Silver(33)

Bernard screamed and struggled harder, his arms alternating between trying to free his neck and swinging wildly.

“Two,” Adrien said, snapping his leg up to kick Bernard squarely in the groin, making the other man howl.

“Stop it! Stop!” Bernard begged. “I’m sorry. I’ll get the money.”

“You called her a whore. A slut. That woman is one of the best people I’ve ever met, and you attacked her. You made her afraid. You should have been grateful. Three.” He grabbed Bernard’s wrist with his free hand and made a quick snapping motion to one side that resounded with a terrible crack.

“No!” Bernard howled. “Stop!”

“Adrien,” Kelsey said, wondering if this was going too far.

“This man is a rapist,” Adrien said sharply. “I want him to be sure he thinks hard before he ever tries it again.” He set Bernard on the ground and grabbed him by the shirt front, yanking him in close so he could glare at him right in the eyes. “I’ll be watching you. You try anything like this again, you or anyone you know, and there will be more of this. Four.”

Bernard flinched, but Adrien paused. He looked over his shoulder at Kelsey with a small grin. “Anticipation makes it that much better,” he said darkly.

The next second, he’d planted his foot hard into Bernard’s gut, sinking it in and then pushing back with a hard snap that sent Bernard flying into the door, which broke under his weight, letting him roll out onto the stairway.

Adrien walked calmly after him, cracking his knuckles. He nudged Bernard so he rolled off the stairs, under the railing, and then jumped down to follow him.

Kelsey glanced around the room, and then, deciding there was nothing there important to her, quickly followed them out.

“Don’t kill him,” she hissed, running down the stairs to stand by Adrien. “I don’t want you in jail.”

“I’m not stupid,” Adrien said calmly. “I won’t kill him.” He raised his foot over Bernard’s trembling frame as he looked up in fear. “Five.” He brought his foot down quickly on Bernard’s shin, and she heard the loudest crack yet as it seemed to snap in half.

Bernard howled, rocking forward and screaming for help, and Adrien knelt and dragged him forward.

“Shut up,” Adrien said, and Bernard whimpered. “You want this again? Then try to find me. Try to tell on me. I’m happy to do this again.”

Bernard shook his head. “I won’t tell. Please. No more.”

Adrien released him and held out an arm for Kelsey. “Do you have anything else you need?”

She shook her head.

Adrien paused and looked back at Bernard. “Go ahead and use the four thousand you stole on medical care for your injuries. I’ll make Kelsey whole on my own. It was worth it to kick your worthless ass.”

Bernard just stared after them, breathing heavily as they strode away. He made no effort to follow them.

She almost wanted to go back and make sure he was okay, but Adrien was right.

Bernard had tried to rape her. Wouldn’t have hesitated to hurt or even kill Adrien if he was in the way.

What Adrien had done was ruthless, but perhaps it was deserved in the situation.

And even though calling the police might have been better, it would have been their word against his, and most likely nothing would be done about it.

This way, Bernard would definitely think twice before putting hands on an unwilling woman again.

Adrien walked swiftly with her to the car, opened the door for her, and then got in, cursing to himself. “We’ll stop by an ATM on the way home,” he said. “I’ll make sure you’re whole. I’m sorry we couldn’t take it out of that asshole’s hide.”

“No,” she said. “Let’s just go back. Are you okay, though? I can’t believe you just did that. I mean, are your hands bruised? Are you on steroids or something?”

He sighed. “I just… I’m weirdly strong, okay? I always have been.”

“What are you, a superhero?” She joked because her heart was still pounding, and she didn’t know what to say about the situation.

“What is that?” he asked.

“You know, they fly around and have super powers that humans don’t, and sometimes they’re oddly strong.”

He thought about it. “Interesting.”

“But you aren’t one?” she asked.

“I’m afraid not,” he said. “I’m just strong and very used to fighting.”

“But he weighed so much…” she said, trailing off.

“Are you sure you don’t want to stop by an ATM?” he asked.

“You really don’t have to pay me back,” she said. “It’s just nice that it’s over. I appreciate you taking my side.”