The blood drained from Tye’s face and he tried to gasp in another breath before Rico finally released him. He coughed and stumbled a couple of steps away while Rico whirled to me, gently taking my arm to inspect it. Just as I thought, there was already a pretty well-defined red mark that had started to darken. I looked up into Rico’s face, and if I hadn’t been watching, I might have missed the strange flicker in his eyes. Before I could ask about it, he spun and threw his fist into Tye’s gut.
Tye crashed to his knees, wheezing and holding his stomach. I flinched, knowing how much that had to have hurt, but I found I had no sympathy for the sleazeball. I was worried, however, that Rico might go too far and get in trouble for my sake. The look on his face, the tension in his stance, screamed violence, and I found myself stepping toward his back, prepared to stop him if I felt I needed to.
But apparently, I had nothing to worry about. Rico wound up for another blow, then seemed to think better of it, shaking his head as he stepped around Tye. “Come on, Kara,” he said just loud enough for me to hear.
I followed closely, reaching out to him, my head swimming. He paused as my fingers brushed his shoulder, a much more pleasant tingle zipping up my arm from the tiniest contact. His eyes traced a path from my fingertips, to the blotchy red mark on my arm, to my eyes.
“Are you okay?” he asked softly, his voice as silky smooth as melted chocolate.
I nodded, but he noticed the slight tremble in my hand and, judging by his reaction, mistook it for fear of Tye rather than gratitude for him. Rico slid past me, back into the hall, and grabbed Tye by the back of the shirt, pulling him to his feet. If the expression on his face wasn’t so serious, I would’ve laughed at the height difference between them. Rico was taller than me by several inches—hell, most people were—but Tye had been tall even in high school, something that helped make him a local football hero. He practically cowered under Rico’s tender care, though, as he was shoved unceremoniously down the hallway and back out into the bar.
Tye’s group of friends stood when they saw us, and Melody and Stormy were already headed in our direction with alarmed looks on their faces. Rico shoved Tye away, so he stumbled and threw a weak glare over his shoulder. We were getting more looks at that point, even before Rico took another intimidating step toward my ex.
“Next time you feel like being a pushy bastard and forcing yourself onto women, think harder,” he yelled just loud enough to be heard over the music. I could see people leaning toward each other, pointing at an increasingly angrier Tye. “And if you lay so much as another finger on Kara, you will lose it.”
The group of guys gathered around Tye, who seemed to be bolstered by their presence. “You’ll be hearing from my family lawyer.” He sneered, stepping back into his friends. “You have no idea who you just messed with.”
“Oh, yeah?” Rico replied, giving him a smile with an edge in it. “Well, I’ll tell you who I am. I’m a Kingston.” His smile sharpened. “Do your worst. Just stay the hell away from Kara.”
Tye glared even as his friends ushered him out of the bar. Rico maintained eye contact until he disappeared, then turned to me, taking my arm again. He looked at it, smoothing his thumb lightly over the purpling skin there.
“Does it hurt?” he asked, meeting my gaze again.
Speech had all but fled me at the look in his eyes, so I shook my head. There was something primal, something predatory about them, like a hidden side he kept locked away. Though he looked dangerous, I didn’t feel afraid, and his touch on my arm was the opposite of how I felt when Tye touched me. I felt protected, safe. Cared about.
Then the word vomit happened again. “You have predator eyes.”
My breath vanished when the hunter met my gaze again, and my knees gave out on me. Oh, what was I? Some sappy, moon-eyed princess? But he caught me and laughed huskily in my ear.
“Exactly how drunk are you?”
Instead of waiting for an answer, which I was too embarrassed and maybe a little too lightheaded to give, he grabbed my hand and steered us toward the bar. Melody and Stormy ran up to us, grabbing onto me, asking a million miles a minute different variations of “are you okay?”
Rico leaned toward them. “Sorry, ladies, but I think she’s had enough. I’d like to see her home safely.”
The room began to feel warm, and I barely heard Melody’s stuttered response and Rico thanking her. I grinned like an idiot, and Melody and Stormy both looked worried as they each hugged me goodbye.
“Mmbye, g’night, guys,” I slurred as Rico pulled me along.
The fresh air smacked me in the face as he opened the door, but it didn’t do much to clear my head. He’d parked close by, and soon I was piled up in his truck with a giddy feeling rolling through me that I couldn’t tamp down and wasn’t sure how to explain. Some things were best left until the morning to process.
10
Rico
“You’re going to break the steering wheel.” Kara giggled and hiccupped at the same time. Loosening my grip, I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye with amusement. Drunk Kara had a few different personalities, but this was my favorite so far.
Valor had perked up a bit and having him in a better mood had done wonders to lift my own spirits. He was so satisfied after scaring the shit out of
