Page 9 of Ace of Spades

"Now look what you've done. You scared her off. That's the best piece of ass this island's seen since…"

I turn to Dickhead, the glare in my eyes heating to a level that can kill.

"You gonna finish that thought?" I growl out, fists already bunched at my sides.

He laughs and the police chief's son chuckles nervously, his eyes glancing around them to make sure there are witnesses around no doubt.

Privileged little pricks are always looking for ways to be backed up when they're clearly in the wrong.

"Well, we all know about your wife," Dickhead dares to add.

In my mind, I let my fist fly right into his face. And I don't stop. I release the full force of everything I'm holding back until he gets the idea that you don't get to force yourself on women or talk down about them without facing a few consequences.

But I don't even get the chance.

Too fast, somebody at my side throws a right hook into Dickhead's stomach making him keel over.

Theo, my son, stands over him, watching the guy fall onto his knees gasping for air.

"Don't youevermention my mother again, Duncan." Theo hisses the words out then faces the guy's friend who's now backed into the chainlink fence behind him making it rattle. "You got that?"

The chief's son just bobs his head up and down and though I shouldn't condone fighting, I can't help but feel a little proud.

Duncan—not Dickhead but close enough—is still struggling for air when he gets out, "Oh, you're going to regret doing that little Steele."

Theo reels his fist back about to punch him again, but this time I stop him, his fist landing in the palm of my hand instead. His eyes flash to me as confusion knits his features.

"It's not worth it." I tell him. "Go chill out inside."

"But—"

"Now, Theo!"

Theo pulls away from my grasp, drawing his costume coat into himself and storming away from us, back into the garage.

I watch as he retreats. The ink that creeps out from the collar of his coat is just one of his many intricate designs.

It's also the reason he didn't follow in my footsteps and join the Army when he graduated earlier this year.

The military doesn't bend over backwards to welcome someone with tattoos up and down their entire body. He pretty much sealed his fate when he decided to get them done.

I turn to Duncan. "You have three seconds to leave before I finish what my son was about to do."

Duncan's eyes lose all courage and widen before he stumbles away in the direction the woman left, followed by his lame littleyesman.

Shit.I should follow them and make sure they don't bother her and as I reluctantly do so a woman's voice stops me right in my tracks, "Quite the performance."

I turn to seeher.Green eyes. That long red hair swirling effortlessly around her shoulders.

She looks about Theo’s age, which makes the fact that she must be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on… just a bit of a hard pill to swallow.

And she's not from around here. I would know. Hell, everybody would know.

She’s dressed like she’s ready to ride. But considering itisHalloween, it's probably a costume like most of the people here.

"I believe this might be yours?” She steps up to me, holding something out for me to take.

I look at what's dangling from her dainty fingers—my eye patch. The one I abandoned inside.

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