Page 72 of Stone

Connie patted my hand. “Then watch.”

I leaned forward, watching John and Seth stare each other down as Bandit spoke to them both before walking away.

Seth leaned forward and snarled something into John’s face, which was his first mistake because, quick as a flash, John headbutted Seth, who let out a yelp of pain.

A roar went up, somebody switched the music on, and the brothers began to shout encouragement to the two men as the fight started in earnest.

I held my breath, hardly registering the opening bars to ‘Back in Black’ by AC/DC thump out of the clubhouse because Johnand Seth were circling each other, looking for an opportunity to get the next hit in.

Seth went first, trying to land a punch to John’s jaw, but my guy saw it coming a mile off. He ducked right, so the blow whistled past his ear, before he twisted and landed a hard jab to Seth’s kidneys.

The crowd collectively sucked a breath in through their teeth.

Seth, who by then was doubled over, looked up and flung himself at John, taking him to the ground so he landed on top, which gave him an immediate advantage. His fists flew, and he managed to land John once in the face, but he came unstuck when John moved his head just in time, and Seth punched the icy ground.

John bucked hard, and Seth, who yowled in pain, flew off. As my guy stood, Seth flung himself at John’s knees and brought him down again, except that time, John angled his body to land on top of Seth’s. He straddled his chest and landed two blows to Seth’s face, one on each side of his jaw, making his head loll to one side.

“Point a gun at my girl again, and I’ll point one at you,” John snarled at Seth. He looked up, scanning the crowd of men, watching the fight with bated breath. “And if you fuckers think you’re gonna see her in the street and blank her, it’ll be you next time.” He clambered off his brother and got to his feet, turning to walk away.

Seth suddenly jackknifed into a sitting position and slowly got to his feet.

John must’ve heard the scuffle because he looked back just as Seth made another dive for him. John sidestepped, pulled back, and punched Seth’s nose. Seth swung around, his hands going to his pocket, and he pulled a gun from the inside of his cut.

The click of the safety sounded through the air.

I jumped up from my seat, my hand flying to my chest, and shrieked, “John, he’s armed.”

“Put the gun down, Seth,” Bandit spat.

“You said you wouldn’t interfere, Prez,” he retorted.

John narrowed his eyes on the scene, his eyes calculating.

“No weapons,” Bandit roared. “You sort it with your fists.”

Seth looked up at his prez to say something, but that was his mistake. The second his focus fell somewhere else, John pulled his dagger from the sheath hidden under his tee and threw it as quickly as a lightning bolt.

My hand went to my mouth as I watched the blade fly toward Seth and slice into the arm holding the gun, sticking him so deep that it wedged in, and the handle protruded.

Seth cried out in pain, dropping the weapon on the ground, his other arm automatically coming over to cradle his injured limb. Within seconds, John was on him, his fists flailing so fast it was difficult to see. The sickening thwack of flesh hitting flesh filled the air, and I raised a hand to my mouth in shock.

“Shit,” Connie spat, getting to her feet. “Bandit. Stop them. Seth’s had enough.”

Bandit nodded at Abe, and they waded into the fray.

The Prez banded his arms around John’s body, effectively caging him in, and pulled him back until his heels dragged. “That’s enough, Son,” he crooned. “You’ve made your point.”

Abe went down on his haunches, checking Seth’s face over. Looking up, he caught Bandit’s stare. “He’ll live, but his nose will never be the same.”

Chuckles and mutters flickered through the crowd, along with shouts of “Good fight, Stone” and “Best man won.”

I watched as John composed himself. His eyes locked with mine, and he jerked his head, beckoning me over.

“Go on, Elise,” Connie murmured. “Your ol’ man needs to make his point with the rest of them now. You need to be by his side.”

With my heart in my mouth and my stomach still churning at what I’d just witnessed, I staggered from the porch, heading for John. Even though I wanted to run for the hills rather than confront these men, I walked straight into my man’s chest, sighing as his strong, warm arm slid across my shoulders.

“Anyone else got somethin’ to say about my girl?” John bellowed. “’Cause I’m ready, able, and willin’ to sort it here and now, the same way I just did with Seth.”

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