Before she can answer, a man wearing a baseball cap and a Hampton High football shirt shifts into the gap between her barstool and the one beside her. He’s crowding her: slanting his body and hovering in her space to force himself closer. I watch in disgust as he slinks the arm attached to that meaty hand around her shoulder.

She tries to shrug him off.

But he latches on tighter.

“Maddie,” I repeat, snapping her attention back to me. “Do you know him?”

“I do,” she grits out through clenched teeth as she lifts her shoulder, attempting to get out of his hold again.

He moves his hand this time but lowers it and grips at her waist under her jacket.

“Hey!” I bark, slamming my fist on the bar in front of the fucker to get his attention.

He peers up at me from under the bill of his hat, his face red, and his eyes hazy.

“Get your hands off her,” I demand, my voice carrying over the sounds of the bar.

The handsy asshole smirks, then looks over to Maddie before turning back to me.

When our eyes meet, he blinks several times, almost like he can’t believe what he’s seeing.

“Holy shit. Holy fucking shit.” His expression is wild as he searches my face, his words loud and sloppy. “How’re you already back on your feet, you crazy fucker? I thought you might end up dead after that beating.”

I tense with realization, and my brain riots with indecision. My heart leaps into my throat as I inhale, calm my nerves, and figure out a way to get to her.

This must be Andrew Adley. The man—if one could call him that—who made sport of leading his friends in a ten against one assault on my brother. The coward who threatened my girl with the promise of unwanted attention after she stepped in and put a stop to his antics.

No fucking way.

I watch, helpless, as Adley leans in and whispers something in her ear. Maddie’s face twists in disgust, and she bats his hand away again, squirming out of his hold and hopping off the barstool in one swift motion.

Her eyes find mine again from across the bar top, and I make her a silent vow that I know she understands.

You’re safe. I won’t let anything stand in the way of keeping you safe.

“Get out,” I command.

Adley looks me up and down and laughs. “Yeah right, bar boy. You can’t kick me out. My picture’s on the goddamn wall hanging over your head. I’m a paying customer, just like this bitch over here.” He cocks his head to the side, to where Maddie’s standing, trapped in place because of the crowd.