“Skee-ball!” he bellowed, and pulled out of her hold so fast, she almost fell.
I caught her, wrapping an arm firmly around her waist. “I got you.”
“Teddy, wait.” She slapped at the tears slipping down her face and righted herself, twisting away from my touch.
“I’ll check on him,” I said, trusting my club had hold of the assholes tormenting her brother. I followed Teddy to the skee-ball area, bought him some tokens and walked back to Wyatt, keeping her brother in my sights.
“Sir, you cannot manhandle our patrons,” the manager informed me.
“Maybe your patrons shouldn’t steal from people who can’t defend themselves,” I said.
“There’s no proof—”
“Never mind,” Wyatt snapped. “We’re leaving.”
“You shouldn’t have to leave,” I countered. “These assholes should.”
“We didn’t do shit!” The obvious leader of the idiot-gang whined, his black eye starting to swell.
“So, if we pat you down, we won’t find money shoved in your pockets?” I challenged.
“Sir, you cannot pat them down unless you’re an officer of the law,” the manager argued.
Too late. Orion, Rocky, and Moses had already begun to dig in the men’s pockets, pulling cash out of the ringleader’s pants as he bellowed in protest.
“It’smycash,” he hissed.
“Yeah?” Wyatt challenged, leaning down to snag a few off the floor, waving them in front of their faces. “Then why do the bills have ‘Teddy’ written on them?”
“I found those!” the leader snapped.
“You lying bastard!” Wyatt pulled back her arm with the money wadded in it and slammed her fist into his face, eliciting a squeal from the man as blood poured from his nose.
“Ma’am,” the manager admonished.
“You shut it,” Orion growled.
I grabbed Wyatt around her waist, pulling her away from the group with a chuckle. “Okay, slugger, it’s time to back off.”
I gave Orion a chin lift, then carried Wyatt a few feet away.
“I’m not done,” she panted out, trying to pull away.
“Baby, calm down. We’re gonna take care of it.”
“Theystolefrom him,” she whispered.
“I know,” I said, turning her to face me. “We’re gonna deal with them.
“More skee-ball, Riot,” Teddy called, jumping up and down.
“I got him,” I said, and handed him more tokens.
“Ma’am, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
I guided Wyatt behind my back and glared at the man. “If you say another word to her, I’ll break both your arms.”
“I’m calling the police.”
