Page 20 of Panther's Magpie
He shakes his head. “Get out of here. I can’t tell you that, and you know it. Now go.”
He turns and pushes me toward the door. Before he can, one of the men from the pool table yells out.
“Asher, who is the girl? Care to share?” he says as he makes his way closer.
“An ex of mine. Too prissy. Got a used pussy too. You would hate it,” Asher calls back to the man.
He doesn’t seem to care, though. Before Asher can get me out the door, the man grabs my arm, pulling me closer to him.
My heart is racing in my chest. I knew this was a possibility, but I had hoped not.
“Let me go,” I tell the man.
He laughs. “Oh, come on, sweetheart. We only want a little fun. A used-up pussy is still a pussy.”
He runs his free hand up the inside of my thigh. I wait until he looks down before I knee him in the balls. I miss, though, hitting him just to the left.
A loud clack rings out through the room as his palm meets my face. I feel dizzy as I realize he slapped me. Thank God it was open-handed. If he had really punched me, I think I would have passed out.
Asher frowns but doesn’t do anything. He can’t, I realize. If he does, these men will likely turn on him. I’m on my own.
Glancing to my right. I see a big glass of beer that is half drunk. It must be from someone who left. Reaching out, I pick it up, slamming it as hard as I can against the man’s head. The glass shatters, slicing my palm, but the man falls to the ground.
He is not knocked out, but it’s the opening I need. I run to my car, get into it, and peel out of there like a bat out of hell. I push the little convertible to the limit, hitting triple digits as I attempt to keep the car on the road.
I keep glancing in my mirror, expecting them to come after me. When a motorcycle does fall in line behind me, I panic. That is until he gets up close to me and I recognize Panther.
Slowing down to a more manageable pace, I finally take a deep breath.
That was close, but I would do anything for Aspen.
Even die.
PANTHER
I have no idea what happened at that bar, but Maggie is not okay. I can tell by the way she flew by me going as fast as that little car of hers would go. I half expected people to be following her, but the road is clear. So I catch up to her instead.
At first, she doesn’t slow down, but then slowly the car eases to a better speed.
By the time we get back to the compound, she is driving almost normally.
Still, guilt gnaws at me as I think of what made her react that way. I know these men are dangerous, and I still sent her in there. My desperation to find Aspen clouded my judgment.
I’m a fucking asshole.
I squeeze the handlebars until my fingers hurt.
For the first time in my life, I’m ashamed of a decision I made.
I should be protecting her, not letting her walk into danger. Aspen would kick my ass for this. Fuck, I should kick my own ass for it.
All I can hope for is that she is okay.
As soon as we are through the gate, I hop off my motorcycle and set my helmet on top. Maggie is a bit slower getting out.When I see the blood covering her hand and dripping on the ground, I almost get back on my bike and ride back to that bar.
One of those men hurt her. They will pay for it.
Like it or not, Maggie is now under my protection. No one hurts what’s mine.
