“Let her go.” With my fists clenched, I stepped closer and fixed him with a hard stare. “Now.”
But he didn’t loosen his grip.
Ivy snatched her drink off the counter and threw it in his face.
“You bitch,” he yelped, wiping his face with the back of his arm.
“Which part of nodon’t you understand?” A surge of adrenaline hit. I took a small step back, hoping he’d leave without more of a scene. “Time to go, mate.”
“I’ll decide when I’m ready to leave, dickhead.” He scowled.
Ivy stood up. “Karson, let’s just go.”
The brawny troublemaker stalked toward me, stopping inches from my face.
“Look, man, we don’t want any trouble,” I said, stepping away. “We’ll just be on our—”
His fist came flying at me.
I raised my arm, blocking the punch as my body snapped into defense.
He spun and fired a roundhouse kick.
I stepped aside, out of the line of fire. With elbows tucked to protect my ribs and my hands raised, I locked onto him. “You should probably walk away,” I said through gritted teeth.
He roared and charged at me again.
I dodged him as he slammed hard into the wall with a heavy thud.
His friends snickered as he cursed and pushed himself upright, coming at me again, this time too close to Ivy.
“Okay, moron, now you’ve gone too far.” I grabbed his arm, twisting it behind his back and forcing him to the ground.
“Fuck off!” he snarled, struggling.
“Are we done?” I twisted harder. “Ready to leave?”
He nodded urgently.
“I can’t hear you.”
“Yes!” he bellowed. “Just let me go.”
I released him and moved back as he scrambled to his feet.
“Go home,” Ivy called. “It’s over.”
“Just listen to them,” one of his friends muttered. “Let it go, bro.”
He started for the exit, then spun suddenly and launched a kick at my chest.
Instinct took over. I moved fast and struck him low.
Groaning, he lashed out with a round of wild punches and another reckless kick.
I intercepted his leg with a hard strike to the thigh.
He lost his balance and crashed face-first onto the floor. “What the actual fuck…” he muttered, dazed as he shook his head.
