Hetch (Men OF S.W.A.T #1)(22)

“I think you’re in the wrong neighborhood, little lady.” The boys in his crew snicker at his attempt of intimidation while I keep my gaze on Mitch.

The last time I saw Dominic was five months ago when he was told he couldn’t come to the house to visit. He lost his shit, swearing and threatening bodily harm. We ended up calling the police when he refused to leave. In the end he left, but not before telling me I would pay for keeping his brother from him.

“Mitch, get in the car.” I ignore Dominic’s tactics and focus on what needs to be done.

Get Mitch safely back to the house

“Sorry, Liberty. Mitch isn’t going anywhere right now. He has some business to attend to.” Dominic answers for him, stepping out of my path and walking toward his brother.

“Mitch, you know the rules. The police have been called. Go get in the car now.” I stay strong. This is all a power struggle for Dominic. The last thing he needs is for his crew or his brother to have a run in with the police.

“You’re full of shit.” Dominic calls my bluff, his earlier bravado marginally slipping.

“Stick around and find out then.” I keep my composure and hope Sue has already made the call. “Mitch, I’m not going to tell you again. You’re already in a lot of trouble. So get in the damn car before I can’t help you.” I may have a potty mouth outside of work, but don’t normally speak to the boys like this. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Mitch looks torn. I can see he wants more than anything to get into the safety of my car, but something is holding him there. Something Dominic has over him.

“Mitch is done taking orders from you, Liberty. So I suggest you turn your tight ass around and get out of here before you find yourself in trouble.” Dominic takes a step toward me.

“Why are you doing this, Dominic?” I ask, not giving in. I can’t walk away from Mitch. Not if I know for sure this isn’t what he wants.

“We’re family. Family stick together.”

“Family also support each other, Dominic. Mitch is doing so well at Haven. His grades are improving. He’s top of his class. He doesn’t need to go down this path.”

“Ahh, Liberty.” His condescending tone is almost comical. “What’s wrong with this path? I got myself a good life.” My heart thumps in my ears, as the gaze he sets on me tells me he’s hiding something.

“If you’re happy with your choices, then I’m happy for you, Dominic. But don’t you think Mitch deserves more?” I notice two of the guys come around the side of me, starting to box me in. One larger than me, the other around Mitch’s size.

“You gonna teach this uppity bitch a lesson, Dom?” A prickly unease filters through me, and an overwhelming urge to run tingles into my toes. He steps forward as I step back.

“Come on, guys, leave, Liberty alone. She has nothing to do with this.” Mitch shrugs off one of the guy’s arm and steps in front of me. It’s the worst thing he could have done. Not one to be told what to do, the guy brings his fist back and connects it with Mitch’s face.

A tight scream pushes from my mouth as I reach out for Mitch.

“Please, Dominic, don’t let them hurt him.” I cringe as blood spurts from Mitch’s nose, but he doesn’t react like I expect him to. Instead of cowering away, he stays strong, standing tall between us. Protecting me.

“Mitch, you best be moving,” Dominic warns before his crew can do more damage.

“You need to teach your boy a lesson.” The guy who just punched Mitch tells Dominic.

“Kid, you need to move.” Mitch doesn’t budge. Standing in front of me, he holds his brother’s stare.

“Why, are you going to hit me, too?” Not two seconds pass before Dominic’s fist comes out, and punches him, this time knocking him down. Mitch rolls to his side, groaning in pain.

Oh, God, what the hell is happening here?

I don’t have a chance to help him up before Dominic sets his sights on me. Reaching for me, I outstep him only to back into the hardness of another body.

Shit.

“You know what, Liberty? If you think you can keep my family away from me, then you and I have some business to sort out.” Mitch tries to stand from the ground, but another one of Dominic’s boys steps in and keeps him down with a boot in his back.

“Dominic, you don’t want to make threats. You know the system,” I warn. It’s not much of a deterrent for a man like him in his position, but there isn’t much more I can do.

“I think you telling me what to do, isn’t in your best interest.” Arms come around me, holding me in place. The hard body I found myself backing into keeps me from retreating.

After struggling in his grasp, my fight finally dies when Dominic steps in closer.

“You need to know your place, puta. You stepping in, putting your nose in where it doesn’t belong, is messing up my plans. Now Mitch is my family, not yours, and I’m not gonna take too kindly to you stepping in again. So I’m gonna give you a warning, and you’re going to listen to it.” His hand reaches out and wraps his fingers around my jaw, squeezing tightly.

I hold my composure. It’s not the first time I’ve been confronted by a group of boys or dealt with physical assault. Working in an all-boys home makes you tough.