“I’ll give you to the count of three to get away from that door before I fuck you up.”
“Who the fuck do you think-” the man standing back starts to say, but he’s seen my cut.
The other one is still banging on the door. His friend drags him and he’s about to say something about stopping when he sees me.
“Nashville,” he takes a step away from the door.
“Don’t ask me who the fuck I think I am,” I walk closer. “I don’t have to tell you shit.”
“No, no, sorry I didn’t realize it was you.”
“And you think that makes it okay? If I was someone else you’d be fine to break into a woman’s apartment?”
“It’s not that, we know her. She uh, she’s a friend.”
I cock my head. “One who doesn’t want to open the door to you? Does that sound reasonable?”
Both men shrink a little at the way I’m looking at them. I might be a jovial happy kind of guy but when I smile like this, people know they’re in trouble.
“Seriously, Nashville, we know her.”
“We don’t want any trouble.”
They speak over each other. The one who said the sensible thing is backing off. The other one is standing his ground. They dealt drugs for us in the past, it’s been a while since we’ve had anything to do with them because they use what they’re supposed to sell.
Before the dickhead can even open his mouth to argue, I am on him, my forearm on his throat, ramming him into the wall.
“You want to rethink what you’re about to say?” I snarl at him.
He splutters and tries to push me off but I punch him in the gut. He can’t bend or get away because of how I’m holding him. The other guy has moved further away. Fucking smart. If he tries anything, I really will shoot them. They won’t, they know the wrath of the club will come down on them if they lay a finger on me.
“What were you planning on doing? You were going to hurt her?”
He tries to shake his head but his face is turning red.
“That’s not what it sounded like to me. Sounded like you were planning to take something you had no right to take.” My voice is low, close to him because I’m sure Charley can hear through these walls.
My anger spikes again, this time at her, for living in a shit hole like this. I release the idiot and take out my gun anyway, when he drops to the ground trying to catch his breath, I press it against his temple. He stops moving instantly.
“You ever try anything like this again, and I’ll send Stryker round here to deal with you.”
The man shakes and promises he won’t. I don’t believe him, but the only person I give a shit about is not spending a single night more here.
“Both of you get the fuck out of here. All the way out. I hear about you coming back around here, you’re not getting a second warning.”
For good measure, I pistol whip the back of his head, making him fall forward. When I step back his friend drags him to his feet and they run away like the punk ass cowards they are.
Now to deal with this little pain in my ass. I knock on the door but there is nothing from inside.
“Charley, open the door.”
Still nothing.
“If you think I’m going away, you’re wrong. I’ll stand out here all night if I have to.”
After a moment, there is a dragging sound then the lock turns, and she opens the door. Before she has time to say anything, I open it wider and go inside, closing the door behind me. It’s one room with a bed, a fridge a tiny bathroom and, fuck is that a dresser she is dragging over to the door.
The marks in the threadbare carpet tell me exactly what that is. She comes in here and barricades herself enough to feel safe.
