When Vic freed himself and hit Tanner, Scarlett screamed and Tanner grappled with the man, pulling him to the ground. Unable to watch, she ran for help, barreling into the bar, screaming. But security must have already seen what was going on outside through their monitors because no sooner had she stepped in the door than the guys and the big bald guard ran past her, nearly knocking her down in the process.
She drew a deep, shaky breath. Part of her didn’t want to go outside and see if Vic was bloody and beaten on the ground … or worse, if Tanner was. And another part of her, the part that knew Tanner deep in her soul, wanted to believe he wouldn’t succumb to his darker impulses, not even with Vic.
“Scarlett?” Faith ran to her, wrapping an arm around her. “Honey, you’re trembling. Come sit.”
“But…” Her teeth were chattering. “Vic is outside and Tanner…” She could barely get the words out.
Faith eased her into a barstool. “I know. Security came running down after they’d caught the fight on the live feed. It’s going to be okay. The cops are on their way.”
Faith glanced over at the bartender. “Give me a shot of whiskey.”
He poured one and Faith handed Scarlett the glass. “Take a drink. Come on. You’re going to be fine. Tanner is going to be fine.”
“I know. I believe in him.” In the instant when she’d seen him shake the man, she’d wavered. But in her heart, she knew. Tanner was solid. He was going to handle it right. As long as Vic didn’t hurt him. “I just… I was scared. I’m still so scared.”
Faith treated her to a grim smile. “I’d take you outside to see for yourself but Jason will turn my ass red,” she said, not looking at all put out by the notion.
Her innocent eyelash batting let Scarlett relax and even laugh a little.
Then she took another drink and settled in to wait, because like Faith, if she showed her face outside before the police arrived, Tanner would lose his shit with worry. And she didn’t want to distract him again.
Chapter Eleven
Tanner had Vic in a headlock by the time the guys showed up and their security guard, Glenn, took over. Between his gun and the cuffs he’d slapped on a shouting Vic, Tanner could finally breathe easily again.
He straightened his jacket and blew out a breath.
“You okay?” Landon placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Yeah. Fucker jumped me.” Which he could have and had handled. It was hearing him talk about violating Scarlett that nearly caused him to explode. Then turning around and seeing her there? Jesus. He’d lost ten years off his life.
“Those security cameras have fucking paid for themselves twice over now,” Jason said as sirens began to sound and cop cars came to a screeching halt inside and outside the alley.
It took a while to sort through the situation, especially with Vic trying to claim he’d been set up, jumped, attacked by Tanner again, among all sorts of other bullshit. The good news was that everything was on tape. Vic had let his hatred of Tanner and the rest of the guys get the best of him, and he’d forgotten about the security cameras. All he’d been focused on was revenge for the years he’d already spent in prison.
Now, thanks to the vandalism he’d caused, the bomb threat he’d called in and admitted to Daniel Sutherland, and the violation of his parole … the man was going away again for a long, long time.
When the police finally left with Vic, Tanner and the guys headed back inside the bar. They were immediately surrounded by Dares who wanted to know what had happened and if everyone was okay. But Tanner only had eyes for the shaken woman on the barstool in the far corner of the room.
She’d seen him at his worst and he had to wonder how she’d feel about him now. He excused himself from the mass of people and made his way over to her.
She looked up at him with those big green eyes. “You’re okay.” She touched a hand to what was probably his swollen jaw. It hurt but he’d live.
He nodded. “I’m fine.”
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. “And Vic?”
“Is with the cops… He’s fine too.”
She released a long breath. “I knew you wouldn’t hurt him. I believed that you’d keep yourself under control.”
He studied her in awe. “Unsure how you knew that when there was a moment I didn’t believe it myself.”
A smile graced her lips. “Because I know who you are in here.” She placed a warm hand over his chest. “Now can we go home?”
* * *
Tanner knew better than to think his battle was over. True, Vic was behind bars, but there was no way he’d go down easily. There’d be a trial and sentencing because Vic was a bastard and if it made their lives more difficult? He’d do everything he could to torture them. Sadistic asshole.