We tabbed out after last call, and Lisa and Carrie decided to take a cab to someone’s apartment for an after party. Beth decided to ride with Chad once again and my heart leapt for her when I saw him lead her by the hand to his Jeep.
We quickly crossed against the light to the parking lot and Kim and Ryan giggled while I fumbled for my keys.
I cursed as my keys tumbled to the ground into a pot hole. I reached down to get them, but a dirty hand beat me there. Kim and Ryan were silent as I slowly stood to face the raggedy man in front of me.
“Thank you,” I said, holding my hand out for my keys. I noticed there were three other men with him, emerging from the shadows of the alley.
“You’re welcome,” he rasped. He had an unkempt brown beard and his black eyes were abnormally deep-set. Upon first glance he appeared homeless, but his fingernails were too clean and his face wasn’t nearly worn enough. Even growing up on the East Side, I had seen my share of the destitute on the docks with my father.
“I don’t suppose you could spare some change for my trouble?”
“Er….sure,” I said, looking at Kim and Ryan before I dug into my wallet. I handed him a ten dollar bill and he glanced over to my BMW.
“I’m sure the key to this car is worth more than that,” he insisted.
I reached into my wallet and handed him a twenty. “There. Please give me my keys,” I said, holding out my hand.
He stared at me for a long moment, prompting Ryan to walk over to us. “She gave you some money. Give her back her keys.”
The man looked Ryan over and then peered back at me. “I don’t think that’s quite enough.”
My eyes narrowed. “How much do you want?”
“How much do you have in your wallet?”
“What?”
“And I’d like that pretty green ring on your finger, too, baby doll,” he nodded.
“You’re not getting her ring,” Ryan said, stepping in between us.
“Benson?” the bearded man called behind him. One of the men behind him nodded and signaled the others to move forward.
“Ryan….” I whispered as he side-stepped to hide me behind him.
“Aw, look, Grahm. She’s got a little bodyguard.”
“Shut up, Stu,” the bearded man growled.
“Give me the ring…and the money. And you can go,” he said, spitting on the ground.
“I don’t think so, Grahm,” Ryan shifted as he assessed the other men.
“Ryan….” I warned, and then looked at the ring leader. “Listen, this is everything I have on me….” I said, shoving at him several large bills and more fives and ones. “This is everything in my wallet. Take it.”
“And the ring,” Grahm said in an obstinate tone.
I looked at Kim’s horrified expression and then back at the thief. “I… I can’t give you my ring. My father gave it to me and he passed away recently.”
“That’s a very sad story,” he mocked. “Give me the ring.”
I hid my shaking hand behind me, and looked around for someone, anyone that could help. “I won’t,” I swallowed. “I’m sorry.”
Grahm looked away momentarily to follow my line of sight and Ryan took the opportunity to attack.
Kim ran around the car. “No!”
A scuffle ensued, with the other three jumping on Ryan. They were in a huddle, punching and kicking Ryan mercilessly.
I took a step toward the cluster. “STOP IT!”
Ryan let out a muffled cry and stopped fighting. My hands flew to my mouth as I saw that Stu held a knife dripping with blood.
“STOP IT, PLEASE!” I said.
The men were chuckling to each other; the brutality had ended with one last kick to Ryan’s ribs. I stared in horror as he lay broken on the wet pavement. Just as he attempted to pull himself up to all fours, Stu used his boot to press Ryan’s cheek back into the pavement.
“Agh!” Ryan groaned.
“I didn’t tell you to get up yet, did I?” Stu said.
The attention turned to my hand. I balled it into a fist; I wouldn’t give up my father’s ring. Grahm seemed to notice my decision and they all took a step forward, preparing to take it from me. Four sets of malevolent eyes shifted in unison as a familiar voice growled from behind me.
“I think it’s time you gentlemen moved on.”
Jared strolled past me, and the air escaped from my lungs with overwhelming relief.
“Jared,” I said.
He shot me a reassuring smile. “It’s okay, sweetheart. You don’t have to give them your ring.”
“The hell she’s not. You want some of what this boy got?” Stu warned.
Grahm eyed Jared suspiciously. “You’re Ryel’s boy, aren’t you?”
My blood ran cold as I looked down at Ryan’s limp body. He was still breathing, but in small, shallow gasps. I looked at Jared, terrified of what would happen to him.
“Gentlemen, you can either leave now, with the money the lady has offered, or you can stay, without further use of your arms and legs. It’s your choice. Either way, the ring won’t be leaving her finger tonight.” Jared’s voice began polite, but as his offer ended it became low and frightening.
Grahm chuckled as he lowered his head. Once his laughter ended, his eyes darted up, peering at Jared from under his brow. “Then I guess we’ll just have to cut her hand off.”
I froze.
Jared turned to me, his eyes steely-blue, and then he looked back at the men as he took a step towards them.
“See?” Jared sighed. “Now you’re just pissing me off.”
“I’m sick of this,” Benson said.
“Benson, wait!” Grahm ordered.
Two of the men rushed Jared and just as a scream grew in my throat, I saw Jared pull one of them off his back and throw him across the lot — an incredible distance, at least thirty yards — against the stone wall of the alley. The man’s body flew into some trashcans with a loud crash. Benson flew back after Jared punched him in the face, and I recoiled when blood exploded from his nose. Stu ran at Jared with his knife, but Jared lithely dodged out of the way and caught the man’s arm as he jabbed the knife at him. Jared pulled Stu’s arm to the side and quickly rammed his fist into his elbow from behind, hyper extending it until it snapped. Jared punched him again, this time in the face, and the man fell to the ground.
Grahm attempted to turn and run, but with amazing speed Jared reached out and grabbed his overcoat, stopping him in his tracks. The man whirled around and pushed Jared back against my car.
My hands flew up to my mouth.
Jared quickly spun to elbow Grahm in the side of his face. The bearded man plummeted to the ground; the blow causing him to thrash about in stifled groans.
When I gawked down at him, I noticed that his jaw appeared askew. He held it against his face with his hands, and moaned in agony.
Jared pulled my car keys from the ground beside him and noticed a worn, black wallet next to them. He picked it up and it unfolded automatically to reveal a large metallic object.
“Agh…this is not good,” Jared said, rubbing his forehead.
“What? What is that? Is that his?” I tried to get a better look as Jared stuffed it into his jacket pocket.
Breathing heavily, Jared took a few steps closer to me. “Are you okay?”
“Am I…? Are you okay?”
Jared nodded but I could see blood oozing from a small cut on his cheek bone, just below his eye.
“You’re bleeding,” I whispered.
Jared wiped the cut and glanced down at the blood smeared across the back of his hand. “It’s not bad. I have
