Collide (Collide #1)(119)

"Shit," Fallon said. "I think I just got my damn period. Go ahead back to the bar with the guys. I'll be right out."

Emily nodded and tried to make her way through the crowd.

"Looks like you're stuck here," a man standing next to her yelled over the blaring music. Emily's eyes shifted to his smile, his height intimidating her as he brushed his hand over his buzzed head. "I could lift you up and carry you to where you have to go."

"Umm, no thanks. I'll make it through," Emily laughed as she continued her attempt to squeeze her way through the other patrons.

"Eric," he said, extending his hand while trying to also dodge the masses.

She shook it. "Emily. It's nice to meet you."

"Well, Emily, I'm here with a few friends if you want to come to our table and have a drink with us. They're right over there," he said, gesturing to a booth a few feet away. "If we make it over there," he laughed. "It doesn't look like we'll be moving too far in all of this."

"Thanks for the offer, but I'm here with my fiance."

"Getting married? Very nice," he smiled. "When's the big day? Not a Halloween wedding, right?"

Emily laughed. "No, but that would've been a cool idea." She stood on her tiptoes in an attempt to see over the still lingering crowd. "It's November 24th."

"Awesome," he replied. "Can I see your ring?"

Emily thought his request was odd, but nonetheless, she figured she might be able to use it to her advantage. "How's about we do a little bartering here, Eric?" she smiled. "I'll let you take a look at my ring if you part this group like the Red Sea, so I can get back to my friends."

"Sounds like a deal," he laughed. Emily lifted her hand, and he took it in his. With widened eyes, his mouth hung ajar. "That's a f*cking rock if I've ever seen one. Well, congratulations to you and your fiance. I wish you both - "

"Emily," Dillon interrupted, his voice filled with anger. He pinned her with a hard look, and she shivered. Pulling her hand away from Eric, she started to speak, but Dillon directed his attention to the other man. "Why the f*ck are you grabbing my fiancee's hand?"

"Dillon," Emily nervously blurted out. "He was going to - "

"Shut the f*ck up, Emily," he growled. "Answer my f*cking question, man. Why the f*ck were you touching her?"

Eric narrowed his eyes. "Chill out, buddy. I asked if I could see her engagement ring."

Without another word spoken, Eric's head flew back when Dillon punched him square in the nose, his blood spewing on Emily's sweater. With a gasp, Emily's heart tripled over in her chest as she watched Eric's body slump against the wall. Stumbling to his feet, Eric rubbed at his nose for a second and then started swinging wildly at Dillon.

Fallon walked out from the bathroom, her eyes wide with shock. "Holy shit!"

"Dillon!" Emily cried out as he lunged toward Eric, tackling his body against the wall with brutal force.

"I'm going to get Trevor and Gavin!" Fallon yelled, pushing her way through the crowd, which now formed a circle around the two men.

Emily wept as she screamed out Dillon's name, shock tearing through her system while the two men continued their venomous onslaught against one another. As the bloodthirsty patrons watched the fight, roaring like caged animals, Emily's body was pushed and pulled in every direction during the hysteria. Within a few seconds, two monster-sized bouncers pushed through the growing crowd, looking like they were undoubtedly ready to brawl. With little effort, one bouncer had Dillon strung up by his arm, pulling him off Eric, while the other yanked Eric away from Dillon. They yelled for everyone to clear the area or else they, too, would be thrown out. With their warning, the crowd descended back into the bar, still riled up from the madness.