Page 44 of Heartbeats & Highways

He snaked a free hand out and grasped my waist to haul me to him. My nose collided with his chest, and I got a whiff of his pungent aroma.

Bile churned in my belly.

“Let me go!” I shouted.

He leered down at me, appearing like he hadn’t heard me. Or if he did, he didn’t care.

I placed my hands on his chest and attempted to shove him away, but he felt like a wall of bricks.

Suddenly, Savage appeared behind the big man, like an apparition clad in leather and danger.

“You heard the lady,” Savage stated, his voice low.

“Buzz off,” the man growled, gazing over his shoulder at Savage. “This is between me and the pretty little redhead.”

“Dude, you do not want to make me tell you again,” Savage stated.

My gaze was trained on Savage, but he didn’t look away from the threat to glance at me.

“You got a problem, Ox?” Another man approached and stood next to Ox.

Savage’s eyebrows raised. “Ox? Your name is Ox?”

Ox puffed out his chest which only made him seem bigger. “Of course, dumb ass. I’m as big as an ox. Youdo notwant to fuck around and find out tonight, boy.”

Something flashed over Savage’s face. “What if I do?”

“What’s going on?” Roman demanded, appearing with Homer and Virgil and flanking Savage. The three of them were coiled, ready to spring into action.

“Ox was just letting me go.” I looked up at Ox. “Weren’t you?”

He glanced down at me and blinked sluggishly. He’d had one too many beers. I could see the sheen in his eyes.

A bell rang from the kitchen, signaling food was up, but it reminded me of the illegal fighting ring and the start of a round.

Only now we were in public and the last thing I wanted was for Savage to go all . . .Savage.

I wanted to do everything in my power to diffuse the situation, so I once again pushed away from Ox, gently this time.

He let me go.

I immediately side-stepped Ox and slid in between him and Savage, placing myself in front of Savage who hadn’t taken his eyes off Ox.

“Savage,” I murmured. “Savage,lookat me.”

My hands came up to cradle his face.

Finally, whatever spell was cast on him broke and his gaze slid to mine.

We stared at each other for a few heart beats.

“Take me home,” I commanded.

Chapter 12

Savage closedthe apartment door behind me and leaned against it for a moment.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” Savage said.

---