Page 21 of Betrayed

God, he can be an obnoxious ass.Refusing to create a scene that would get AJ’s attention, I plastered a fake smile on my face.

Chapter 13

AJ

My spot at the bar allowed me to see Blake and the rest of the dining room. I ordered a coke with a lime wedge; it looked like a drink, so I fit right in.

Blake didn’t look like she was having a good time, but that was none of my business. I chuckled as I caught sight of Fuckface’s t-shirt again. He tried to get a rise out of me by proudly displaying the words, “Violence is never the answer,” stretched over his thick midsection.Did he really think I’d reactto a t-shirt?

I understood him being upset about getting dropped to his knees, but I wasn’t the enemy. You’d think he’d let it go after learning Blake had a bodyguard.Because her life is in danger.

But no, he needed to make it about him.

I laughed. If he wanted to pretend he was a victim and tell everyone who’d listen I’d committed some violent crime against him, he could.

What I did to protect Blake wasn’t violence.

He has no idea what real violence is.

I did. I’d experienced it firsthand. The senseless violence, committed under the umbrella of war, leaving innocent bodies dead in the streets, and the necessary violence of my job, which left human traffickers and abusive exes dead on the floor.

Like the trafficker who’d taken Meg to exact his revenge, and the drunken ex who threatened Emily and her parents at gun point before beating them.

“Violence is never the answer.”

Sometimes, violence is the only answer.

At least Paige’s shirt was subtler, and she didn’t look pissed off to see me.

I was sitting close enough to hear snippets of their conversation during lulls in the room volume, but mostly, I relied on reading Blake’s facial expressions and body language.

She’s not having fun.

I could see the tension in her shoulders under the cream-colored snug sweater she wore. It wasn’t low-cut, but it emphasized her ample breasts none-the-less. It hung low, drawing my eyes to her ass, framed in shiny black leggings. She had curves in all the right places. I had to drag my eyes away as I’d walked behind her.

Nope. I adjusted myself on the stool and scanned the room.Get your head in the game.

Blake tensed when a pretentious-looking guy approached the table. I stood, ready to pounce, no longer hiding the fact I was watching them.

He created a ruckus when he pulled the chair out too quickly and a bag fell off.If he damaged Blake’s laptop…

Fuckface complained about his bag. That was fine; I didn’t care about his shit.

The guy was singularly focused on Blake as he prattled on, either oblivious to or ignoring the fact she didn’t want him there. I didn’t have a reason to act, yet, so I clenched my fists and waited.

Blake’s strained smile was like a bat signal. I stood poised, ready to strike the instant she gave the word. She hadn’t, but she clearly didn’t want to talk to this idiot.

Get a clue, dumbass. I worked my way towards the table, appearing calm and controlled. Two words in complete opposition to how I felt.

Things would go much better if he’d leave without me having to step in.

Then he put his hand on Blake’s shoulder.

Seeing her flinch, I decided I didn’t need words.No one touches her.

I closed the remaining distance at lightning speed, grabbed the guy by the wrist, twisting it as I pulled him away from her.

He cried out as I released him with a push.

---