Where One Goes(68)

“I had my reasons; although now, it seems like it was a horrible idea.”

“Didn’t get your happy ending with Georgey?” Roger mocks and Ike morphs in front of us. His eyes are narrowed as he glares at Roger.

“Get the f*ck away from this guy! Now!”

Realizing we’re now in front of Ike and George’s, I stop. “I have friends waiting on me. I gotta go. Later, Roger,” I say numbly.

“Sure,” Roger nods. “But we have something to discuss first.”

My brows rise to my hairline. “And what is that?”

“You and George aren’t together, are you?” he asks as he steps toward me, causing me to step back.

“Tell him it’s none of his business,” Ike growls.

“Is there a reason you want to know?”

Roger steps closer and I back away again until my back hits the brick wall of the building. He’s too close to me now, merely an inch or two away, and my heart is pounding in my chest. “I was just thinking, maybe you and I . . . ya know . . . could find some comfort in each other.” He places his hands against the building on each side of my head and brings his face close enough to mine that I can feel his warm breath.

Licking my lips, I swallow past the nervous knot in my throat. It was only days ago I was basking in the feeling of him flirting with me, but that was before I knew who he was. Now, I’m freaking out. I try to hide the fear I’m feeling, but my voice trembles when I say, “I don’t think so, Roger.”

He grins, his mouth quirking to one side. “I can see how nervous you are. You don’t have to be.”

“You have me backed against a building,” I point out as my chest heaves heavy breaths.

His dark eyes rove over me before meeting my gaze again. “You are a beautiful woman, Char,” he says, quietly.

“Please back away from me, Roger,” I ask calmly.

“Sure,” he agrees after a brief pause. “But first . . .” he leans in and presses his lips to mine. His beard scratches my face and I pinch my mouth shut tightly as his tongue attempts to thrust in to my mouth. My hands are on his arms, pushing him as hard as I can, but he’s not budging.

“Motherf*cker!” Ike shouts, and Roger is torn away from me. How the hell did that happen? When I look down, Roger is quickly jumping to his feet and glaring. Then someone tackles him and they both tumble to the ground. My mind spins as I realize it wasn’t Ike that yelled at him . . . it was George. He straddles Roger and begins pounding his fist to his face. Roger flails and tries to roll away but George is moving too fast.

“George,” I yell, and move toward them, but Ike morphs in front of me.

“Don’t go near them,” he warns. Suddenly, Sniper is there peeling George off of Roger. Roger’s face is covered in blood, but slowly, he manages to stand. Even though his face is mangled and bloody, he laughs as he wipes at his mouth.

“Doesn’t feel so good when someone touches what you deem as yours, does it, McDermott?”

Both men are breathing heavily as they stare at one another and Sniper remains between them. George’s shoulders are tensed, his arms hanging by his sides as if he’s poised to attack again. His gaze flickers to mine briefly before returning to Roger’s. “No. It doesn’t,” he finally says, some of the tension rolling off of him. Sniper holds a firm hand to George’s chest as George steps toward Roger.

“I owe you an apology,” he tells Roger, and my mouth drops open.

“Holy shit,” Anna whispers, and I realize for the first time that she’s there, and her arms are holding me. “Did he just apologize?”

“I was wrong to see her. I knew she was taken. I’m sorry,” George says. Roger’s mouth tightens, and the two stare at one another for a long moment.

“Well, I’d say we’re pretty squared away now,” Roger finally says. Reaching out a hand, the two shake. Well I’ll be damned. Before he turns, he says, “She’s a good girl.” He juts his chin at me. “Make sure you give her plenty of attention. Don’t make the same mistake I did.” When he walks away, we all stare after him in silence.

“Why were you with him?” George asks, not looking at me, but there’s a certain accusatory undertone in his voice. He’s pissed.

“We were at Sam Snead’s. I came out to get air,” I snap, not appreciating his tone. “He was there.”

“He did that shit on purpose, ya know?” Sniper says, and I snap my gaze to his.

“What?” I ask, confused.

“He wanted George to see you with him. Show him how it feels.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t want to kiss him. He forced that on me.”

“He kissed you?” Anna shrieks.

“Yeah,” George growls. “Had her pinned up against the building.” His dark eyes meet mine again, briefly, almost glaring at me. Does he think I wanted Roger to kiss me?

“Yes, and I was trying to get him off of me when George showed up,” I say to Anna, but I’m clearly saying it to George as well.

“Your knight in shining armor,” Anna says, and smiles at George, but she’s the only one. She has no idea what’s transpired the last couple of days so her smile falters when she sees Sniper shake his head no, letting her know not to go there.