Banging Reaper (Pounding Hearts 1)

She then slowly looks at me and her eyes focus on mine. The response she gives me is just what I was dreading. I feel her jerk back from my arms, trying to escape.

Pulling back even further, I turn my head to the side and say to Dale, “We need Doc Miles. I want to make sure Raven doesn't have a concussion.”

I know Dale is close because I just do. Dale is more than a brother to me, he knows my thoughts and I know his. I can always count on him to always be there.

Not letting go, I turn back to the girl I’m holding in my arms and try to give her a soft smile. “I promise I won't let you get hurt again, but I need you to stay right where we are. Your head hit that wall hard enough that I heard the thump from ten feet away.”

I hear Dale’s feet trail away and his voice raises as he hollers for Doctor Miles to come over.

“I... I'm okay. There is no need for a Doc...” The girl trails off as a young and very slender woman named Miranda Miles quickly approaches and kneels down beside us on the floor.

“Chase dear, if you could give her some space and tell me what’s going on?” Doctor Miles asks in her clipped British tone.

I unwrap myself from the beauty, reluctant to stop touching her but knowing I have to because she needs care. “Raven here had her head hit the wall when the guy over there shoved her.”

Moving away from the woman, the woman who my arms were oddly finding very comfortable, I look to the police officer standing right behind the good Doctor Miles.

“I'm Avery not Raven.” The girl frowns. “He didn't mean to...” she says to Doctor Miles as she reaches up and wipes those tears from her cheeks.

“I'm Doctor Miranda,” Miranda says as I watch her gently reach towards the girl. “Let’s have a look, sweetheart. Chase was right to call me over, concussions are a very dangerous thing if undiagnosed.”

I'm reluctant to leave this woman alone though, but by the look of the police officer’s face, he is wanting to speak with me.

“With me, sir,” he says politely to me and I get the feeling this isn't optional.

I follow him over and through the crowd with Dale on my heels as we make our way to where Ethan is standing in the corner with his crowd of trainers and hanger-ons surrounding him. Ethan has a grin though, even if his lip is busted and he has a newly broken nose.

“Gentleman,” the officer says with authority. I look down quickly and see the nameplate above his badge reads: Officer Stegman. Looking around at all of us, Officer Stegman says, “If you would please excuse us.” He looks pointedly to everyone but Ethan and me. “I would like to have a discussion with these two men.”

Dale looks like he is about to argue with the officer. I shake my head at him and nod towards the Doctor and Avery. He gets the hint instantly and reluctantly huffs his way over to the girls.

“Gentlemen,” Stegman says. He’s a well-built guy even if he is slightly past his prime. Almost as tall as Ethan and I, I still feel like I am looking up to him as he speaks in a very stern voice. “I did not witness this brawl you two have decided to have outside of your cage, but it is quite obvious that this wasn't just some random act of anger.”

“This douchebag fu...”Ethan begins to say, his voice hot and loud.

“Excuse me, sir,” Stegman says quietly to Ethan. “I am not through speaking yet.”

I wince. I may be going to jail but fuck if I don't respect this officer. He doesn't even raise his voice and I can feel the authority. Ethan seems to feel it as well because his entire posture slumps down like a chastised child.

“I believe, young man,” he says while looking at Ethan, “That you need to get medical attention for your nose. Then I believe it would be wise for you to return to your home and stay there to heal properly.”

“Yo

u, sir,” he says as he puts his hands on his hips and stares at me for a long time, right into my eyes. I don't blink or turn away. I know I just committed aggravated assault, and I know Officer Stegman has the right to arrest me right now. As a matter of fact, his hands are resting right on the holder of his cuffs. I have never been arrested before and not once in my life, beyond some very kinky fun, have had cuffs around my wrists. “You need to go back to that young lady over there and ensure she is okay.”

“What the fuck?!?” Ethan exclaims as the Officer gives me a small smile and nod to hurry off. I stand around only for the briefest of moments before the officer turns to Ethan and gives him his full attention. This time his hand grips his cuffs, and he pulls at them.

“Young man,” Stegman says patiently as I turn and slowly walk away. “I heard every single word that man said as he went about restraining you. I suggest you think long and har...” I hear just before I am too far away from them and past the point of caring what happens to Ethan.

My eyes and concern now are for doing exactly as that officer ordered.

I walk up to Dale and give him a grin and a wink. Nodding over my shoulder I say, “I was restraining Ethan, right?”

Dale just shakes his head. Chuckling, I pat him on the shoulder, he did do me a solid, then look past him to Miranda and Avery. I see the doctor helping Avery up with a hand under the beauty’s shoulder.

Miranda looks at me and smiles. “Avery is quite well, though she will have a lump on her head that needs a cold compress.”

“Got it, no concussion?” I ask and receive a shake of the head from the Doctor. “Good, I will make sure she gets home and has an ice pack and some ibuprofen then.”