Page 61 of Retaking the Shot
Hand in hand, we headed that way. As we got to the entrance to the backstreet, a voice called out from behind us, “Hey, Ford!”
We both turned and immediately Ford went rigid. I could barely make out the guy’s face until he took a few steps forward and stood under the streetlight. It was the guy I’d met on The Click, and by the way Ford was reacting, he knew him too.
“Do you know him?” I asked my boyfriend just to clarify.
Ford nodded and then whispered, “He’s the one.”
“The one?”
His eyes cut to mine, and he explained, “The one from high school.”
The earth swayed as his words hit me. Tim was the guy who had hurt Ford. The one who had caused so much pain in Ford’s life that even telling me what had happened, all Ford could do was cry in my arms. Tim was also the one who had caused Ford to almost overdose on alcohol and pills.
I instantly saw red.
“I didn’t know you two knew each other.” Tim grinned, and I felt my blood pressure rise. “You’re dating a hockey star now?”
Ford’s grip on my hand tightened and my heart raced. Tim’s words had already pissed me off, and I had no idea what was about to happen because I was ready to snap.
“We’re leaving,” I stated, needing to get Ford out of there. Needing to get myself out of there.
Tim stepped forward to block our path, his eyes locked onto Ford’s. “Leaving so soon, Ford? I thought we could catch up.”
Ford’s jaw clenched. “I have nothing to say to you.”
But Tim wasn’t ready to let go. He took another deliberate step forward, invading our personal space. “Why are you acting like this? We used to be friends.”
I could see Ford struggling to maintain his self-control, and I was seconds away from tugging him away, but he had run before and maybe it was time to end the matter once and for all.
“Friends?” I retorted, my anger bubbling to the surface. “You think what you did to him was something a friend would do?”
Tim’s gaze shifted to me, a mocking grin playing on his lips. “Emmett Cooper. This is getting interesting. Are you going to defend his honor?”
I took a step forward, my voice low and menacing. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with.”
Tim’s laughter echoed in the alley. “Let’s see how tough you really are.”
Without warning, he swung a punch at Ford. Instinctively, I stepped in, blocking the hit so his fist collided with my chest. The impact stung, but I didn’t hesitate to let loose, throwing punch after punch. Each blow was a burst of rage, an explosion of pent-up anger and protectiveness. My knuckles connected with Tim’s face, his blood coating my hand with each blow.
But Tim was no pushover. He retaliated, landing a solid punch on my jaw, the force reverberating through my skull. I staggered, shaking off the pain, and returned with relentless fury. The sound of grunts, punches, and the shuffling of feet echoed in the narrow space.
Blood dripped from Tim’s nose, painting the ground beneath us. I could taste the metallic tang of my own blood in my mouth, but I continued to hit him over and over.
Suddenly, Butcher appeared and roared, “Enough!” He lunged forward, grabbed me by the arm, and pulled me away from Tim.
My fists clenched, ready for more, and I snarled, my chest heaving. “Let go, Butch!”
Butcher shook his head. “No. I don’t know what this is about, but it’s not like you.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him why, but I didn’t want to betray Ford. Instead, I shot a final glare at Tim, who stood there dripping with blood.
Butcher turned to him. “You better disappear before things get worse for you.”
“Disappear?” Tim chuckled and wiped his bloody nose with the back of his hand. “Emmett Cooper just assaulted me. I’m calling the cops.”
19
Ford
