Page 13 of Memphis Bound
"Don't give a fuck," Phantom sneers. "The stuck-up bitch needs to learn some manners. I'm going to teach her. Simple mathematics."
"Chill the fuck out with that shit," Rick snaps at him. "Memphis wouldn't appreciate you talkin' to his girl like that."
"Yeah?" Phantom makes a show of looking around. "Well, Memphis ain't here, is he?" He smirks at Rick. "And unless you're still a snitchin' ass motherfucker, there's no reason he's going to find out, now is there?"
His words are a match, and Rick's temper, the gasoline. The two collide, erupting into flames without warning.
"You son of a bitch!" Rick roars, launching himself at Phantom.
Fists fly and curses bounce around the bar as a crowd quickly gathers. No one tries to intervene or break it up.
I spin, searching for Venom. I find him near the door to the bar, watching the scene unfold. He doesn't seem like he's in a big hurry to stop the fight, either.
He catches my gaze, his upper lip curling in a way that reminds me of a rabid dog. The man hates me. There's no other explanation for the way he looks at me. There's no explanation for him not helping right now, either.
I'm on my own in the middle of a fight between two bikers. Awesome.
"Jessup! I need help!" I shout, calling for backup from someone who might actually give a crap as I duck, trying to scurry out of the way.
I'm nearly out of the danger zone when Phantom spots me. Pure malice flows throw his expression as he reaches out, shoving me backward into one of Rick's biker buddies. The man's elbow catches me in the ribs—hard.
The bottles tumble from my hands, beer spilling all around me.
Glass shatters as one of the bottles breaks.
I cry out as my feet tangle, and the floor rushes up to meet me. I go down hard, landing on my ass with my hands extended to catch myself. A searing pain shoots up my left arm as a shard of glass slices my palm open. It isn't deep, but it hurts like hell.
I bite my lip, fighting the urge to cry. For some reason, I don't want to let these men see me cry. Even in the midst of the chaos, it seems important that I don't let them see my tears.
"Kylie!" Memphis roars suddenly, his voice cutting through the maelstrom.
I do sob this time—relief crashing through me when I look up and see him wading through the crowd like an avenging angel, murder stamped across his handsome face.
He storms into the fray like a demon, his eyes blazing with fury as they lock onto Phantom and Rick, who are still throwing punches. He moves with the grace of a predator, his muscles coiled and ready to strike.
In one swift motion, he grabs Phantom and Rick by the backs of their cuts, his fingers curling into the worn leather as he yanks them apart.
My heart pounds as he roars a curse, lifting them off their feet as if they weigh nothing. Their legs dangle as he holds them inches above the floor, the muscles in his arms flexed. It can't be easy to do, but he doesn't even falter.
His jaw clenches, a vein pulsing in his neck as he glowers at them. "You pieces of shit," he snarls, his voice dripping with venom. "You come into my goddamn bar and put your hands on my woman?"
"Memphis, man, I was—" Rick tries to explain, but Memphis isn't interested in hearing it.
"You're lucky I don't fucking kill you." He cracks their heads together with a sickening thud. The sound reverberates through the suddenly silent bar, everyone frozen in place.
Phantom's eyes roll back in his head, his body going limp.
Rick groans a curse, his face pale and ashen.
Memphis tosses them aside like ragdolls. They land sprawled across the floor in a heap, Rick half on top of Phantom's unconscious body.
"Venom!" he roars. "Get them the fuck out of my sight and out of my goddamn bar. Now!"
I glance toward the door where I saw Venom right before I fell. He wasn't in a hurry then, but he's hauling butt now. He shoots me an annoyed look and comes running.
Memphis doesn't spare Phantom or Rick another glance as he turns his attention to me, still sprawled on the ground amidst the broken glass and spilled beer.
He's at my side in two long strides, scooping me up like I weigh nothing at all. I instinctively curl into him, breathing in the intoxicating scent of leather, whiskey, and something uniquely Memphis.