One Dance for Case (Possessed 2)

Ev must have sensed the storm brewing because just as he was about to haul the toolbag up by his collar, she melted into his own chest. Her palms rubbing up and down as he heaved for breath through his anger. Case struggled to gain control of himself. He warred over wrapping her in his arms or beating the other man over the head with a chair.

“Casey?” She didn’t look up at him just laid her head against his heart and began counting softly.

It took him a full minute of concentration to finally realize what she was counting. “Are you counting my heart rate?” She nodded.

Looking to the man whose life was just saved by the woman in his arms, he made a point to place one hand over her ass. She was so small the grip covered her completely, while the other delved into her hair, hanging on for dear life. As if he didn’t hold tightly to her, she might disappear.

Leaning down into her, he kissed her forehead lightly, whispering, “What the fuck is this shit?” He had to know why she wore that on stage, and why the fuck she would come back out into the crowd with it on.

She finally looked up to him, their heads pressed together, and for the first time, he saw the emotions swirling in her transfixing eyes. Hurt waged war with relief. He didn’t understand either.

“Hey, buddy, you aren’t the only one who pays top dollar to admire this bitch’s ass. How ‘bout you share?” The drunken slur had his blood boiling again.

Turning just as Ace reached his side, Case whipped off his button up shirt and handed it to Ev. “Put this on, Kitten.” He was happy to note she did so with a smile gracing her lips. Looking to the next asshole that thought he could manhandle his woman, he told him, “Watch your fool mouth before I knock your teeth down your throat.”

He laughed, his buddies laughed.

Casey laughed. Loud and long.

“What you gonna do, tough guy?” he slurred again.

Case wasn’t stupid, he wouldn’t swing first. That would just leave him with a whole slew of problems he didn’t need nor want when the police were inevitably called. Shaking the stiffness out of his bum leg from sitting for so long, he waited for the imbecile to swing.

He watched as the drunk raised his fists, almost punching himself in the face trying to taunt Casey. “C’mon, soldier boy, whatcha gonna do to me?” Reaching his hand out, Case assumed the idiot meant to push him, but all he did was throw himself off balance.

“Stop while you’re not ahead,” he told him.

“Casey,” he heard Evelyn whisper behind him.

“Let him be, miss,” Ace told her.

“I see how it is. Soldier boy lets the little bit– “

Casey’s fist shot out like a rocket, nailing the drunk in the mouth with a loud crack as a tooth fell to the floor. “I fucking warned you,” he growled, dancing on the balls of his feet now. Anticipation ran through him in the heat of a fight. To say it was anticlimactic when the other man fell to the ground, whether passed out or knocked out, was anyone’s guess.

“Evelyn! I warned you!” Hardy called as he made his way over to the commotion currently going on.

Once the small crowd dispersed, Case crossed his arms and set his face in stone, daring the other man to say one unkind word to her. “Warned her about what?” he snapped.

“What the fuck are you doing here? What’s this blood? Where’s your shirt? And for God’s sake, why is he on the floor?” Was it just him or did the man’s voice seem to go higher in pitch with each question asked?

When his questions still met silence, he screamed, “What the fuck is going on here?” If Casey didn’t know any better, he’d say the foot twitch was Hardy nearly about to stomp his foot like a petulant child.

“If I were you,” Ace started, “I’d shut the fuck up before soldier boy whoops your ass, too.”

Out of nowhere, the feisty friend that was guarding the door when Ev gave that private dance pipes up. “Hardy, you ass. This is your fault!”

He looked genuinely confused at her accusation. “How the hell is this my damn fault?”

“You shouldn’t have made her come out here without changing.” My head whipped to where Hardy stood looking guilty.

“You son of a bitch!” Case took a step forward when small hands clutched his.

He couldn’t look at her; he knew her beautiful eyes would be begging for him to leave the other man alone. He didn’t want to. He wanted to smash the douche into the ground like a fucking bug. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath to attempt to calm his nerves.

Nope, not working.

Turning to Ev, he thought maybe her pleading gaze would calm him.