Page 83 of Finding You
Astrid glared at him as she stood up. “Shut up, Max. You are lucky I didn’t do worse.”
“You cunt. That’s big talk coming from you. Now that your dumbass bodyguard is here, you think you can threaten me.”
“It’s not a threat, Max. It’s a fucking promise.” She stomped her foot. “And don’t ever speak about my boyfriend again, you cocksucker.”
“You are such a dumb cunt,” he yelled back.
Astrid flew at him, fists flying. I grabbed her by the waist and hauled her back into me.
“Calm down, Astrid,” I said into her hair as she tried to pull away from me.
The police officer tried to interject, putting his body between Astrid and Max, but she dodged around him and stood, hands on her hips, in front of Max’s prone body.
“I will break your ugly-ass face again, Max. Don’t ever put a hand on me or any other woman for that matter. We both know I can fuck you up, and I will happily do it again.”
I grabbed her and picked her up, trying to get her out of this situation.
“Did you hear that, officer?” Max shouted. “She threatened me again. I am in fear of my life. I’d like to file a protective order.”
Astrid growled. “Killer, you are making this worse,” I pleaded with her.
She turned to the police officer, her face a mask of calm. “Officer, this man attacked me. I acted in self-defense.” The police officer looked skeptically from Astrid to Max, who was still slumped on the floor, bloody and bruised. His wife had gotten him some ice in a towel that he was applying to his clearly broken nose. Served him right.
“This woman assaulted me! My foot! My nose! Arrest her at once.”
“Now, now. We are going to bring you both down to the station and discuss this,” the police officer said. He gestured to his fellow officer who was pushing the crowd back.
“I want to press charges. This was assault and battery,” Max ranted. “She clearly has some kind of special training! She is a deranged ex-employee who thinks she’s in love with me.”
His wife gasped and glared at Astrid.
I put my arm around her waist, protectively. “I did no such thing, officer,” Astrid explained. “I was headed to the ladies’ room when that gentleman grabbed me, slammed me into the wall, and threatened me. I defended myself—successfully, I might add—against the attack. And I would like to press charges against him as well as secure a protective order.”
Despite the best efforts of the police officers, a crowd had gathered. Astrid stood, tall and unwavering. She was not embarrassed—she was a total boss. Listening to what that prick had done to her made me want to bash his face in further, but even I could admit she had done a damn good job on her own.
She curled into my chest and I whispered in her ear, “Good job.”
She smiled at me.
“Ma’am, we are going to have to take you both down to the station while we sort this out. There are witnesses, and we are going to ask the hotel for the security footage. But this is much easier if you cooperate.”
“Wait a minute,” I interrupted. “I don’t see why you need to arrest her. She was just defending herself.” Max could rot in jail for eternity, but Astrid did nothing wrong.
“That remains to be seen, sir, and based on the injuries sustained by both parties, we need to investigate thoroughly.”
I felt sick. My girl was getting arrested. For defending herself against assault? Astrid was right, the patriarchy was a motherfucker.
I looked through the assembled crowd, and I found a stern set of gray eyes boring holes through my skull. Justice Wentworth. She strode over and assessed the situation.
“What on earth did you do, Astrid?”
“Mother, I was attacked. I was terrified and I fought back.”
She nodded. “Astrid, you know I can’t be associated with this type of behavior. I am going to go home.”
The police led Astrid away in handcuffs. I listened as they read her the Miranda rights. My heart clenched and I couldn’t breathe. Logically, I knew she was in the right, but I couldn’t bear to see them handle my woman like that.
The officers were nice enough to give me the address of the police station where I could meet them and Astrid once she was booked.
