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Torin moved so fast his chair blasted back into the table behind him. He was on Roddy before I could stop him. My heart raced as I stood on shaky legs as Torin grabbed Roddy by the collar and slammed him back into the bar counter.
“Say it again, you fucker, I dare you.”
The men who had been sitting with Roddy stood uncertainly as Sue froze behind the bar.
“You ever speak to Cammie again, and I’ll put your teeth through the back of your skull. Do you understand, you auld bastard?” Torin demanded loudly.
“What the hell is going on in here?” Aodhan, the owner, hurried in with his dog, Shakespeare, growling at his side. “Enough of that!”
Torin released Roddy who was red-faced with fury as he sputtered at Aodhan to throw Torin out.
“Me?” Torin glowered at Aodhan. “Are you in the habit of allowing your customers to harass women like he just did? He called Cammie a slut.”
Aodhan’s head whipped to me. “That right, Cammie?”
I crossed my arms over my chest defensively. Keeping my tone cooler than I felt, I nodded. “Aye, that’s right.”
Aodhan MacDuff had always been levelheaded. It was one of the reasons he was not only one of the most successful businessmen on Glenvulin but also one of the most trusted councilmen. I’d never seen Aodhan look as angry as he did right then as he turned to Roddy. “You’re officially banned from the Lantern.”
Roddy gaped. “You must be joking. For that cunt?”
Everyone inhaled on a gasp of outrage except Torin who just gave a shake of his head, like he couldn’t believe what an idiot he was dealing with. Then quicker than I’ve ever seen anyone hit someone, he punched his fist out like a pro boxer into Roddy’s face and the older man’s legs comically gave way as he slithered to the ground.
Knocked out.
Aodhan sighed heavily as Shakespeare went over to sniff at Roddy and backed up like he was something foul. His owner flicked a hand at the table of Roddy’s companions. “Come get him out of here and I mean it. He’s not welcome.”
The men groaned and grumbled as Torin stepped aside to let them deal with him. He looked over at me, his gaze searching. Aodhan placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “You tell me if anyone else bothers you.”
“Thanks, Aodhan.”
“I love this place, Cammie, and I know you do too … but sometimes the people really do my head in.”
I gave him a grateful smile. “Aye.”
The older man leaned in. “You’re the bravest lassie I’ve ever met to do what you did.”
“Bloody hell, Aodhan.” I blinked rapidly against the sting of tears. “Don’t make me cry right now.”
He chuckled, patting me on the shoulder before he strode past Torin with a nod. “As far as I’m concerned, I didn’t see a thing and neither did anyone else, am I right?”
Meaning Roddy might go to the police to tell them Torin hit him.
The men scrambling to lift Roddy agreed on a cacophony of grumbles. I watched them carry Forde’s uncle outside, fighting an inner war to not feel at fault for this too.
I reached for my laptop. “I should leave.”
My client, who had just knocked someone out for me, shook out his no doubt sore fist with a grimace, nodded and we strode out of the pub together. The men had dumped Roddy outside the pub against the wall and were already lumbering off as if it was just another day.
Torin and I stepped over Roddy’s legs and kept walking. “You should put ice on that.” I gestured to his hand.
He nodded stoically.
“I don’t condone violence, but I can’t say I didn’t enjoy every second of that.” I grinned, snorting on a bit of hysterical laughter.
My companion didn’t laugh. Instead, he stopped, pausing on the pavement outside Pages & Perks. “He deserved it. Have people been saying shit like that to you this whole time?”
“Not everyone. But, aye, a few people.”
