Page 67 of Tony

Without hesitation, the two women ran to the door pushing it open. The man was several feet away, his hands now on the woman’s shoulders as he pushed her against the brick wall. She was crying and struggling, but to no avail. He had at least six inches and fifty pounds of pure muscle on her. Off to the side was another man, much smaller, with a weaselly look on his face as his hands were unzipping his pants.

Sherrie screamed, “Back off?—”

“Get outta here, bitches. This ain’t your business,” the larger man growled.

Jennifer immediately barked, “We’re making it our business,” as she pulled out her cell phone and took a quick picture of the men assaulting the woman.

“Goddamn it,” he shouted as he let go of the still whimpering woman and barked at his friend. “Get her.”

The weasel stalked toward Jennifer as she shoved her phone back into her purse and looked toward the bar door.

“You ain’t getting away with my picture, bitch,” he sneered as he grabbed her arm. She managed to kick him with her stiletto heels in the shin and he bent over howling. While he was hopping around on one foot, she kneed him in the crotch.

“Dammit, you’re worthless,” the large man growled as he left the whimpering woman and reached for Jennifer.

Sherrie whirled, then jumped on the back of the man before he could grab her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and tried to squeeze, realizing too late that she had no idea how to take him down.

As he reached up to her arms, Jennifer ran over and kicked him in the shins also, infuriating him further. Slapping her across the face, he backed up quickly slamming Sherrie in the wall behind him. The impact pounded right through her, but she refused to let go of his neck. He slammed her once again. As he prepared to do it one more time, she knew she could not stand another hit.

Jennifer’s face, filled with rage, came at him from the front with a trash can lid, hitting him in the legs as she aimed for his crotch.

Sherrie squeezed her eyes shut, trying to prepare for the next bone-jarring assault.

* * *

Tony pushed his way through the crowd, moving toward the bar since Sherrie’s last text said that they were waiting there. Gabe, right beside him, scanned the area not seeing the women at all.

Vinny chuckled. “Looks like they may have given up and gone home. Sucks for you, but the rest of us may have some luck,” he said, his eyes scanning the room at the obviously available women hungrily looking back at him.

The air crackled in the bar as the four men made their way forward. Tall, built, confident—the crowd parted as they shouldered their way through. Making it to the bar, Tony nodded toward the bartender who immediately hustled over.

“You see two beautiful blondes here together?”

“Yeah, man. They attracted a lot of attention; a couple of men sent them drinks but they insisted on keeping their own tab. They waitin’ on you?”

At Gabe’s nod, the bartender glanced around. “They headed to the ladies’ room a while back. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen them since.”

The hair prickled on the back of Tony’s neck as it always did when a mission was not going well. He stalked toward the hall behind the bar, Gabe on his heels. Vinny, in tune as always to not only his twin but his former commander, immediately followed.

Seeing the exit sign over the door beyond the restrooms, Tony slammed through, the sight outside stopping his blood cold. Instantly, the situation was assessed and the men went into action. Like years before on mission, but now? It was personal.

Sherrie suddenly felt a rush of air hit her front as she began to fall, only to be grabbed before hitting the ground. But these arms were gentle. Throwing her eyes open, she tried to escape, but a soft voice whispered in her ear.

“Relax, honey. I’ve got you,” Jobe’s voice soothed.

Breathing heavily, she twisted around to see what was happening. Oh my God. The man who had her pressed against the wall, was now being held up against the wall, Tony’s hand on his throat as the only thing holding him up. The man was gurgling and gasping as the fight was leaving him. Eyes darting to the side, she saw Vinny cradling a crying Jennifer as Gabe was in the process of pummeling the man who had been on his wife.

Shaking, she looked back to Tony who had not let go of her assailant’s neck and screamed, “Stop!” Twisting in Jobe’s arms, she cried, “He’ll kill him and go to jail.”

“Shhh, darlin’. Tony’s got it. He knows what he’s doing.”

Tony’s eyes were black as he easily held the squirming man. “You touched my woman, any woman, without their permission?” he growled.

Heedless of the man’s gasping, he held him firmly with one arm of steel. The only other sound was Gabe’s fist hitting the other man.

Sherrie continued to shake despite the gentle hold Jobe had on her. She was dimly aware of the shushing noise he made but all she could see was Tony’s fury.

“Tony,” she heard Jobe’s voice call out. “See to her.” Instantly the man against the wall crumpled to the ground as Tony’s hand left his throat. Turning quickly, he pulled Sherrie from Jobe’s embrace, his face stone hard but his eyes caramel warm.

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