Page 4 of Lord of the Lock

I didn’t need to imagine my own expression - I could see the shock mirrored in Ryan and Charlie’s faces. If the man wasn’t holding me up with one of those massive arms I’d have collapsed completely to the floor.

“C’mon, love — why don’t I introduce you to some of my best friends.” He gestured over to the table where the other two men were now stood and looked prepared to fight if they needed to. Ryan and Charlie blanched from the forehead down. They might have stood a chance against this man together, but not the three of them. “You can catch up with your local friends later, alright?”

Both men took a step back, and then edged over to the bar. They weren’t leaving, so I allowed myself to be shepherded over to the table by the giant. “Dark ale, was it?” he said over his shoulder to my father. I heard a grunt, which was the closest we’d get to conversation from him.

The giant deposited me in one of the bench seats opposite the two other men. One was a young, gorgeous twunk of a guy with blond hair and deep blue eyes. The other was the tall ginger Scotsman I’d seen at the bar. None of us spoke for a second, and my heart skipped a beat as the giant squeezed into the booth next to me and pushed a small shot glass in my direction. “For the shock, dear,” he said casually.

I couldn’t help but lean away from him and the other two. These were the kind of people who’d made my life a living hell. “Don’t drink, fine, I’ll have it,” said the giant. He took the shot and downed it like it was nothing.

The blond across the table rolled his eyes. “I’m Rhys and this is my better half, Callum.” He gestured to himself and the strawberry blonde Scotsman on one side of the table. His voice had just a hint of a Cardiff accent, but he was otherwise very well spoken. “And this bigcoc oenof a man is Finn.” He gestured to the giant at my side, who grinned down happily at me, seemingly oblivious to my discomfort.

“Coc oen?” asked Callum.

“Lamb’s cock. Weird Welsh insult,” said Rhys with a grin. “I’ll go get you some water…” he waited patiently.

“Nathan,” I said when I finally realised what he was waiting for.

“Nathan. I’ll go get you some water.”

Finn looked around conspiratorially and leaned in to whisper. “I got your dad that dark ale. Didn’t seem too pleased with me, but I’d rather you not sat over in that corner next to those two twats.”

He pointed over to where Charlie and Ryan were sat, just a few feet from my father. For some reason he glared at me rather than at the two men who had threatened his only son.

“He’s not pleased at much,” I muttered despite the still-present fear.

“So why don’t those two twats like you?” Finn asked loudly enough to be heard by the whole bar. I shrunk down in my seat, desperate to be anywhere else. But Charlie and Ryan didn’t make a move, so it was obvious they were still intimidated. Rhys came back to the table with the water and passed it over to me.

“Long story,” I muttered quietly. “I don’t really want to get into it right now.”

“Well they need to know to keep their hands off my boyfriend, because I will beat the shit out of anyone who touches him!” he was practically shouting by now, but it seemed to have the desired effect. Both men stood and left the bar immediately, leaving behind the remains of their drinks. Finn’s wide grin never left his face. He had an extraordinarily lovely smile for someone so terrifying and big.

“Real smooth, Finn,” said Rhys.

“Boyfriend?” Callum asked with a sly grin and then a wink at me. My heart was running at a million miles an hour. Last time I’d been a rugby player’s boyfriend…well, that’s why I was in the horrible situation I was in.

“I had to think quickly, my Bonnie Scottish friend,” said Finn. “I could have taken both those fuckers down if I wanted to but I have a reputation to rebuild, and knocking out the grassroots of Welsh rugby would not have helped me very much at all.”

I laughed and my fear started to dissipate just a little bit. The two men across the table seemed nice overall and Finn harmless. Those arms could do some serious damage, I still believed that, but not to me.

“So you guys…play rugby?” I asked.

All three exchanged a look and laughed. “Rhys is currently one of the best players in the world, Callum retired from rugby a legend of the game and I…” Finn hesitated for a second. “…I’m just taking a little break from the Welsh squad.” His smile had been replaced by a downturn in his mouth and a little furrow in his brow.

“You’re joking,” I said, looking round at them. I tended to avoid Wales’ national sport after all the bad experiences I’d had with it. But if these guys were international rugby players… “what the hell are you doing here?”

“I live here, I’m from here,” said Finn. “Started as a player for Pont, got scouted for Cardiff and then for Wales. And then…” he tailed off. “…and then I decided to come home for a bit.”

There was more to that story than he was letting on. But I wasn’t going to pry. I’d let him keep his secrets, and he would let me keep mine. In theory. All he would have to do is talk to any of the Pandy boys and he would have the whole bloody story, embellished with details from the other side.

“Nathan!” called my dad from the corner. He held up his empty pint. “We’re leaving.”

I rolled my eyes and stood up. Finn stood aside for me. “Thanks…for your help,” I said. I turned to the other two, now fully aware of their status as international rugby stars. “And…thanks for your service?” I said, feeling stupid as soon as the words escaped my lips.

“Two secs,” Finn said to the other two, placing a hand on my shoulder and following me and Dad from the pub. Finn looked around outside before letting go of me. “Just wanted to check they weren’t waiting around to jump you,” he said.

“Thank you so much. It really means a lot,” I said.

“Come on, Nathan. I’m going to need help getting over the pavement by the house and I’m getting cold,” my father whined.

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