One More Time

My martial arts classes from back in the day apparently paid off because I looked like I knew what I was doing. I pressed down on the elbow, drawing a pained squeal from the guy. He struggled against my grip, and I was prepared to break the arm if needed, to keep him from going after me or Casey again.

“I think you should get your ass back behind the bar and leave us alone,” I said, my voice low and menacing. “Got it?”

A voice called out from the crowd, and the people around us parted quickly.

“Tommy!” he bellowed again.

It was Leon, the owner of the club and he looked pissed. Not that he had any real right to be.

“Mr. Crane, let go of my son before I call the police.”

His voice was calm. He knew he had me. I didn't want any public embarrassment for my family – not during such a crucial time. With one last quick twist of his arm and a satisfying grunt of pain from him, I let go of Tommy, pushing him away from me. He turned and started toward me again, because some guys never learn. His dad grabbed his arms and held him back this time.

“You two,” Leon shouted, pointing at me and Casey. “Get the hell out of my club, and don't come back.”

“Not a problem,” I said. “I'm not a fan of places who let their wait staff be abused anyway. And I'll make sure all my friends know what kind of a club you're running here, Leon.”

I turned to walk away and came face-to-face with Casey, who didn't look happy to see me. Her eyes were narrowed, and her jaw clenched. She looked every bit as pissed as Tommy had.

“You didn't have to save me, you know. I can handle myself.” She scowled at me, her eyes filled with utter contempt.

“I know,” I said.

Leon continued shouting. “You're done, Casey. Get out. Now”

Casey looked over my shoulder at Leon, and a panicked expression suddenly replaced the angry one. She stared, wide-eyed at the man and her eyes shimmered with tears. Her face blanched before my eyes and I could see the fear, bright and hot, in her expression.

“Please, Leon, it's not my fault,” she stammered. “Please, give me another chance.”

“No.”

Just one word. One word and it was more than clear that Casey, no matter how much she begged or pleaded, would not be getting her job back. She stood there, tall and defiant, her chin held high, but I noticed the trembling in her hands. I took her hand in mine, and for a second, she let me hold it.

“Come on, let's go,” I said softly to her. I leaned down, smelled the soft coconut scent of her hair and whispered into her ear. “It'll be better if we leave on our own.”

Security was already headed our way, pushing their way through a crowd not as willing to part for them as they had been for Leon. Casey turned her face toward me and yanked her hand from mine. There were tears in her eyes, but she wiped them away, a hard and defiant look on her face.

“Leave me the fuck alone,” she said. “I can take care of myself.”

She was right. She could take care of herself. I knew I should leave before the guards got to us, but for some reason, I couldn't leave her there, standing there alone to face the music. I'd jumped into the middle of it. I'd made myself a part of the spectacle. The least I could do was stand there, take the heat, and see it through with her.

She flipped Leon off as the security guards approached. One of them took her by the arm, but she fought back – pulling her arm away from him, practically snarling at him.

“Get the fuck off me,” she hissed.

“Come with me, Casey,” he said, his voice firm. “You're out of here.”

I sighed. “Casey, come on. Let's just go.”

She didn't look at me, she just pushed her way past the two guards. I followed close behind her, with security on our heels. Casey pistoned out her fists, banging open the large double doors with such force that when they swung out, they almost hit the doorman on the other side who was moving to open them at the same time.

Once we were both out on the sidewalk outside the club, she took off down the street without a word or a backward glance at me. Greg's voice called from the doorway.

“Malcolm, what the hell, man?” he said. “I'm sure you can come back inside, now that she’s gone.”

“I'm not worried about it, Greg,” I said.

I kept my eyes on Casey as she stopped about twenty feet from me and slumped against the building. She squatted down and buried her face in her hands. Even from where I was standing, I could hear the loud sobs that came from her tiny body. She was shaking and crying and screaming, banging her fists against the wall.