Then Jordan swung.
It was a clumsy punch, all stupidity and wild. Eric moved like water, stepping inside Jordan's reach and redirecting the momentum. One second Jordan was throwing a punch, the next he was face-down on the floor with Eric's knee between his shoulder blades.
"Stay down," Eric said, still using that calm voice that somehow made the threat more real. "Unless you want me to break something."
Jordan struggled for a moment, then went still. Smart man. For once.
The bartender appeared with her phone. "Should I call the cops?"
"No," I said quickly. The last thing I needed was police involvement, especially now that I was in bed with Donatis, so to speak. "He's leaving."
Eric looked up at me, our eyes meeting for the first time. Something shifted in his expression. He recognized me, I knew that much. But had he intervened because of that? It looked like he was only now realizing who I was.
He stood, hauling Jordan up with him and steering him toward the door. The security guard was already waiting, and he happily took over from Eric.
"You crazy bitch," Jordan spat at me over his shoulder. "You'll regret this."
"The only thing I regret is wasting nearly a year on you." I crossed my arms, projecting a confidence that was forced. "Don't come back."
The security guard deposited Jordan outside with more force than strictly necessary while Eric returned to me. He moved through the crowd like he belonged there, like he'd always belonged everywhere he went. That had been part of his appeal, once. The easy confidence, the way he seemed unshakable.
Right up until he shook me off. The handsome bastard.
Too bad, even now, my body and heart were reacting to him.
"You okay?" he asked, stopping just close enough to be heard over the music, but just far enough to give me space.
"Fine." I turned back to the bar, signaling the bartender. "You shouldn't have meddled."
"He was dragging you out of here." He stayed close, his face lowered close so I could still hear him. "No man should treat a lady like that."
"I could've handled it."
"Didn't look like it."
I whirled on him, annoyance flaring hot. "I don't need some white knight swooping in to save me. I've been taking care of myself for a long time, Eric. Did you decide now was the time to play hero just because you recognized me and thought you could win me back?"
That landed. I saw it in the way his jaw tightened, the slight shift in his shoulders and the way his eyes darkened.
"I didn't know it was you right away. Ivy?—"
"No." I held up a hand. "You don't get to do this. You don't get to play the concerned hero when you're the one who blocked me and dropped me four years ago. You didn't seem to be the one for talking then, so why start now?"
"It wasn't like that?—"
"It was exactly like that." I grabbed my purse, my drink forgotten. "You left for work, you said. Big opportunity, you said. And then nothing. Radio silence. Blocked numbers, deleted socials. So forgive me if I'm not interested in whatever explanation you've got cooking."
I pushed past him, heading for the exit. The cool night air hit my face, cold and sobering. My hands were shaking from adrenaline mixed with anger. From seeing him again after all this time.
Behind me, I heard the bar door open.
"Ivy, wait."
I didn't. I kept walking, my heels clicking against the pavement. The parking lot stretched ahead, my new car from the Donatis a safe haven I couldn't reach fast enough.
He could watch my fine ass leave him just like he'd ditched me all that time ago. Leaving me wondering how I'd sabotaged one of the few good relationships I'd ever had in my life.
"Please."
