I pulled back, much to his annoyance. “Let go of me. Who do you think you are?”
My luck just had to get worse, didn’t it?
“The man who’s going to show you a good time.” He went to grab me again but a hand landed hard on his shoulder, stopping him.
I thanked God and all his heavenly host of angels when I saw Ryan standing behind the man. I prayed like hell my mind wasn’t playing tricks on me.
“Doesn’t look like she wants to go with you, man,” Ryan said, glaring at him with authority. Yup, that was Ryan all right, in full cop mode.
Dressed in a casual white button-up shirt with his hair slightly ruffled, he could have easily passed for a college guy.
“Keep your nose out of it, Donovon. This doesn’t concern you.”
So they knew each other.
“Looks like it does to me,” Ryan contended. “Come over here, Brooke.” He beckoned for me.
I moved toward him but the meathead caught me around my waist and yanked me back to his chest so hard I saw stars, and I felt like I would throw up from the horrid smell of him.
“Let me go.” I tried to kick him to free myself but it wasn’t happening.
“Let her go now, Jackson,” Ryan barked.
“No.” He lifted me higher like I weighed nothing, like I was a rag doll.
Ryan reached for him just as he was about to turn away then Jackson dropped me and landed a punch right between Ryan’s eyes.
I screamed when he staggered backwards. I thought he was going to fall over, but he didn’t. He lunged forward and knocked Jackson to the ground.
Jackson, however, was up before anyone could register he was down. He went for Ryan again but Ryan dodged the attack and used the momentum to take him down once more.
“Ryan!” I cried when he got hit again.
The two were then on the floor throwing punches. Jackson may have been bigger in thickness, but Ryan had lean muscle. I could see he was good in a fight,andhe was winning.
With a headbutt, Ryan knocked Jackson out.
A guy I’d never seen before rushed up to them and started asking Ryan if he was okay. Ryan jumped up and wiped blood away from the corner of his mouth.
“Are you okay?” I rushed over to him.
“I’m fine. Aaron, put his ass in a cell,” he said to the guy who had come up to us. Then he turned back to me. “You okay?”
Was I okay?
Somehow I didn’t feel like being the strong woman he’d seen since he met me. I shook my head.
“Come on, let me get you home.” He gave me a small smile and surprised me by taking my hand as he led me out.
