Page 14 of Heart of a Hero

“Take Taylor and go,” he murmured, his voice low and urgent. “I’ll handle this.”

I hesitated, my gaze darting between Dawson and Rex. The tension in the air was palpable, the silence broken only by the pounding of my own heart. I knew I couldn’t leave Dawson to face Rex alone, but the fierce determination in his eyes left no room for argument.

My shift was technically over, even if I still had tables of customers who weren’t ready to leave yet. While I wanted the tips desperately, I knew in this instance, it was better to leave than worry about the money. If I stayed, things could go horribly wrong.

“Mama?” Taylor’s voice quavered, her small hand clutching mine. “What’s happening?”

“It’s okay, baby,” I whispered, pulling her close. “We’re going for a little ride.”

I caught Dawson’s gaze once more, a silent thank-you passing between us. Then, with a deep breath, I turned and hurried toward the door, Taylor’s hand clasped tightly in mine.

But as I reached for the handle, I heard someone noisily get to their feet. My heart stopped, the blood turning to ice in my veins. I didn’t need to turn around to know that Rex had stood up, his eyes boring into my back.

“Where do you think you’re going, Nora?” he growled, his voice low and menacing.

I froze, my hand hovering inches from the door. Beside me, I could feel Taylor trembling, her small body pressing close to mine. I wanted to run, to burst through the door and never look back. But I couldn’t move, paralyzed by the fear that gripped my heart.

And then Dawson was there, his scent soothing me and calming my racing heart. I didn’t know how I could recognize him sight unseen after such a small amount of time together, but I could.

“She’s leaving,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “And you’re not going to stop her.”

I turned and placed my hand on Dawson’s back, thankful he’d come when he had. If it weren’t for him, there was no telling what Rex might have done, and no one here would have been brave enough to stop him.

Rex sneered, his eyes darting between Dawson and me. “You think you can tell me what to do, pretty boy?” He took a step forward, his fists clenching at his sides. “I’m not done with her yet.”

Dawson didn’t flinch, his stance unwavering. “You are now.”

The air crackled with tension, the seconds stretching into an eternity. I held my breath, my heart pounding in my chest. And then Rex lunged, his fist aimed squarely at Dawson’s jaw.

But Dawson was ready for him. He ducked the blow with lightning speed, his own fist connecting with Rex’s stomach. Rex grunted, stumbling back, but he didn’t stay down for long. With a roar of fury, he charged again, his arms flailing wildly.

Dawson met him head-on, his movements fluid and precise. He dodged Rex’s clumsy strikes, his own fists finding their mark with devastating accuracy. I watched in awe as he held his own against Rex’s brutal onslaught, his face a mask of calm determination.

The fight seemed to go on forever, the two men trading blows in a brutal dance. A cup fell off a table they bumped into and shattered on the floor. I heard the clink of silverware falling off another. Thankfully, nothing else seemed to break… except perhaps Rex’s nose. Even as Rex’s face grew bloody and swollen, he refused to back down. His eyes glinted with a manic rage, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

And then, just as I thought it would never end, the sound of sirens split the air. Red and blue lights flashed in the distance. Rex froze, his eyes wide with sudden fear.

“This isn’t over,” he snarled, backing toward the door. I quickly stepped out of his way. “You’ll pay for this, both of you.”

And then he was gone, disappearing into the night as the police cars screeched to a halt outside. I sagged against the wall, my knees weak with relief. Taylor clung to my side, her face buried in my shirt.

Dawson turned to me, his chest heaving with exertion. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. He had saved me, saved us both. And in that moment, I knew that I would never be able to repay him for what he had done.

As the adrenaline from the fight slowly ebbed away, I found myself overwhelmed with gratitude toward Dawson. His quick thinking and bravery had not only kept Taylor and me safe but also prevented the situation from escalating further. I took a shaky step toward him, my voice barely above a whisper, “Thank you, Dawson. I don’t know what we would have done if you hadn’t been here.”

He reached out and gently squeezed my shoulder, his blue eyes filled with warmth and understanding. “You don’t have to thank me, Nora. I’m just glad you and Taylor are okay.”

In that moment, as his hand lingered on my shoulder, I felt a spark of connection between us. Taylor, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, peeked out from behind my leg and offered Dawson a timid smile.

The sound of the café door opening broke the spell, and we turned to see my manager, looking frazzled and concerned. Where the hell had he been? No, I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. Everyone had heard the rumors about him and one of our waitresses. Supposedly someone had walked in on her giving him a blowjob. And since I hadn’t seen her either during the altercation…

“Nora, I’m so sorry about what happened. I’ve told everyone to keep Rex out of here, but he keeps showing up. And well, I guess everyone is scared to try and force him to leave. Why don’t you go home? We’ll take care of everything here.”

I wasn’t sure what he expected us to do when Rex showed up. Sure, we had the right to refuse service to someone, but it wasn’t like we could physically remove him.

Once the police had taken our statements, I gathered my belongings, then took Taylor’s hand. Dawson walked with us to the door, his presence a comforting shield against the lingering chaos of the night.

---