Such a little diplomat.
I clenched my fists under the table.
Donny smiled. “Next time! We’ve got live music every weekend.”
“Sounds wonderful,” Gabriella said with a grin.
Another radiant smile.
My Roman goddess had no idea the power she wielded. It made grown men oblivious to the danger. Case in point, Donny had eyes only for her.
With a nod, the waiter scooted away with the dirty dishes back into the kitchen. He had no idea how much those careless wordscost him. Whistling and swaying his hips, he didn’t notice the daggers I speared in his spine.
“Wait here while I settle the tab,” I instructed, pushing to my feet to follow the waiter.
Gabriella turned those vibrant brown eyes to me. Gold flashed in their depths, and the smile on her ruby lips turned flat.
“Okay?” she responded carefully.
She sensed it.
But I was already moving. Our booth, which gave me an unobstructed view of the entire pub, was the closest to the double swinging doors.
I smacked them both open, following the gaunt fool. Just as Donny dropped the dishes in the pit, I grabbed the back of his shirt, hauled him off his feet, and drug him into the wash area. The decrepit creature with gloved, soapy hands scuttled away, sensing danger with the few brain cells left undamaged from a stray bullet years ago.
“Jaysus, man, what are you doing?” Donny shouted.
I shoved him over the deep sink of water, pressed his body against the stainless steel, and with a wordless growl, shoved his head under. Donny thrashed and struggled, but I didn’t let him up for air until I counted to fifty in my head. When his movements lost their power, I tugged him up by the hair, snarling in his ear.
“Never ask my wife to dance.”
Donny gulped for air, but before the oxygen hit his blood stream, I forced his head back under water.
He fought less this time.
When I hauled him up, I added, “Make sure the others know.”
With a final, forceful shove, I took a healthy step back. The leather glove on my right hand was sopping. I flexed it. Suds and water streamed to the rubber mat on the floor.
I didn’t dare take the fucking thing off until I was home. By then, the harsh dish soap and moisture would make the skin flare red.
I don’t care.
It was worth it.
Before I pushed through the doors, I glanced at the dishwasher. “Have a good night, William.”
The smile on the soldier’s face helped to calm the brutal rage in my chest.
I marched back into the pub. Gabriella’s attention was fixed on the lively mix of people. Her eyes didn’t look as sad as they always did.
She’ll never smile for a monster like me.
Snatching her wrist, I tugged her to her feet. “Let’s go.”
“Liam! You scared me,” she gasped. “Wait! What were you doing? Why are you all wet?”
I didn’t answer.
