Page 58 of Guarding Grace (Hawk Security #2)

Suddenly, someone yanked me. A hard fist struck me in the kidney. As I staggered forward, the attacker kicked the back of my leg, sending me down to my knees. Then strong arms wrapped me in a headlock. “You asshole.” It was Pete.

I scratched and pulled at the arm around my neck to no effect. This guy knew his stuff.

“You promised to keep her safe.”

“Let him go,” Grace screeched.

I couldn’t breathe, and swinging an elbow didn’t get me anywhere.

“Lucas told me she’d been attacked. And you thought you’d move in on my little sister when she was vulnerable? I should end you right here, right now.” He tightened the hold, and my vision blurred.

On my knees and unarmed, I was helpless with no leverage .

“Let him go,” Grace screamed. “I’m marrying him.”

Her words made Pete loosen his grip enough that I didn’t black out. “What?”

“I love him,” Grace said more calmly now. “And I’m marrying him whether you like it or not.”

Coughing, I fell forward when Pete released me. I stood as soon as I could and spun to face the angry bull.

Pete pointed a finger my way. “You…you promised?—”

Grace got between us and faced off with her brother. “You apologize right the fuck now. I’d be dead if it wasn’t for Terry.”

Lucas stepped forward. “It’s true.”

Pete’s gaze swung from Grace to Lucas and back again. “You can’t marry him.”

“You don’t get a freaking vote.” My wonderful woman let him have it with both barrels. She shoved the ring on her finger at him. “I’m marrying him, and if you don’t apologize this minute, you’re not invited to the wedding.”

Pete took a long, labored breath.

“And I’ll never talk to you again,” she threatened. Her tone was icy.

Pete straightened and walked around her to me, extending his hand. “Sorry.”

“Like you mean it,” Grace snarled.

I shook with him. “I’ll take care of her.”

Pete grimaced. “You fucking better.”

As she cuddled up next to me, I realized we’d both survived—her the Russo and Marku attacks, and me her brother’s rage.

“Hey, guys?”

We turned to find Serena standing on a chair.

“It’s time for pool and darts at Tito’s.”

“Eight ball in the corner pocket,” Lucas announced.

He had challenged me to another round of pool at Tito’s after the mechanical bull riding competition that Duke and Serena had won. We’d been here a while, and after several beers, I wasn’t lining up my shots as cleanly as I should.

“I’m going to meet with this Sinclair guy tomorrow,” he told me. “Are you sure he’s real?”

“Positive.” I couldn’t get a read on whether Lucas was happy to learn he had a cousin that none of the family had known about .

Yates Sinclair was the man Lucas’s mother, Carol, had asked me to check out—he one she’d been contacted about as a familial DNA match. I’d met with Sinclair and confirmed enough details to satisfy me that he was the son of Carol’s lost sister, Wilma.

“You better be right,” he said as he sunk the ball.

Of course, Lucas made the remaining shots and beat me. Smiling, he collected my twenty bucks. “A rematch?”

“No thanks.” I was a decent player when I hadn’t been drinking, but I knew when to quit.

“You sure?”

I knew better than to fall for that. “Maybe you should try darts against my fiancée.”

Lucas laughed. “Hard pass. I know my limitations.”

When Grace peeled herself away from Serena, her eyes connected with mine. The jolt her smile sent through me was as strong as it ever had been. I joined her in a dozen determined steps. “I missed you.”

“You’re the one who accepted Lucas’s challenge.”

“True.” I swept her up for a steamy kiss.

“I missed you too,” she said breathlessly when I set her down. She then cocked her head in the direction of Zane and whispered in my ear. “Have you noticed?”

I nodded and answered equally softly. “You mean Peyton?”

“Yeah.”

Just to be safe, I wanted to keep someone at Grace’s work last week while I was on assignment. Zane had jumped at the opportunity, and it had become obvious that Peyton was the reason.

“Do you want me to tell him to back off?” I asked.

“Of course not. She’s a big girl. She can make up her own mind if he ever makes a move.”

Their chemistry had been obvious to all this evening, but so far Zane was playing it cool.

It was only about ten minutes later that Peyton wandered over. “I’ve got to call it a night.” She took Grace’s hand. “I’m so happy for you guys.”

“Thanks for coming,” Grace answered, hugging her. “And thank you for the lovely candlesticks.”

She continued her goodbyes and left.

I didn’t say anything when I noticed Zane exit shortly after she did.

The shout came from the door a few minutes later. “Call an ambulance.” It was Zane, and he carried a limp Peyton.

“You call,” I told Grace as I rushed to the door.

Lucas beat me there. “What happened? ”

“She got mugged,” Zane said as he as he set her down.

Peyton moaned. “Let me go.”

“Where?” I demanded.

“Across the street.”

With plenty of people huddled around the pair, I bolted for the door. Outside, I scanned the street, but couldn’t see anybody in either direction. The asshole or assholes had gotten away, so I went back inside.

“No,” Peyton complained. She was sitting up now. “I’ll be fine.”

“I called the cops,” Serena said.

“No cops,” Peyton said louder than I thought necessary. She stood up. “It was only twenty bucks.”

“And your watch,” Zane argued. He was animated as well.

Her wrist was missing the Rolex she normally wore.

“It was a knockoff.” Peyton pulled her arm loose. “I’m going home.”

Zane followed her. “You should go to the hospital and get checked.”

She threw up a middle finger and stomped to the door.

“Look after her,” Lucas ordered.

Zane followed her out of the bar.

My woman wrapped an arm around my waist. “Maybe you should help. I’m worried about her.”

“Zane’s worried enough for both of us.”

With the commotion over, the bar quickly went back to its rowdy self.

I tensed when Pete started our way.

But his demeanor had softened. “Hey, man. I’m sorry about before.” He looked down and took in a labored breath. “She’s my baby sister. I just lost it.”

“Forget it.” I’d expected him to have a hard time accepting anybody being with his little sister, and I damned sure wasn’t going to tell him she wasn’t a baby anymore.

“No, I mean it. Lucas and Duke filled me in, and I can’t thank you enough for what you did to keep her safe.”

I nodded. “She’s special.”

He waved a finger at me. “Don’t you dare hurt her.”

“Not a chance, brother. She’s it for me.” I’d expected the warning. We were friends, but she was his blood. “You look pretty good for what you’ve been through.”

He had a scar on his face, and he wasn’t as buff as when he’d left, but he wasn’t as emaciated as the average rescued hostage.

He shrugged. “They were negotiating to trade me for Al-Hamadi and joked that a skinny goat doesn’t bring a good price.”

Al-Hamadi was a leader of the terrorist cell the US captured last year .

“Want to hit the range next week and see how badly you can lose to me?”

When he accepted, I knew I had my friend back.

Grace waved me over.

“Anyway,” Pete said as I turned. “I gotta say I’m glad she chose somebody honorable. Semper Fi, man.” He gave me a one-armed hug.

I bro-hugged him back. “Semper Fi.” As Marines, we knew honor came above all else. I was glad to have my best friend back in one piece.

Grace arrived to pull us apart. “Give me back my man.”

Duke called out to Pete for a game of pool, and he headed over.

Grace rose up on her toes to whisper in my ear, which probably wasn’t necessary with all the noise in the bar. “I think it’s time you took me home.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Not before I beat you at a game of darts.”

“Dream on, big guy.”