” He’d deliberately told the guy he was a Fed so there would be no confusion. Gray had known the prick would take a swing, sooner or later. “That means you’re getting a swift ticket to jail tonight.”
Trevor tried to hit him again. Gray let him. A punch that rolled off Gray’s shoulder because the idiot couldn’t hit for shit and was drunk as hell.
“That’s twice.” Gray nodded. “You don’t get another hit. I’ll swing next time. You’ll go down. You’ll wake up in jail.” He positioned his body in front of Misty and the kid.Too much like a nightmare from my past.He kept his eyes on a glaring Trevor even as he asked Misty, “He the reason for your black eye?”
No response.
“And the fingerprint marks on your throat? Did he leave those, too?” Gray pushed. Because he’d seen them, too.
The kid didn’t make a sound. No crying. No screams. Nothing.
“Misty, don’t say a word!” Spittle flew from Trevor’s mouth. “I’ll make you so damn sorry if you do!”
Gray’s hands fisted at his sides. “No, you won’t.” Absolute certainty. “You won’t do a single thing to her.” He would see to it.
“I’ve helped you, Misty!” More rage. More spittle. “You and that dumb bastard kid of yours!”
A hard gasp from Misty.
“I let him in my house, I gave him food—I am the reason you’re both alive!”
Gray rolled his eyes. “No, you’re not, you sonofabitch. You’re the reason she’s got bruises. And the reason the kid is too scared to speak.”
“Hecan’tspeak!” Trevor bellowed. “Good for nothing kid can’t?—”
Gray prepared to take the bastarddown.A snarl broke from his throat because this attack was about to be brutal.
“I’m leaving.” Misty’s paper-thin voice cut into the night before Gray could destroy the jerk. “I don’t love you, and I’m not letting you hurt me anymore. I’m done!”
Hell, the fuck, yes. “Great choice, Misty,” Gray applauded. “Top-notch. You deserve one hell of a lot better. So does the kid. Trust me on this one.You deserve more.From where I am standing, basicallyanyonewill be better than this loser.”
A choked yell broke from Trevor. He barreled forward. This time, Gray was the one to deliver a punch to the jerk’s stomach. All of the air left Trevor’s lungs in a whoosh as he doubled-over in pain.
“Look at that,” Gray bent toward him, “you just walked into my fist. So clumsy. Bet you’ve told plenty of stories about Misty being clumsy, haven’t you? Stories to hide the BS that you did to her.” He positioned his head near Trevor’s ear. “You will never get near Misty or her kid again. You will never put your hands on her again.Not on either of them.Because if you do…”
Heels clicked as Emerson rushed back. “I have the handcuffs!”
Trevor lifted his head. His blood-shot eyes locked on Gray’s face. He blinked. Twice.
Gray smiled at him. A warm smile. Friendly. Because they did have an audience now. “I will make your life a living hell,” he told Trevor softly, voice lethal. Then, louder, he added, “You’re under arrest for assaulting a federal officer…and, hey, Misty, you want to press some charges, too?”
The blue lightsswirled in the motel’s parking lot. Trevor glared as he was shoved into the back of the patrol car.
Gray sent him a friendly wave. “Enjoy prison, asshole! See if you like being on the receiving end of punches! An exciting new life awaits you. So many new friends. So many new ways for you to become the bitch.”
“Gray,” Emerson chided. “I get that I’m still learning the ropes, but I don’t think you’re supposed to taunt the perps.”
He shrugged. Considering that he wanted to be ripping the jerk apart, he figured that taunting was certainly the lesser of two evils. He could see Trevor’s mouth moving frantically, and Gray was certain the camera in the car was picking up all sorts of interesting things—statements that Trevor would certainly regret making later. “Not my fault if he gets mad and makes threats…or confessions.”
Gray shifted his position slightly, bracing his legs apart. He’d grabbed some shoes, not like he wanted to be standing in the parking lot barefoot. He’d answered the questions for the responding officers, gave them a full report, and, hell, yes, he was gleefully watching as Trevor was taken away.
One less perp on the street. One less bastard who gets off on hurting those who are weaker.
The couple in room three had come out. Backed up Gray’s statements. Apparently, they’d been watching through their blinds. Watching, not intervening.
