Page 13 of Maddox

I didn’t need to look to know the three Marines were looking for a fight and today, I was their designated choice for a punching bag.

“Hey, fucker. Didn’t you get the message we don’t want you in these parts?” The gruff voice was one I recognized, the leader of the illustrious trio of idiots.

Ignoring the asshole, I glanced at the television, willing the bastards away. They’d set fire to my barn on day three after I’d moved in. Could I prove it? Hell, no, and in truth, I’d thought of retaliation, but I was a changed man.

At least according to my shrink.

“Hey, bubba. We’re talking to you.” The second guy was weak, merely a shadow of the leader. I threw back the rest of my Jack, sliding the shot glass toward Jeff who gave me a hard glare.

When the third in the rowdy group dared to shove his palm against my shoulder, I took a deep breath.

“What’s wrong with you? Are you a pussy?” He laughed and so did the other two.

Two of them were already slurring their words. I didn’t have time for this shit nor was I inclined to allow bullying. “Isuggest you three gentlemen return to your caves and enjoy your afternoon.”

“Yeah? Or what? Does the big, bad SEAL think he’s going to do something about it?” The first guy leaned over the bar, staring at me intently.

“Hey,” Jeff snarled. “Why don’t the three of you pick another place to destroy your livers?”

“Who the fuck are you?” guy number two asked.

Sighing, I took a long pull of my beer and shoved the bottle aside before standing. As I slowly turned, the three crowded in. This shit had gotten old. I glanced from one to the other, locking eyes with the leader who appeared rode hard and put away wet after having been dredged through the sewer.

“It’s in your best interest to do as Jeff told you to do. Leave.” My words held no emotion. Why would I waste it on the likes of three idiots? I’d learned their names more out of curiosity than anything. Troublemakers existed everywhere. The leader, Tommy, was a big brute of a man, using his brawn to intimidate others in the small town.

“Yeah?” Tommy threw out. “What are you going to do about it?”

I glanced at the other four customers, who were staring at the interaction intently.

“Leave. Now,” I stated.

I stood a couple of inches taller than Tommy and as I stared into his eyes, I knew instantly he needed a boost in his hunt for male dominance. Well, if the fucker was stupid enough to think he was getting it from me, God help him.

Tommy sniffed, grinning as if I was no threat and made another more serious mistake.

He decided to throw a punch.

I caught his fist in my palm, squeezing until he cried out in pain.

“Last warning,” I told all three.

“Well, shit,” Jeff mumbled from behind me.

There was that expression of all hell breaking loose. That’s what the three boys thought they were starting by attacking me.

The first brutal punch I issued landed under Tommy’s jaw, sending him pivoting to the side and down for the count.

When Jake decided he could take me on himself, I didn’t hold back, fisting my hand and ensuring both his gut and his jaw felt the appropriate anguish. He was pummeled backward, slamming into a chair and crashing to the floor.

While Wayne was shocked, his eyes highlighting a hint of fear, the fucker was dumb enough to take on the cause.

His punch landed in my gut and I slowly lifted my head, narrowing my eyes. “Now, you’ve pissed me off.” I yanked him by the back of his tee shirt, tossing him into the center of the bar.

And away from Jeff’s tables. I certainly didn’t want the man to fund a midday brawl on my behalf.

I’d learned to fight when I was a teenager, picked on initially until I’d grown several inches and had bench pressed my way into gaining seventy pounds. I wasn’t angry with the three idiots. They were simply blowing off steam.

Sadly, they’d picked the wrong person to take out their aggressions on.

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