Page 4 of Furious Protector
“Don’t let it get to you.They’re bullies and they’ll back down when they know they can’t be beat.You don’t worry, because they can and will be beat.”
Still, she doesn’t look convinced.“I’m about sick of it already.Maybe that’s what I should do, get out of town, quit dealing with their shit day after day, month after month.If it weren’t for Cole, Garrett and Mason it wouldn’t be safe at all.It was a great town until those thugs decided they wanted a piece of what Kenny has built.I can’t believe they had the audacity to walk in here like that.”
Lacy leans over the bar.“What do you want to make a bet that Eldridge Jr.had his hand in this, at least his daddy did, that’s for damn sure.”
Lettie puts a margarita in front of Jules, a fancy little drink in front of Patti, and hands me a glass of soda before passing out one after another to the others.“Glad you boys were here,” she says.“I don’t know how good of a shot I am these days.”
The blue-eyed blonde’s eyes sparkle as she downs more of her drink before her sass kicks in.“Next time one of those thugs come near me, I’ll put a shot in their ass they won’t soon forget.”
I smirk.This one here is pure trouble, and I sure do love a little trouble.
She turns her pretty little head and looks up at me with those eyes.“Did you hear me?Don’t think that I won’t.”
I heard every single word, but yet it all went in one ear and right out the other because the moment I locked eyes with the hot little blue-eyed blonde with the sassy attitude and tight jeans, my mind was on one thing only, and it wasn’t on keeping her safe, at least not from me.
“I have no doubt you would have put them in their place,” I tell her.“But let’s be sure this is behind us for the night.The guys filled me in on what’s happened in the past with Eldridge and his crew.Finish your drinks ladies.I’m going to walk around outside and take a look-see.When we leave, I’m going to drive you both home.”
Jules raises her eyebrows, but she doesn’t say no.Not that I would listen if she did.No one’s getting hurt on my watch, especially not the little sweetheart sitting next to me who’s already more scared than she wants to let on.
She may want everyone to think she can handle herself, but the erratically racing pulse at the base of her neck, and the look in her eyes when his hand reached out, I saw them both.
Patti puts her cell down on the bar after pounding a message into its screen.I gesture to the phone.“You have someone waiting for you at home?”She shakes her head.“Nope, Jules and I have become the minority in town.Single, unattached and we like it that way.Well, except when things like this happen, right Jules?”
Jules lifts her head up from the fishbowl of margarita.“It’s a tough job, but someone has to stay available and single these days.Give the single guys in this town someone to dance with.”
I’d like to take the little darling in my arms and make our own little space to dance right in front of the stage, but keeping her and the others safe has to be priority one.At least for now.
I find Mason a little way down the bar sitting next to PJ.She’s looking at me like she overheard the conversation from three seats down.Mason clearly did.He gives me a smirk.I grin at the look on his face.“Mind your business,” I mouth.
He raises his hand as in surrender.“I feel your pain.I really do.”He lowers his voice.
“That was me last year when I saw PJ for the very first time.Man, she was a beautiful mixture of fire and ice, all rolled up into one.”
PJ turns and smirks.“I’m still fire.Bank on it,” she tells him.
“I’m going to take a walk around.You want to help me check the perimeter?”I ask Mason.
“Copy that.You take the left, I’ll take the right,” he answers, giving PJ a kiss on the lips before we head to the door.
“Once we make sure things are okay here, and they’re not still hanging around, I’ll run Jules and Patti home.”
Mason glances at his watch.“Copy that.”Not one of us after the grueling training we’ve endured through the years, no matter which division we received it from, needs to be told to have each other’s six.
It’s ingrained in us, as if we were brothers, because whether we know each other well or not, we are.United in a mission, a plan to rid this beautiful town nestled below the green summer hills of the villains that want to claim and shed blood just like years ago.
The minute we’re both outside, I unholster my Glock from the waistband of my pants.Something’s not right.I can feel it without anyone saying a word.Mason feels it too, it’s that sixth sense that gets real sharp when you’re face to face with combat soldiers deep in battle, and you only have your senses and skills to keep you alive.
He presses himself up against the building, walking in one direction.I take the other way, getting our timing in sync with a single nod before we turn our respective corners, out of sight from the other with plans to meet around back.
I walk slow, careful not to make a sound, and when I get to the end of the building, voices let me know that right around that back corner, lurking in the dark, I’m far from alone.I strain to hear every word they say without making a move or uttering a sound.
“No, Cole and his boys were in the bar tonight.And their ladies just happened to be at the bar.We’ll follow Jules home tonight after the guys have said good night.”
My jaw hardens and my hand tightens around the Glock.When they get to Jules’ place, they’re going to have more than a little surprise waiting for them.Because no one, especially them, is messing with the little blonde.Unless it’s me.
4
Jules
