A set of hands to my shoulder kept me in my chair. A second guy, one with dark eyes, almost black, stared down at me. From this angle he looked like a freaking mountain. I was a big guy, but this guy rivaled Hunter in size and muscle.
And ink.
Shit.
“Not so smart, son.” Nicco pulled up a chair to our two-person table, while the other guy did the same and sat close to me.
“I hear the chai is great here.” Nicco snaked his hand around Sarah’s neck and held her in place as he leaned in. “Let’s have a taste.”
“Try it, and I’ll fucking bite you,” she growled.
“No scenes, babe. You know what happens when scenes are made.”
“Nothing to lose right now.”
“I think you might havesomethingto lose.” He reached over and shifted the wedding ring on her finger until the diamond was showing.
I’d not even realized Sarah had flipped it down so it looked like a normal band.
Damn it, she was so smart. So resourceful. And so completely screwed at this moment. I was pretty sure I couldn’t overpower this guy manhandling me. The few patrons nearby glanced in our direction, then went back to their papers.
Either totally clueless or unsure what to do themselves.
Nicco and his sidekick had the tone of friendliness, though their eyes spoke another story completely.
Nicco glared at me as he said, “I have men on your brother, Angelina, Hunter, and Lizzie. Try anything, and they’re gone.”
Shit!
“You didn’t know what you stepped into with this little beauty. Not even close.” He kissed Sarah’s cheek. “She’s stunning, though, isn’t she? Impossible to resist. I know from personal experience. Best cash cow of the bunch.”
My stomach churned. He had about seven seconds to get his hands off my wife. I didn’t care that this guy would probably rip my limbs off, I’d get some hits in before I went down.
I had one free hand. What could I do? What… Okay, I had scalding hot coffee inches from my grasp. So did Sarah. But did I chance anything if he really did have people on my friends and family? He could be bluffing. Did I take the chance?
Sarah met my gaze, then I zeroed in on her coffee cup, hoping she’d tap into my train of thought. She followed my line of sight then flinched. Her nostrils flared. “No,” she whispered.
“Yes,” Nicco said. “Even now, you’re so beautiful…sexier. Though your allowance will be significantly cut, you’ll do nicely by my side again. But I’ll make an example out of you for your disobedience. That’s inevitable.”
A tear leaked from Sarah’s left eye. And that was all it took. I grabbed my coffee cup and broke it on Nicco’s face as I swung my free elbow into his second guy’s cheek. The bone caved.
Sarah hopped up and palm-punched Nicco’s chin. “Everyone get out of here!” she yelled as she spun out of Nicco’s reach. “Call 911. Nicco Abela is here. Tell them the name Nicco Abela.”
My guy punched my stomach, sending me back three feet onto a neighboring table. I let the momentum take me over the top, and I landed on my feet as I picked up the chair. I jumped up and swung, hammering the legs into the guy’s face.
He howled, and in his distraction, I kicked his knee, pulverizing the kneecap. Ligaments snapped, and he went down. Planting my fist into the guy’s face, he was out for the count.
Several people ran for the door, screaming. Nicco lunged for Sarah, but she spun out of reach.
“Not a little girl anymore,” she yelled. “You can’t control me!”
He pulled his phone from his coat pocket, but she kicked it out of his hand. More than likely he did have people on my family. If he made a call…
I dove for the phone and met the floor hard. Mostly because there was a guy on me. I rolled, but the weight was too heavy. Who the hell?
There was a third man? Son of a bitch. I fisted the phone and smashed my fist into his face. He grunted, but his weight didn’t leave.
“Sarah!”