Raging Hard(60)

I wasn’t thinking straight and I knew it. That first blow to the head might have given me a concussion. Worse, I was still barely coming down from my sexual high, my dick slowly softening. I could hardly defend myself when I still had the taste of Claire’s pussy dancing on my fingers.

The guy came at me again, a little clumsily, and I sidestepped him. He stumbled on the pavement, giving me space to maneuver. I looked over at Claire and heard her try to scream, her voice muffled by a second man.

That brought me back to myself. I quickly assessed the situation like the SEALs had taught me, realizing that I was up against two men. They both wore ski masks and boring clothing, as if they were accountants. The man attacking me held a police-issue nightstick in one hand.

He came at me again, and this time I didn’t hesitate or play defense. I was all dangerous, violent energy as my body moved on autopilot. I emptied my mind, entering into that Zen-like battle readiness once again, where I was neither alive nor dead, only a body capable of doing terrible things.

I weaved under punches, stepping in and cracking his jaw with my fist. I followed that by grabbing the arm holding the weapon and twisting, causing him to scream in pain. I felt his elbow pop from the socket and applied more pressure, causing it to break cleanly.

I kicked him down to the ground and kicked him again in the head until he was still. I didn’t think he was dead, but he wasn’t getting up anytime soon.

That was how I had to be, brutal and efficient. I couldn’t hesitate, not when I was up against two guys and Claire was in danger. I had to take him down and keep him down. The man knew how to fight, but he was an amateur compared to me, like he had never actually used any of the training he had.

The other man was backing away, still holding on to Claire. I pulled the gun from my waistband and aimed it at his head.

“Let the girl go,” I said.

Instantly he complied, putting his hands up.

“Claire,” I said. She ran toward me.

The guy made his move. As soon as she was between the two of us, he turned and sprinted down the alleyway. I moved, trying to get a good line on him, but I couldn’t risk hitting Claire. The man made it to the other end and was gone by the time I felt like I had a clean shot.

Claire threw her arms around me and I hugged her back, holding her tight.

“What the fuck was that?” she whispered into my ear.

“It’s okay,” I said. “You’re okay.”

“Who were they?”

“If I had to guess, they were same guys as last time.”

“Nate,” she said, on the verge of tears, “why are they doing this?”

“I’m not sure, but we need to get Lydie and get out of here.”

I moved her away and looked at her. She nodded, clearly in shock.

“Come on. Can you do this with me?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Good. Be strong.”

I quickly led her back into the club, leaving the first man there on the ground. I didn’t have time to inspect him or to wake him up, but I knew what I’d find: a tattoo on his wrist of a dagger going into a heart.

We found Lydie still at the bar, and with one look she knew something had happened. We gathered her up and were back out front, flagging down a cab, and back home within fifteen minutes. It all moved by in a blur of activity. I didn’t have time to think or second-guess; my only priority was keeping the girls safe.

Finally, when we were back inside, the anger I had been holding at bay ever since the men had attacked came surging back.

“Guys, what happened?” Lydie asked finally. She’d been oddly quiet the whole time, probably because Claire seemed like a catatonic mess.

“People are targeting Claire’s father,” I said through clenched teeth. “They’ve been trying to kidnap her to get at him.”

“Holy shitballs. Are you serious?”

“Yes, I’m serious.”

She was stunned. For a second I felt a little proud that I had finally found something that would shut up even Lydie.

“Come on, Claire,” I said. “Let me get you to bed.”

“Are you sure?” Lydie asked.

“She’s in shock,” I said. “I’m here. I can handle her.”

“Okay.”

“Go home.”

She stared at me. “Don’t let her out of your sight.”

“I won’t. Call a cab and don’t leave the house until it’s out front.”

She nodded, and then I took Claire upstairs. Lydie watched us go, concern clear on her face.

“Why would they do this?” Claire asked me.

“I don’t know.”

I helped her undress and put her in a T-shirt and shorts. I’d be a liar if I said that I didn’t sneak a single look at her incredible fucking body, but otherwise I was a perfect gentleman.