Page 42 of Saved By the Marines (Soldiers Of Misfortune)

“There’s nothing to talk about, Ted,” Bailey told him.

I reached up, my hand wrapping around the back of her neck. Squeezing tight to let her know I wasn’t happy that she’d disobeyed me and put her security at risk, I kept my eyes on the ex. The fact that she’d dated a little weasel like this was grating at me.

A look of disbelief passed over Ted’s face. “Why is he touching you?” He glared at me. “Security isn’t allowed to man handle her.”

“What makes you think I’m security?” I asked with a dark grin.

“Kip,” Bailey warned.

She was trying to keep this from escalating. Which was a great idea, except for one problem. He’d brought reinforcements. He’d come looking for a fight. Probably figured he’d have to bully his way past whatever security force her father had hired.

Ted sighed and pulled a money clip out of his pocket. He thumbed out two crisp hundred dollar bills, then tossed them at my feet. “Take the money and give me a few minutes, Fido,” he instructed.

My back molars ground together as I fought to control my rage. This fucker was only a few years younger than me, but in experience, I felt ancient compared to him. He hadn’t done more than go to college and play with his daddy’s money. I, on the other hand, had been killing men at his age.

“Not happening,” I gritted out. My hand relaxed on Bailey's nape and I glanced over at her. “Back in the room. Now. Lock the door.”

There wasn’t time to explain to her about what was going to happen. I needed her to listen and do it now. She wasn’t used to me being so short with her, but that just impressed upon her the seriousness of the situation.

She nodded and I released her. I waited until she and her friend disappeared into the room and I heard the click of the lock before I faced Ted again. If there were only three or four of these guys, I’d wipe the floor with them. I was pushing it, going against six of them, but I didn’t have any other choice.

This many guys fighting together would inevitably get in each other's way. They weren’t trained to fight together. Three, I could maneuver into each other's way and take them out one at a time. But six? There was no way to watch them all. Someone would get a sucker punch in. And, I had to stress to myself, I couldn’t kill any of them.

“No one is welcome in Senator Michael’s home at the moment,” I told them. “Leave.”

“Amy got to stay,” one of the guys whined from behind Ted.

My brow arched at him. None of them had impressed me so far, despite the fact that no one else had spoken until now.

“We’re not leaving,” Ted countered, giving me a smug grin. “And if you touch me, you’re going to regret it.”

“Going to call your daddy on me?” I taunted.

That had him scowling. “He’s a lawyer. He’ll make sure you rot in prison.”

I snorted, my smirk widening. He didn’t like that. He went to take a step past me, looking down in shock when I grabbed him by the throat. It wasn’t possessive the way I’d touched Bailey. He choked, hands going to mine as he struggled to breathe.

Jerking him toward me, I used the momentum and my strength to toss him bodily across the room. He flew through the air and skidded to a stop like a fucking rag doll, at the feet of his buddies. You could slice the shocked silence with a knife. I waited for the inevitable reaction. A little prick like this wasn’t going to like having his ego bruised. Not in front of his friends.

Ted scrambled to his feet, tossing a look over his shoulder, and as one unit the six of them advanced.

Idiots.

It was clear they’d never had any training, because four stood around while two came in closer toward me. No one wanted to be the first to get fucked up, they all wanted to go for the sucker punch. I ducked one wild punch from Ted’s friend, eyes still on my main target.

Wishing I could even the odds with my gun, or even my knife, I swung at Ted. The crunch of bone was satisfying, but I couldn’t stay in one spot. I moved, placing Ted between me and the guy who’d tried to hit me.

A muffled grunt from Ted told me his friend had already been gearing up to hit me and his fist had just connected with Ted’s side. If things got too out of control, I’d pull my weapon. To do so now would leave me nowhere to go. I needed to give these dicks an incentive not to call my bluff once I brought out my gun. They had to be afraid that I’d actually use it.

The others waiting on the sidelines stepped up and fists and feet started flying. Catching the wrist of one guy, I tossed him to the side, grunting as someone landed a blow to my face. Another blow caught me below the ribs. There were too many of them to avoid all the hits. The good thing for me was I could hit any of them. They had to be careful it was me they were actually punching and not their friends. I kept side stepping, making them trip into each other.

The hits kept coming, if I didn’t raise the stakes a little I was going to take a real beating. I grabbed a wrist that was in front of me, pulled hard and brought his arm straight out. I twisted his wrist and hit my free hand against his elbow, snapping it backwards.

I released in time to get another punch to the back. I stumbled forward and spun around, bringing my foot up in a swift arc, landing against another man's knee. Another satisfying crunch echoed as his knee bent the wrong way.

I ducked and weaved between them, holding my own. Two of them were down, bleeding all over the floor and crying in agony. Enough serious injuries and they might reconsider this. The others were still in the fight. I was just starting to think that I might win this when one of them nailed me right in the balls from behind. Hissing in pain, I fought the blinding torment that tried to force me to my knees. I’d never give in and fall before them. They’d have to kill me first.

“Stop it!”

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