Page 14 of A SEAL’s Vigilant Heart

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Served him right, Sophia thought as she sipped the pineapple flavored martini. Drake had promised to support them in their endeavors, and Ashley decided to take him up on it. The girl was literally dancing on top of the bar. How she’d known about this place, Sophia didn’t know. They’d left the relative safety of downtown San Diego and were now in a less well-known area.

She took another sip of her drink.

“I think it was a twenty dollar bill!” Beth exclaimed. Sophia squinted and nodded. Yep, the man had actually thrown a twenty at Ashley as she danced. She wasn’t the only one on the bar top, but she was the only one in a dress. All the rest of the girls were wearing jeans. Her panties were clearly visible. Thank God she wasn’t wearing a thong.

Drake pulled another man away from the bar who tried to touch Ashley.

“Sophia, how many martinis have you had to drink?” Lydia asked.

“I don’t know? They aren’t really strong. Mostly pineapple juice,” she yelled above the music.

Lydia pulled the drink out of her hand and took a sip. “You’re cut off, girlfriend. I’m going to go get you a bottle of water. Beth, keep an eye on her.”

Sophia watched as Drake pulled yet another man away from the bar. He had thrown a bunch of bills at Ashley. Ashley was making a shooing motion at Drake, who was beginning to look a little harassed. It was clear he was regretting his promise to support their antics tonight.

Sophia felt a man’s hand sweep up her waist, and she let out a cry. Sophia tried to elbow the man but missed. She was feeling too muzzy headed. She saw Drake look up, and his face darkened. Drake started making his way over to them, but he was too far away.

“Asshole. Keep your hands to yourself.” Beth’s arm shot out, and Sophia heard a grunt behind her. Lydia was beside her sister in a heartbeat and had Sophia wrapped in her arms. Beth was now standing over a man.

“Get up, I dare you,” Beth growled at the man.

“Bitch!” A redhead came up from behind Beth and pulled her hair. “That’s my boyfriend!”

“Well, he should have kept his hands to himself.” The woman swung wildly, and Beth ducked. The woman hit a man who was standing behind Beth.

“What?” He looked confused and turned to the man next to him and shoved him. Then all hell seemed to break loose. Sophia watched in awe as another man pushed against Beth, and Lydia grabbed him and threw him to the floor. But then she was elbowed, and her head jerked back.

“You bastard, you hit my sister,” Beth cried. This time, Sophia was able to see the straight arm shot to the throat she must have performed on the man who had originally touched her. It was amazing and, this man too fell to the floor.

Lydia got a punch into his ribs on his way down. It was a beautiful sight to behold.

“Dammit! Cease and Desist! The next man or woman who comes next to these three dies!” Drake Avery roared. All movement close to them stopped. It was like they were in a little bubble of peace and quiet while mayhem surrounded them in the honky-tonk.

“What about Ashley?” Beth asked.

“Follow me.” He pulled Sophia in front of him and had Lydia and Beth take hold of his shirt. Stay close.” Every few feet he would stop and punch or elbow someone who got too close. Sophia saw one of the two Lydia’s throw a punch as well. Maybe there had been alcohol in her pineapple juice since she kept seeing double.

Ashley was still dancing on the bar while the fighting was going on at floor level. Drake strode across the club like a hot knife through butter. Sophia heard the faint sounds of sirens.

Two men were trying to climb up on the bar. Drake set Sophia aside, grabbed both of them by the back of their necks, and sent them flying backward.

“Ashley Richmond, get down immediately.” Ashley stopped mid-shimmy and assessed Drake. Then she wound her arms over her head, cocked her hip, and twirled.

Drake was a tall man, he leaned over the bar, grabbed her around the back of her knees and had her over his shoulder in one smooth move.

“You bastard,” she shrieked. Sophia looked at Beth and Lydia and knew she wore a similar expression of shocked amusement. Ashley had definitely met her match. They followed the two out of the bar, and the sirens got louder, it was definitely fun to watch Drake try to subdue the pretty blonde without doing damage.

“Ashley, the cops will be here any moment,” Drake said desperately. “Would you quit acting like a spoiled three-year-old having a tantrum?” Ashley wiggled harder to get out of his arms.

“Quit manhandling me you big oaf.”

“We’re so going to jail.” One of the two Lydia’s yelled over the fighting.

They made it outside to the limo as the cops arrived. Drake poured Ashley inside the vehicle while Beth and Lydia helped Sophia in because it seemed like there were three doors.

Drake ran around to the driver’s seat and whisked them away. Vaguely Sophia noticed they weren’t headed towards Ashley’s house. But mostly she was looking up through the moon roof and counting stars.