"I'm afraid that's all," she said lightly.
Tam's expression hardened. "I beg yer pardon?"
She cleared her throat. "We... we're closing."
Tam held out his arms. "Well, there's plenty of people still in here. If I want a drink, lass, ye get me one, eh?"
Drawing in a breath, Paisley tilted her chin up. "I think you've had enough, sir. I'm sorry."
For a second, confusion flashed over Tam's face, as if he wasn't used to hearing that sort of thing.
The confusion was quickly followed by rage.
"I'll give ye once last chance, ye wee wench." he said conversationally. "Fetch me an ale and say, 'I'm sorry, sir, for being such a cheeky wee sow', and all will be forgiven."
Paisley clenched her jaw. "No."
Tam's brawny arm shot out before she even knew what was happening. He grabbed her wrist, twisting it painfully and hauling her forward over the counter. The hard wood of the counter dug into her, forming a sharp, unforgiving line along her hips, and Paisley's feet didn't quite touch the floor. Her face was inches away from Tam's, and his breath stank.
Her squeak of pain was more or less lost in the crowd, and Paisley felt the first pang of real fear.
"I've been watching ye," Tam muttered, his voice low and menacing. "Pretty thing, aren't ye? I daresay it's a long way home from here, in the dark and all. I was going to offer ye company."
"No, thank you." Paisley hissed. "Let go of me at once, or I'll scream."
"Scream and I'll break yer wrist."
Tam flexed his meaty hand around her wrist to make his point, and Paisley felt bones grind together. She paled but wouldn't give him the satisfaction of a cry of pain.
"Let. Go."
"Oh, nay, lass. I'm nae even getting started. Ye and I are going to have fun tonight, I just know it."
She looked him dead in the eyes and forced herself not to flinch.
"Go to hell." Paisley said clearly.
Tam's eyes narrowed, and his grip on her wrist began to tighten.
Everything happened quickly after that.
Tam seemed to be launched backwards by an unseen force, his grip on Paisley's wrist ripped away. The momentum carried her forward a little, and she found herself balanced ungainly on her stomach, on top of the counter.
The crowd parted as if by magic, everyone craning their necks to look down at Tam, lying on his back on the floor.
It was Dominic, of course. He stood between Tam and the counter, watching the man on the floor with an impassive gaze.
"Ye should have left when Rabbie told ye, Tam." Dominic said, his voice sharp as iron.
Tam wheezed out an obscenity, rolling onto all fours, then stumbling to his feet. He lurched towards Dominic, fists windmilling.
Paisley barely had time to worry about Dominic getting struck, it was over so fast. Dominic dodged the clumsy blows, then landed a single, cracking punch to the side of Tam's head. Then,when Tam was groaning on the floor, he delivered a neat, well-thought-out kick to the man's abdomen.
Dominic sighed and shook his head, staring down at Tam.
"Ye should have just gone home, Tam. Now ye are banned, ye hear me? Banned." He bent down, seizing him by the collar, and hauled him effortlessly to his feet.
Or rather, almost. Tam flailed, trying to get his legs underneath him, and was half-dragged, half-carried to the door. Dominic tossed him out, and there was faint applause when Tam landed face-first in a muddy puddle.
