Page 34 of Broken Daddy

Well, not exactly like this.

But she knew that if he got her away from the bar that she would find it harder to escape. And that she might not make it out of this alive.

So she had to act now.

Flying into action suddenly, she grabbed his hand with both of hers and dug her sharp nails in, dragging them through the skin. At the same time, she shoved her legs forward into the air and slammed them back into where she hoped his shins were.

He let out a scream of pain and thankfully, dropped his hand. Devi was ready for that. She let out an ear-piercing screech.

“Help! Outside! Help!”

She didn’t know whether anyone would hear her. If they were all busy talking, if the music was up loud, if she was just fucking unlucky . . . then she was going to die.

Another screech left her lips and to her shock, she saw someone running toward them. It took her a moment to get her eyes to focus. And then she realized who it was.

Devi started to sob.

Safe. She was safe.

As Hayes ran toward them, the asshole dropped her with a yell, taking off. Devi collapsed to the ground as Mac ran out of the bar, followed by Silla.

Hayes stopped briefly next to her.

“I’m f-fine. I’m g-good.”

“Stay with Mac. I fucking mean it.”

And then he was gone.

Shit.

She just realized that she’d made a mistake. She should have tried to keep him here, with her. Chasing after that guy was only going to lead to trouble and she didn’t want Hayes to get into trouble.

Not on her behalf.

She really wasn’t worth it.

Getting to her feet, she attempted to follow. But Mac grabbed hold of her, wrapping his arm around her just as her legs started to give way.

“Whoa, Devi. Where do you think you’re going?”

“Hayes. He’s gone after that guy.”

Mac turned her toward the bar. “Course he has. That fucker deserves to die.”

“B-but Hayes will get into t-trouble.” Shit. She was stuttering. That was something she hadn’t done in years.

It had taken her a long time to train herself not to stutter. She hadn’t stuttered as a kid. It was something that had appeared after her mom died. Actually, it had started happening when that asshole teacher started bullying her.

Devi took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. The stuttering wasn’t back for good. It was just a reaction to what had happened.

Or maybe to Hayes running off into trouble and her having no idea how to help him. Or stop him.

Sirens sounded in the distance.

“Don’t panic, Jack and Lenny went after him,” Mac reassured her. “I’ve called the cops too.”

Wonderful. That explained the sirens.