Rory (Coded for Love 1)

Sky looked at him, unsure he should be holding her so tightly right then. Not with Draco watching them. Just when it actually felt like they were seeing each other, Draco had to turn up.

“Come on.” Rory tugged on her hand. Under his breath, he issued instructions. “I’ll deal with them. You head straight to the tube station.”

She shook her head. “I’m not going anywhere without you.”

“Go! I’ll catch you up in five.”

It was too late. Draco was inside the wine bar and a moment later he was up against Rory with his hands on Ror

y’s collar, eyes blazing.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Draco seethed.

Rory pushed the flat of his hands to Draco’s chest, forcing him back against the wall by the entrance to the bar. Draco reacted by belting Rory with a swift fist to the jaw. Rory staggered back, briefly, then dived on Draco, holding onto the lapels of his rather expensive looking jacket while he pinned him to the wall. “What the hell are you doing with Jackson?”

Sky stared at her brother. It didn’t surprise her he was acting this way. It’d happened before, and they were a good physical match for each other. She was shocked though, because her brother was wearing a suit. She’d never seen him dressed up like that, not even on the day their mum had married Rory’s dad. He looked smart.

Draco glanced at the window, as if reminded of the onlooker.

Sky followed his stare. The other guy, this ‘Jackson’ person, was still outside the window, arms folded across his chest, laughing, as if he were watching a TV show. Curiosity got the better of her. “Who’s he?”

Rory shot her a warning glance.

“Stay out of it, Sky,” Draco muttered, between gritted teeth.

“Outside!” It was a barman. He barreled through the crowded wine bar and unceremoniously he pushed Rory and Draco toward the door.

A waiter darted over and held the door open.

The scuffle between Rory and Draco continued. Sky quickly followed them out, giving the onlooking wine bar crowd a flippant wave of the hand as she did so.

“Now isn’t this a touching reunion?” The guy called Jackson clicked his knuckles, one hand then the other, as if he was about to join in the fight.

His presence seemed to level Draco and Rory though.

“That’s a very annoying habit you have there,” Draco said with sarcasm, “and not in the least threatening.”

Jackson nodded his head in her direction. “Who’s the girl?”

“Nobody,” Rory answered quickly.

Sky noticed he exchanged glances with Draco, like a secret pact, and Draco immediately settled down, turning silent. What the hell was going on here?

Jackson laughed sarcastically. “You were getting pretty close to nobody back there.”

Rory rolled his eyes.

Jackson gave an exaggerated sigh. “You know I’d rather you come back to me of your own free will than take the toolkit off you.”

“The kit’s mine. Get one of your goons to build you a new one.”

“Just give me the kit,” Jackson said, “or you’ll regret it.”

Sky hated the guy.

“Threaten me and you’ll regret it.” Rory pulled the USB from his pocket and dangled it in front of Jackson’s face. He closed the USB in his fist and pulled away just as Jackson made a grab for it.

It was then Sky had an idea. “No, wait!”