Page 40 of The Innovator

“Are you referring toyourneeds?” I asked. “Weren’t you dating the hot cardiologist?”

“That was a while ago, dude. Like you, I’ve got stuff going on. No time for women.”

I didn’t see Forrest with many women, but that was true with all my friends. We were busy men with visions and empires to manage. We also worked on our video games, which didn’t leave much time for relationships. But love had changed Remi and Royce. Those guys had found a perfect balance between work and having someone who loved them. I was happy for them, but I couldn’t love a woman like that.

I didn’t know how to love. It seemed like a lot of work and dedication. Hell, I had to fix myself first before I could understand love. My heart was a mess. My soul was scattered here and there, and my ability to know what I wanted had vanished.

So how could an empty heart offer something it didn’t have?

“Ladies, drinks on me.” Forrest lifted his finger, getting the attention of the bartender. “Can you take care of these lovely women? Put it on my tab.” He nodded at the women. “Enjoy.”

Forrest could be such a flirt. The way these women looked at him showed they took “drinks on me” literally. Maybe he’d go home with them tonight. Good for him.

“Thank you,” said the redhead. The brunette whispered something in her ear, and they both giggled.

My gaze slid past the giddy women to a figure outside the window, struggling to fight off two men. Was that Natalie? I couldn’t be sure, but my gut told me it was her. Somehow, I’d gotten to know the shape of her body from the dream and the kiss we’d shared.

The powerful need to protect her surged again. I didn’t understand it and had no time to analyze it.

Forrest said something to me, but I didn’t hear him. I shot up from the bar stool and rushed out of the restaurant. My fingers curled into fists as I reached for the guy who clamped his hand on her shoulder. With one hand, I gripped his arm, whirled him around, and threw three punches into his face, breaking his nose.

My intervention caught him by surprise, and the power of my fist knocked him to the ground. Fury blinded me, and I saw nothing but a frightened Natalie. I was a pressure cooker unleashing this repressed rage that exploded from somewhere deep inside me.

Anger coursed through my body, pulsing in my veins. Adrenaline roared through me, and I knew what it felt to want to kill someone.

“What the fuck?” screamed Broken Nose as he jumped back to a standing position, almost tripping over a purse on the ground.

Was that Natalie’s purse? I didn’t have time to retrieve it because Broken Nose charged at me. A battle erupted in the street between me, Broken Nose, and the bald guy with a skull face tattooed on his cheek.

The stench of alcohol from these guys made me gag, but my desire to destroy them numbed everything else.

Forrest joined the battle and fought Skull Face. A crowd formed nearby, watching and cheering like idiots.

It didn’t take long for me to pummel Broken Nose. I hadn’t spent all those years learning martial arts for nothing. It had taught me discipline and human anatomy, teaching me where to attack my opponent to ensure my victory. My aggression poured out onto him. Too fucking bad.

“That’s enough, Grayson.” Natalie’s calm voice penetrated my brain.

I looked up at her as she touched my arm gently. “Are you okay?”

Terror still consumed her face. “Yes, thank you.”

I glanced over at Forrest standing above Skull Face, who was curled up on the sidewalk, groaning in pain.

Sirens blared in the distance. The cops and ambulance arrived in no time. I spoke to the police officer about the incident, and they checked the surveillance outside the restaurant to confirm my statement. An EMT asked if Natalie wanted to go to the hospital for a thorough checkup, but she declined.

“You should go.” I picked up her purse, surprised by how heavy it was. What did women carry in their purses?

“I’m fine. It’s just a scrape on my arm.” She held out her hand. “I can take my purse.”

“I got it. It’s heavy for an injured arm.” Glaring at the red mark, I wanted to punch the guy again for putting a flaw on her perfect skin.

With confusion, she stared at how I held her purse by wrapping the straps around my fist like a bandage and making her purse appear like a weapon.

“Let me look.” Forrest examined her injury and smiled. “You’re right, just a minor scrape. It’ll heal in a couple of days.”

“Thanks for coming to my rescue.” She looked at Forrest and me. “Those jerks came out of nowhere.”

I had several questions for her. From first brush, it seemed almost like she had run from the direction of The Prism. What was she doing there? Was she there to retrieve info for me? I wanted to know who the owner was, but I didn’t need her to go about it like that. It was after work hours for her.

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