“I’ve already called the fire department,” Barry said as he carefully attempted to close the nearest lid. Cody ran to the other side of the dumpster to pull the other lid down. The fire was contained to the dumpster and they technically didn’t need to call the department, but being safe was smart.
Barry pulled out his phone. “I’m calling the sheriff.”
Eastern wasn’t on tonight, and Cody didn’t want to call him personally because he’d be home with Avery. “Good, I’ll check on Harper.”
He’d just stepped in when he heard voices down the hall, coming from the bar. What he saw when he entered made fury slip into his veins and spread like wildfire.
Harper, pushed against the bar, with Travis looming over her.
Cody was across the room in a second, grabbing Travis off Harper and throwing him into the pool table. “What the fuck are you doing?”
The asshole laughed, but the sound came out more as a scoff. “I’m talking to your new piece of ass. I see you haven’t labeled her a whore or a thief yet, like you did Vanessa, me, and Dayne. Waiting for the perfect time?”
Cody’s hands fisted, and he itched to throw a punch. “I told you to stay away from her.”
“And what the mighty Cody Walker wants, he gets, right?”
“Did you start the fire in the alley?”
“Someone set a fire in the alley? Shame it wasn’t the bar. If it was me, I would have burned this place to the fucking ground.”
Cody stepped forward, but Harper grabbed his arm. “Cody, don’t. He’s drunk and trying to get a reaction out of you.”
“Yeah,” Travis said quietly, voice condescending. “Listen to your woman…while you still can.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“Well, from what I hear, she was attacked in the alley. Her car was torched. And wasn’t there something about someone grabbing her at the market?” Travis leaned forward. “Don’t worry, I’ve got your back. I told her to leave. I mean, it’s probably best, right? Just look at how easily I got to her tonight. Imagine all the things I could’ve done to her while you weren’t here.”
Cody swung, nailing the asshole in the face.
There was an audible gasp from Harper behind him, drowned out by the sound of sirens from the street.
“That’s thesecondtime you’ve threatened her,” Cody growled. “Do it a third time, and I’ll give you more than a black eye.”
Two officers rushed inside the bar, the first guy’s eyes narrowing on Travis, then Cody. “What happened here?”
“I was trying to lock the door while Cody and Barry worked on the fire out back,” Harper rushed out before Cody could get a word in. “Travis forced his way in. He trapped me against the bar, then Cody came inside and pulled him away.”
The officer switched his gaze back to Cody. “You hit him?”
“Hethreatenedher,” Cody snarled.
Travis groaned as he leaned on the pool table, clutching his face.
“His timing is also damn questionable,” Cody continued. “He showed up seconds after the fire started.”
“Fuck you,” Travis groaned from behind his hand.
The officer sighed as he and his partner lifted Travis from the table. “Come on, time for some questions.”
“You’re takingmein?” Travis growled. “Heassaultedme!”
Travis fought the officers but didn’t have much success. Not only was he drunk, he was outnumbered two to one.
Cody stepped up to Harper, his hands skimming her arms and waist. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. You didn’t need to hit him.”
