Page 111 of Falling for You

He’s a tiny man surrounded by two large, angry men.

I don’t know how much of Rex’s story anyone else knows, if anything at all, but they see the anger coming off Rex’s body and know Troy is the cause of it.

Troy turns to look at Rex who shrugs, indifferent.

“Not sure where you’re heading, but I’d rethink it if I were you,” Zeke says.

Then, because he’s clearly a complete idiot, he responds, “Ahh. One’s yours and you’re afraid history will repeat itself, huh?”

“You’re a fuckwad,” I hear myself say loudly. All heads turn my way but there’s no way I’m backing down. Instead, I feel my feet moving swiftly beneath me as I make my way over to where Troy is standing. I shove Zeke aside and move in front of Troy.

“What did you say?”

“You heard me. You’re a fuckwad and you’re not welcome here. I knowallabout you and your,” I point at him and spin my finger around, “antics.”

Rex coughs out a laugh and Troy has the nerve to look amused.

“I take it this is the one.” He gives me a once over, lingering on my chest then making a show of appreciating the view. “You’re a pretty little thing, aren’t you? I’d love to see that fire come out in the bedroom.”

“You think you’re funny? Charming? You’re nothing but a pathetic piece of crap who can’t stand to see anyone else around him happy. Tell me, Troy, is it harder to find women who don’t see you for the snake that you are when your brother hasn’t laid the ground work for you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Sure you do. You let women fall in love with Rex, see how amazing he is, then you put on what little charm you have and steal them away from him. But let me guess what happens next. They realize you’re a douche and a liar.”

Troy steps close to me and suddenly I’m caged in by tall, strong backs. “I wouldn’t,” Rex warns. I push Ethan aside and stand next to Rex.

“Listen to Rex, Troy. Don’t mess with me.”

“So you need your little bitch to…”

Ethan swings and knocks Troy out in one punch. His drink flies out of his hand, glass and liquor shattering on the floor.

Olivia gasps, standing from her chair and rushing to Ethan. “Oh my gosh, Ethan!”

Troy’s on the ground in a heap while all our heads swivel to look at Ethan, mouths gaped open. “Holy shit. What the fuck was that?” Rex says, laughter in his voice.

Ethan shakes out his hand a little bit, inspecting his knuckles. “I won’t have anyone coming into my bar, disrespecting it or my family.”

“I’m kind of pissed, you know.”

“Because I stole your thunder? You wanted to be the one to hit him?”

“Well, yeah. It was a long time coming,” Rex says, scrubbing a hand over his face while looking down at Troy. He kicks him in the leg and he begins to stir, groaning from the floor.

It doesn’t take long for Troy to start to come to and Ethan steps over top him, leans down, fists his shirt, lifting him up so their noses are nearly touching. His voice is scarily low when he growls, “Get out of my fucking bar.”

He slowly climbs to his feet, using the back of his hand to wipe at his mouth then spits on the floor. “I’ll sue you for everything you’ve got.”

“Go ahead and try. But if you even think of laying a finger on my sister, or Rex for that matter, I won’t hesitate to lay you out again. Now, I’ll repeat. Get out of my fucking bar and away from my family.”

I almost cry and hug Ethan for the way he’s standing up for all of us but there’s no way the Latina in me will let me stand down to this guy. “You heard the man. Get out.”

Troy stumbles a little before turning an angry scowl to all of us.

As soon as he’s out the door, we all fall into laughter. Once it dies down, Ethan demands information from Rex who takes a seat, pulling me into his lap.

“That, was my past.”

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