“Don’t play coy with me. I know you’re fucking Maris. I mean, the guy’s generally happy-go-lucky as a rule, but that’s not the face of a man who isn’t getting some action.” He reached out to touch her face. “You know what I mean?”
She slapped his hand away before it could touch her. The fact that his body had been pressed to hers without her permission made Vanessa’s blood run cold. Even a hint of nonconsensual touching was enough to simultaneously make her want to throw up until she passed out and commit aggravated assault until he passed out. “Of course I know what you mean. A toddler would know what you mean, you monosyllabic imbecile. And if you don’t want a repeat of the other day at the gym, I suggest you take your bullshit elsewhere.”
The sneer on Danny’s face morphed into rage, pure and simple. “I’d watch your tone with me, bitch.”
“I disagree, Akana.” Jax placed his massive frame between her and her pest. Her heart rate slowed somewhat. She was glad he showed up as a buffer, but she wasn’t one to hide behind anyone’s apron, so she stepped around to stand in front of him. Caveman that he was, he compromised by placing a hand on her hip and pulling her into his side. She decided it was a compromise she could live with. “I don’t think she has to watch her tone with anyone. But if you don’t leave her alone, you’re going to have to watch your six. Feel me?”
Oh, shit. “Jackson, don’t you dare,” she said quietly to him. “I don’t want you fighting because of me, or for me, or anything else.”
Without taking his eyes off the other man, he replied, “Wasn’t planning on it. I’m simply informing him that his company isn’t welcome, and he should run along before he says something he’ll regret.” His eyes narrowed and his jaw muscles pulsed in aggravation. “Again.”
It seemed Danny’s face had only two settings because the sneer was back again. “Yeah, that got to you, didn’t it, Maris? Maybe because you know it’s true?”
Vanessa felt Jackson’s muscles bunch around her, and the hand on her hip tightened reflexively as though trying to make a fist but unable to part with her to do so. Not good. One more word from his teammate and Jackson was going to throw down in the middle of this crowd.
“Whatever gets you through the night, Akana. You know what? You stay and have fun. I think we’ve danced enough for one night. See you at the gym.” And with that he took her hand and started to lead her away.
“Remember, Maris, lemme know when you’re done with her. I’ll fuck that little cunt so long and hard she’ll have to beg me to stop.”
Vanessa froze in her tracks. Memories of crying herself to sleep at night because she hadn’t been able to protect her baby sister from a predator, a monster who gave no thought to ruining a girl’s life, came rushing to the surface. Her carefully constructed walls that prevented them from seeing the light of day had been breached by a mere sentence.
Releasing Jax’s hand, she closed her fist, spun around, and decked the man square in his nose with every ounce of hatred she had for him, Carl, and every other man like them.
…
Bright red blood exploded from Akana’s face. His eyes flew wide, stunned as his hands flew up to his broken nose while it continued to gush between his fingers. But a second later, the initial shock was replaced with a venomous snarl and the deafening roar of retaliation.
Jax saw the move coming before Akana even thought about cocking his fist. He’d managed to somehow keep his cool earlier when he really wanted to pound this punk into the ground, but hell would freeze over before he ever let anyone lay a hand on Vanessa.
Grabbing the guy’s swinging arm with one hand and clinching him behind the neck with the other, he used Akana’s forward momentum against him, pulling him in hard. Jax’s knee met his sternum, knocking the wind clear out of him and possibly causing some very uncomfortable fractures.
As Akana fell over gasping, trying to catch his breath, Jax turned back to Vanessa, who hadn’t moved. She just stood there, stone still, oblivious to the blood spattered on her dress and coating her hand. Oblivious to the crowd that gathered around them. Her shoulders heaved with shallow breaths and if looks could kill, Akana would be nothing more than a pile of smoking ash.
He was still a little stunned—and frankly a lot proud—that she’d cold cocked the bastard in the first place.
Thankfully security stepped in and, after a brief summary of what happened from a few patrons, they hauled the cocksucker away.
Gently grasping her shoulders, Jax turned her away from her victim to bring her attention to him. “Honey, look at me.” Her body had turned, but her head stayed where it was, her eyes not even focused on the man she bloodied, but probably things from her past only she could see.