Gasps erupted among the bar patrons. Even Mav seemed shocked that Henry said that out loud.
“Why did you do this?” Ryu asked calmly. “Why did you go through all the trouble of abducting our child and lying about it?”
Everyone glared at Henry and Mav fiercely. I noticed the faces of many of my regular customers scowling, and that they were tensed to help kick them out if necessary. I appreciated the gesture, but I was itching for some action myself.
When Henry scowled and didn’t reply, Ryu added in a quiet voice, “Is it because you were angry at me?”
“Of course I’m angry!” Henry spat. He pointed furiously at me. “You chosehimover me! I’m better than him in every single way. You’re insane not to see that.”
The words didn’t even sting because the person saying them was so ugly on the inside, that it didn’t matter what he looked like on the outside. It’s a shame his appearance didn’t match his foul personality.
Now Henry turned his fury onto me. His glare was malicious. “You stole Ryu away from me. I don’t know what you did, or what tricks you used, but he deserves someone better than you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.”
Ryu looked smug at the offended look on Henry’s face—obviously he wasn’t expecting his insult to roll off my back.
“And what about you?” I asked Mav, who seemed more embarrassed than Henry. “Still angry about getting your ass kicked by us—twice?”
“Fuck off,” Mav muttered, then turned to storm away.
“You’re banned from my bar, by the way,” I added as he pushed through the door. He flipped me off, then the door slammed behind him.
Henry stood alone now, flustered and angry but obviously defeated.
“Do you have anything else to say for yourself?” Ryu asked.
“Go to hell,” Henry muttered.
“Just so it’s clear,you’rebanned, too,” I added, feeling smug at the way he growled. Every patron at the bar glared at Henry as he backed away.
But when Henry reached the door, he spat, “I hope therealparents of that baby steal her away from you, and you never see her again!”
Henry ran, disappearing into the street. The words stung. Even though I knew they were said in anger, the comment settled terribly in my stomach.
“Scar,” Ryu said, getting my attention, “I think Angel wants you.”
My focus instantly switched to my child. Sure enough, Angel watched me with her bright eyes and grunted, stretching out her fingers towards me. With a pang in my heart, I scooped her up and nestled her against my chest. A wide smile broke out across her face, and I melted. I’d missed her so, so much.
“I’m never letting anyone hurt you ever again,” I murmured to her.
