I glanced at Tammy, noticed Lynx’s ex-wife looked completely shocked by what was going on around her.For a brief moment, I actually felt sorry for the woman.Then I thought about how Tammy had been fucking Billy while they’d both been in relationships with other people.My sympathy died quickly.
“That’s bullshit!”Billy shouted, getting to his feet.
Fully expecting Lynx or Wolfe to address the situation, I nearly fell over when the older man turned toward Billy.
“I’m a payin’ customer,” Billy announced.“And you need to do your fuckin’ job and?—”
The newcomer interrupted, a frown on his face as he took a step closer to Billy.“You and me need to have a word outside, son,” he said, his tone hard, his body ramrod straight.
“Who the fuck’re you?”
“Name’s Curtis Walker,” the man stated firmly.
Curtis Walker?
I glanced over at Travis and his brothers.Then I realized why the man looked so familiar.He was a much older version of Travis.Which meant he was … his father?
“I ain’t goin’ nowhere with you,” Billy snapped.“Now if you’ll mind your own fuckin’ business?—”
In a move that I would’ve expected from a much younger man, Curtis grabbed hold of Billy’s shirt and tugged him toward the door.The older man’s eyes cut across the room briefly, and then Travis and Sawyer were heading his way.
Lynx and Wolfe followed.
I was about to go with them, but Rhys pulled me up short.
“Let it be,” my brother said softly.
“But—”
“I’ll go out there, but I get the feelin’ this’ll be handled civilly.”
“How do you figure?”I knew Lynx and Wolfe.They didn’t take kindly to outbursts like that.Not when there were women around.And although Tammy wasn’t high on Lynx’s list, I knew he would intervene if he had to.
Rhys didn’t bother to respond before he marched out the door, following close behind the others.I instantly turned to find Amy standing in the corner by herself, her arms wrapped around her middle.She looked so small, so fragile.
Okay, so clearly I had more important things to deal with.My friend was obviously having a difficult time.
“Hey.You okay?”I asked as I approached Amy, trying to keep my voice down.
Her eyes lifted to mine and I recognized the fear there.It had been prominent on Amy’s face for so long.
“No,” she admitted.“I’m really not.”
Placing my hands on her shoulders, I waited until she looked at me.“It’s gonna be all right.”
Amy shook her head.“It’s not.”
“Don’t say that,” I admonished.“We’re gonna catch him and he’s gonna be locked away for a long, long time.”
I could tell Amy was pretending to believe me.I hated seeing that look, wished I could do something to help, to make Amy’s pain go away.
“I… I just need a minute,” Amy said, her voice strained.“I’m gonna go to the bathroom.”
I dropped my hands and nodded.“I’m here if you wanna talk,” I told her.
Amy’s smile was clearly forced when she said, “I know.I know you are.”
And then I watched as Amy walked away, slipping down the narrow hall to the bathroom.
