Page 5 of Zeus's Ruin

I gasp, clutching at my throat, drawing in deep lungsful of air.Zeus is beating the shit out of Jimmy.He has him pinned to the gravel beneath him and the much larger biker is pulverizing Jimmy’s face.

“No fun, is it?”Zeus says between punches.“Picking on someone your own size.”

“I’m s-sorry,” Jimmy wails.

“I want your shit out of my rental.You hear me, you little punk?”Zeus pulls a hunting knife from his belt and thrusts it against Jimmy’s throat.The wicked blade glints in the dim lights of the parking lot.“I think you know who I ride with and what we’re capable of.You’ve got tonight to get the fuck out, and I never wanna see your face again.You go near Sugar again, you lay a finger on her, and I’ll fucking gut you.You got that, you little shit, or do I need to just save us all the hassle and do it right here in front of all your buddies?”

I glance up at the crowd who’s surrounded us.Zeus is right, all of Jimmy’s friends are standing nearby ...behind a wall of formidable bikers in cuts.Holy shit.

Jimmy’s bloodied mouth opens and closes like a fish gasping out of water.

“I can’t fuckin’ hear you.”Zeus says, pressing the blade tighter to Jimmy’s throat.

“Y-yeah.I got it.I-I’m sorry.I won’t touch her again.”

“You won’t ever fucking look at her again, or you and my knife here are gonna get real cozy.”

“Y-yes, sir.”

“Get the fuck outta my sight.”Zeus slides the knife back in its sheath and stands.He spits at Jimmy and then swivels his head toward me.For a beat, I think I see a lick of sadness in his gaze, but then it’s gone and he’s heading toward me.He offers me a hand up as Jimmy flees the parking lot in his piece-of-shit Silverado.Tires screech into the night as my boyfriend hightails it away from the bar.One of the bikers, the meanest looking man I think I’ve ever seen, eyeballs Zeus and shakes his head.Then he turns on the crowd and commands in a smoke-thickened growl, “Get your mangy fucking asses back inside.There ain’t nothin’ to see here.”

Zeus cups my chin between his thumb and forefinger and studies my face in the dim light.My eye socket is throbbing, and my cheek feels sticky and wet.His eyes hood over as he studies me and his nostrils flare in anger.

“I should have killed the bastard,” Zeus whispers.I don’t say anything to that.What can I say?“But I’m betting this is not the first time he’s raised a hand to you, is it?”

“No.”

“Jesus.”

“I’m okay.I’ll be fine.”

“You got somewhere you can stay tonight?”

I shake my head.Tears well in my eyes but I refused to let them fall.“I have a friend who lives on Magazine, but she’s not back in town until tomorrow.”

“Then you’re coming home with me.”

“But Jimmy—”

“Isn’t gonna bother you anymore.Come on, darlin’.”

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