‘This.’
She realised a split second too late. Before Bex could react, the man had raised his elbow and fist, and as the gasp rang out from her lungs, his arm swung through the air, and his knuckles collided with the side of Duncan’s jaw with a sickening crack.
16
The room erupted into chaos. Chairs were knocked back as people jumped to their feet, some to get further away, some to move closer to the action. Lorna yelled out from behind the bar, while two patrons grabbed the man from behind as Duncan staggered backward an alarming distance, although Bex suspected the punch was only partly to blame; the rest was from the alcohol coursing through his system, making it impossible for him to keep his balance.
‘What the heck?’ Duncan rubbed his jaw. He was held upright by Bex on one side, while his other side leaned against the back of a chair. She was grateful for the furniture’s presence. She knew from experience that holding up a drunken Duncan was almost always a two-person job.
The man struggled against the arms holding him in place.
‘You slept with my girl,’ he snarled.
‘What? Nah.’ Duncan shook his head. The motion more of a loll than a deliberate action. ‘You’ve got the wrong fella.’
‘Yes, you did! I’ve got photos.’ He turned to one of the men holding him. ‘My phone. It’s in my pocket.’
After an exchanged look between the self-proclaimed bouncers, the right arm of the disgruntled boyfriend was tentatively released. Immediately, he pulled out his phone and began flicking through it.
‘I think you’ve got the wrong guy.’ Duncan’s words rolled drunkenly into one another. ‘I think you’re a bit drunk too.’
‘You reckon? Looks like I was spot on to me, mate.’
There wasn’t a hint of a slur to the man’s voice as he shoved the screen towards Duncan. Bex’s stomach plummeted. The photo was very definitely of Duncan, wearing nothing but boxers, lying on a bed next to a woman. Bex recognised her immediately as one of the women she’d seen Duncan with at the pub on the night she’d arrived. Pain seared through her chest, though she tried not to show it. She and Duncan had been broken up at the time. Not just taking a break, or giving each other some space. But very definitely broken up. She could hardly hold it against him. Besides, from the glazed look in his eyes, he hadn’t exactly been sober when this photo was taken either.
‘Oh, hell,’ Duncan groaned, running a hand through his hair.
‘I should knock all your teeth out for that.’ The man shifted forwards only to be yanked back as he was once again held in place.
‘Look, I dinnae know she had a boyfriend, okay?’ Duncan tried. ‘She dinnae say she had a boyfriend. And why are you having a go at me? Have a go at your lass. She’s the one who cheated on you.’
‘Don’t you dare say a word against her!’ the man growled, thrashing again. ‘I’ll swing again, I swear?—’
‘The world’s gone bloody mad,’ Duncan muttered. ‘Damn fools.’
The man lunged again, and Bex stepped between them, placing her hands on Duncan’s chest.
‘That’s enough,’ she said. Her throat was tight. The image of the beautiful girl, barely dressed, lying on the bed with Duncan beside her was all she could see. She tried to push it away, but she didn’t think that would ever be possible. What had happened before this photo was taken? Worse still, what happened after?
‘Look, mate.’ Duncan’s shoulders slumped. ‘I don’t even think we did anything. I’m pretty sure I passed out drunk.’
‘Yeah, right,’ the man spat.
‘I mean it. I was in a bad way. You know. Heartbroken and all that. She wasn’t the one I wanted to be with.’
The man stiffened. ‘What’s that meant to mean? You think you’re too good for her? Or you were just messin’ with her? That’s what you’re saying?’
‘No… I… I…’ Bex could see the way Duncan was struggling. He’d tried to offer the man some sort of comfort. A reasoned explanation – if that was even possible. But the man wasn’t having it. He had come for a fight. Still, Duncan tried. ‘I mean, it’s not like she wasn’t nice and everything, but I like my women smart, you know.’
The man’s eyes bulged. ‘You’re saying my missus ain’t smart?’
Duncan shrugged. ‘She asked a very drunk, clearly unstable and emotionally unavailable man back to her hotel room. That doesn’t exactly scream Mensa material, does it?’
That was it. The man’s fury exploded. In a swift move, he wriggled free of the hands restraining him, ducking and twisting until he broke loose.
Bex froze. Her instinct was to stay where she was, a barrier between the boyfriend and Duncan. After all, the man wanted Duncan, but he wouldn’t hit her to get to him, would he?
‘Duncan, just stay where you are,’ she hissed, but before she could even take another step, Duncan had side-stepped around her. His massive body blocked her entire view.
