“Can’t remember?” He let out a laugh. Cold, hard and full of hatred. “This amnesia stunt you’re pulling? You may have everyone else fooled around here, but not me. You’re a liar—”

“Maybe you’re the one lying. I hear Kate dumped you. What happened? Couldn’t handle the rejection? Decided to do something about it and blame me?”

“Nice try.” He lowered his voice, took a step toward me, fists clenched by his sides. “The cops couldn’t find evidence of what you did, but I’ll never stop looking. Do you hear me? I won’t stop until you’ve been shanked in prison and you’re bleeding out all over the ground.”

“Sounds like a threat.”

“Nah. It’s a fucking promise.”

“I don’t need this,” I said quietly. “For the last time, I don’t know—”

I didn’t see the punch coming before Keenan’s fist connected with my middle. I stumbled backward.

“Did that jog your memory?” he said before coming for me again.

This time I was ready. I took two steps back, weaving out of the way as his hand almost slammed into the wall of the restaurant. I wished it had. Maybe he’d have broken a few bones, although with the rage on his face, I didn’t think some busted knuckles would’ve been enough to stop him. Keenan cursed and rushed at me, sending us flying. I pushed him off, both of us scrambling to make it to our feet before the other. A second passed, then two, and with a deafening roar, Keenan lunged for me again. As I stepped to the side and brought up my knee, hitting him squarely in the gut, he let out a grunt. He grabbed my arm and threw me backward. When I landed, something sharp dug into my shoulder and I jumped up, brushing a shard of glass from my skin, the remains of an old broken bottle I’d landed on. I ignored the steady gush of blood making its way to my fingers, and Keenan’s smirk made me want to pound him into the ground. He wanted a fight. I’d give him one. He’d pissed me off one time too many.

“Plenty more where that came from, dipshit,” he said. He was about to charge me again when the front door to the restaurant burst open and Maya stormed out, eyes ablaze.

“What the hell are you doing?” she shouted.

“Teaching him a lesson,” Keenan said. “And he started it.”

Maya laughed, indicating behind her with her thumb. “What are you, five? Think our security cameras will back you up? Let’s call Ricky, see if he believes your bullshit.”

Keenan held up his hands and backed away.

“Good decision,” Maya snarled as we watched him leave. “If you touch Ash again, he won’t be the one coming for you—I will.”

27

MAYA