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I shouldn’t have said it. I knew that, but I hated this man with a passion. He was messing with my business. He wanted my fiancée. He believed he could buy his way into whatever he wanted. I had zero fucks to give when it came to him.

He scoffed. “You think Harlow’s going to settle for a woodchuck like you? She left you once. What makes you think she won’t do it again? Why don’t you do the smart thing and walk away. I’ll even make it worth your while. I will write you a check right now. Name your price.”

I stared at him for a full five seconds before I laughed in his face. “That’s your answer for everything, isn’t it? Thinking that throwing money at a problem will make it all go away?”

He rolled his eyes. “Think about all the tools you could buy? Hell, you could even buy yourself a new truck. All you have to do is take the money.”

He sounded weak and desperate, as if he knew he was fighting a losing battle, but his pride would never allow him to accept it.

I folded my arms. “I’m not for sale or some problem you can get rid of.”

“Are you sure about that? It worked last time.”

Rage took over my vision. I heard a few stools tip over, but I was already moving. I was sick and tired of his shit. After everything he’d pulled, messing with the permits, lurking around, and making her life miserable, I was done. This little showdown was five years in the making.

“Don’t come into my town and think you can throw a check at me and get your way. She is not going back to your sorry ass. Get that through your thick head.”

He bumped his chest into mine. “You would be a fool not to take me up on my offer. She is not worth it. She will walk again.”

“For an Ivy League college boy, you sure are pretty dense. She wants nothing to do with you or William Bennett. So, stop throwing a hissy fit and move along, Bartholomew.”

I smirked. He wasn’t a fan of his given name, and I couldn’t blame him.

His nostrils flared. “You going to turn down my offer for a bitch that doesn’t even put out. You are dumber than I thought.”

That did it.

I picked him up by the collar and dragged him across the bar. “Say that again. I fucking dare you.”

He stumbled back into a table, knocking over a basket of wings. His smirk dropped. “Do you know how much power and influence I have?”

“You don’t look like you have a lot of power right now, you little shithead,” I spat, standing over him, letting him know this would be a very short fight if he kept pushing my buttons. “Stay away from her!”

He laughed sarcastically. “You think I’m afraid of you?”

I shoved him again, and this time, he pushed me back. I had six inches and thirty pounds of muscle on the guy, but he didn’t even flinch. I stepped back and threw my hands out. “If you want to back up your tough talk, go ahead and throw the first punch.”

It happened so quickly that I didn’t have time to prepare. One minute, I stared him down, and the next, I felt his knuckles connect with my jaw. It wasn’t even a good punch, but it still sent me off balance. I didn’t think he had it in him.

Before he could even think about taking another swig, I shot my fist up to the bridge of his nose.

He fell back, and suddenly, Ryan was hopping over the bar to break things up. He pulled me back, and Finn appeared at my side.

Ryan stood between us; his chest was heaving.

The entire bar went silent.

“That was your last warning, I said, as he staggered to his feet. “You aren’t getting another one. You lost. You know it. I know it. The whole damn town knows it. So, pack up your shit and go back to the city and don’t bother coming back.”

He wiped at the blood flowing from his nose and came at me like a drunk frat boy with something to prove.I guess he wasn’t listening. Don’t say I didn’t try to warn him.

He took a wide swing and barely touched the side of my head.

I was fueled by adrenaline and five years of bad blood.

I landed a hot, angry hit to his stomach.

He doubled over so I finished him off with a headbutt.

It hurt like a bitch, but it hurt him more.

He bent to his knees, trying to catch his breath.

I was about to give him one last pop before someone grabbed my wrist, stopping me from going after him again.

“Enough!” Ryan held his arm out, keeping his hand on my shoulder.“No fighting in my bar.”

I yanked my arm free. “Fine. We’ll take it outside then.”

“That won’t be happening,” Tuck said, appearing at my side. “Let’s not forget who the sheriff is in this town.”

“Brooks.” Hayes’ voice sounded like a plea as he held on to the back of my shirt. “Please, for once in your life. Listen to Tuck.”

I wiped the corner of my mouth where I could feel a sting and pointed toward the door. “Somebody, get him out of my sight.”

Baz staggered to his feet, glaring at me like a man who was more pissed about losing his pride than he was about losing the fight.

His collar was ripped, and his nose was swollen and bloody. “You’re going to regret this. You have no idea who you’re fucking with.”

I rubbed my burning knuckles. “You can throw your name and money around all you want, but it won’t change anything. And if you know what’s good for you, you won’t step foot in this town again, and if you do, I’ll do more than kick your ass next time.”

Tuck was already dragging him toward the door. “Get your hands off of me,” he spat. “You’ll be hearing from my lawyer.”

“Keep it up and you’ll be sleeping in one of my jail cells,” Tuck snapped.

I tucked my shirt back in my pants and exhaled. I glanced down at my swollen hand. It was sore, but Baz definitely took the brunt of the blows.

“Well,” Hayes said, throwing me a towel. “That escalated quickly.”

I rolled my shoulders back as Ryan slid a cold beer in front of me. “Sorry, Ry.”

“All good. I’ve seen worse.” He gave me a salute and walked back to serve his customers.

Tuck dragged an empty stool up to the table. “You okay, brother?”

I leaned back, sore and pissed. “I am for now.”

I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring. There was a good chance he would only stir up more trouble, but tonight, I didn’t care; I stood up for her. For us. And I’d do it again in a heartbeat.