Chapter 4 - Chance

It's the afternoon after last night's big mess with the dumb kid and his pretty mama. I should be focused on getting the bar ready for tonight's crowd, but my mind keeps drifting elsewhere.

I find myself swiping the same spot on the counter over and over, my rag moving in lazy circles as images of that gorgeous girl's face keep flashing in my head. The way her blue eyes shone with gratitude when I stepped in to help. Those pouty lips curved in the sweetest smile after she tended to my busted mouth.

And holy hell, the things that body of hers did to me up close. All soft curves packed into a modest little sundress that somehow made her even more enticing. I can't stop picturing how it would feel to pull that bombshell body flush against me, to explore every luscious inch with my calloused hands...

The loud creak of the bar door opening jolts me from my vivid daydream. Instinctively, I whirl around, dropping the rag as my body tenses for a fight.

Only to find my two brothers from the Rogues - Trickster and Knowledge - standing there with arched brows.

"Easy there, Chance," Trickster drawls, holding up his hands in mock surrender as they approach. "We ain't here to cause no trouble."

I force myself to relax slightly, though my jaw remains clenched.

"Should've knocked first if you didn't want an ass-whoopin'," I growl.

Trickster just chuckles while Knowledge gives me an appraising look.

"You seem awfully...distracted today, brother. That's not like you."

Shooting him a glare, I turn back to the counter, snatching up my abandoned rag as the two Rogues take their usual seats.

"Just keeping my head on a swivel like I should," I mutter gruffly.

But it does no good lying to the two men who know me best in this world. Trickster leans in with a sly smile.

"This wouldn't happen to have anything to do with a certain beautiful firecracker you got tangled up with last night, would it?"

The smug look he gives me makes it clear he already knows the answer. I don't bother denying it; I grunt and shake my head as I resume scrubbing the already spotless counter.

These two jackasses probably have every sordid detail about my little damsel-in-distress scenario from the flapping lips of the other drunken patrons. I can already picture the ridicule and endless ribbing I'm about to endure.

"So, what do you think, Chance?" Knowledge pipes up with a smirk. "Is the cute little mama really worth getting the infamous Mercenary so tongue-tied?"

Knowledge and Trickster both burst out laughing at his goading remark, clearly enjoying getting under my skin about this whole thing far too much.

"Alright, you two jackasses better shut your traps before I shut 'em for ya," I growl, chucking a damp rag in their direction.

They duck the projectile easily, still chortling away as I turn my back on them and focus on restocking the beer coolers. Maybe if I ignore their childish taunts long enough, they'll get bored and move on.

Eventually, Trickster seems to settle down, cracking open a fresh beer.

"For real, though, brother," he says, his tone turning more serious. "You think Rog and his dumbass crew are gonna be a problem after you laid into 'em like that?"

I pause, considering it for a moment before shaking my head.

"Nah, those idiots just needed to be reminded who runs this joint. They'll steer clear."

"Still, Rog's got family ties to the Outlaw Riders over in Silvervale Mountain, and I've heard they're trying to expand," Knowledge points out with a frown. "Wouldn't put it past that hothead to go crying to them looking to settle the score."

He's got a point there. The last thing we need is those psychos from the Outlaw Riders coming around and starting shit.

The rapping of knuckles against the bar's front door cuts off my train of thought. All three of us turn towards the noise.

"Well, would you look at that," I say gruffly, jerking my chin towards the door. "Somebody who actually knows how to knock first."

Raising my voice, I call out, "Door's open! Get in here!"

The door swings open, and speaking of the freaking devil - it's that beautiful girl from last night standing there. Only this time, she's alone, no whiny kid in tow. And holy hell, the view is even better than I remember.

She's got these beautiful legs peeking out from underneath a little denim skirt that doesn't quite hide the swell of thick thighs that make my mouth go dry. Combined with the tight pink top stretching taut across her chest, it's a struggle not to let my eyes roam every delicious curve.

My throat suddenly feels as parched as the desert, and I have to give my head a small shake to clear it.

"What're you doing here?" I growl, unable to keep the gruffness out of my voice as she hovers in the doorway. "Ain't last night's excitement enough for you?"

The girl seems taken aback by my rudeness, her pretty eyes going wide as she swallows drily.

"I...I just wanted to thank you properly," she stammers after a moment. "And ask if there's anything I can do to make up for the trouble my son caused..."

Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Trickster and Knowledge poorly trying to smother their laughter behind cupped hands. I shoot them both a warning glare before turning my attention back to the girl.

"Don't need anything from you," I tell her bluntly, shaking my head.

Her brow furrows, that sweet mouth turning down in a frown.

"Well, there's no need to be rude about it," she retorts, seemingly finding her voice again.

I open my mouth to fire back a retort when two loud rumblings cut me off. It's not the typical roar of a motorcycle engine arriving at my bar, though—this sound is deeper and heading straight for us at an alarming speed.

In a split second, I realize what's happening.

"Get down!" I roar, vaulting over the bar and grabbing the girl by her waist. I yank her against me as I twist, shielding her body with mine just as an ear-splitting crash erupts.

Shards of broken glass explode all around us as something heavy and solid - a goddamn baseball bat by the sound of it - smashes through every window of the bar in quick succession.

The girl cries out in shock and fear, burying her face against my chest as I hunker down, protecting her trembling body from the deadly shrapnel raining down.

Some of the shrapnel simply scratches and pings off harmlessly. Others slice deep into the flesh of my back and shoulders, stinging fiercely. But I don't dare move or loosen my grip, not until the deadly storm has passed.

Protecting this girl is my only focus right now.

Finally, the roar of the motorcycle engines begins to fade as whoever pulled this stunt seemingly peels off, turning and fleeing the scene of their carnage. I'm still for another few tense seconds, waiting until the very last tinkle of raining glass ceases.

The moment it does, I hear rapid movement as Trickster and Knowledge scramble up from behind the overturned tables they'd taken cover behind.

"We're going after those bastards!" Knowledge snarls, hands already balling into fists.

He pauses when he sees Holly and me slowly uncurling, shaking bits of glass from our clothes and hair. Our eyes meet, and I open my mouth, prepared to tell them I'm going, too, that I need to handle this myself.

But before I can get a word out, a small hand fists in the front of my shirt as the girl presses herself flush against me once more. She's trembling violently, her chest heaving with sobs as tears streak down her pale cheeks.

"P-Please..." she chokes out between gasps for air. "Please don't go...don't leave me."

Trickster and Knowledge are already turning to go, their vengeance set. I should be right behind them, letting my wrath fuel the hunt. That's what the cold, ruthless Mercenary they all know would do.

But somehow, the sight of this beautiful angel crumpled and crying against me, begging me to stay...I can't bring myself to leave her like this. Not when she's so shaken and afraid.

"Go on without me, brothers," I tell Trickster and Knowledge, my voice catching slightly. "But be careful, you hear? Those bastards aren't messing around."

Knowledge throws me a curt nod before he and Trickster sprint out the door, fists raised as they take off in pursuit. Soon, nothing is left but the sounds of Holly's muffled sobbing against my chest.

"Hey..." I murmur roughly, brushing some of the glass from her dark hair, "I ain't going anywhere. You're safe with me. I won't let anybody lay a hand on you. You got that?"

Holly's only response is to cling tighter to me, her face still buried in my chest as her shoulders shake with quiet sobs. I can feel her hot tears soaking through the thin fabric of my shirt.

For a long moment, I just stand there, awkwardly holding her trembling form while she cries. Comforting fragile dames has never exactly been my strong suit. Hell, I can count on one hand the number of times I've had to do anything like this before.

But there's something about the way she's desperately grasping at me, like a terrified child, that brings out strange protective instincts I didn't know I had. So, I just keep murmuring low, gruff reassurances, gently rubbing her back with one hand.

"Shh, it's alright now...I got you. Those bastards are long gone..."

Slowly but surely, her ragged gasps for air start to even out until the sobs wracking her body subside into the occasional hiccup or sniffle. Holly finally lifts her head, swiping at the streaks of mascara staining her flushed cheeks.

"I'm...I'm so sorry," she whispers hoarsely, unable to meet my gaze. "I just...I've never been so scared before in my life."

At a loss for words, I simply give her arm a reassuring squeeze. "There's no need to apologize. You reacted how any sane person would to getting attacked like that."

This seems to calm her a bit more, the tight line of tension easing from her shoulders. Holly draws in a shuddery breath before nodding jerkily.

"Thank you...again," she murmurs, finally daring to meet my eyes. "I don't know what I would've done if you weren't here."

I can't help but let out a short, humorless laugh at her words.

"Way I see it, if it weren't for me, you wouldn't have even stepped foot in this bar in the first place."

Holly blinks up at me, those big eyes swimming with confusion and uncertainty, "I...I don't know about that."

Arching one eyebrow, I gesture around at the wreckage surrounding us - shards of glass littering every surface, overturned furniture, the whole place looking like a war zone. Then I let my gaze slowly travel up and down her body, taking in and appreciating her curves and tousled hair.

"Just take a look around," I say gruffly. "This shit-hole of a dive ain't exactly your scene, now is it?"

Her cheeks flush a little at my appraising look, but she doesn't try to argue my point. We both know I'm right. A sweet, innocent thing like her doesn't belong anywhere near the gritty biker world I inhabit.

With a sigh, I finally release her from my loose embrace, subtly putting a bit more distance between us. As lovely as she is, I shouldn't be holding her this close for too long. I don't want to give the poor girl the wrong idea about my intentions.

Besides, it's probably for the best that I put some space between us. I don't need her soft skin or sweet floral scent lingering too close for too long. She's a temptation with a capital T—exactly the kind I need to steer clear of right now.

I've got my hands full just trying to keep this ramshackle bar afloat and dealing with the Rogue biker club business. I don't need any more distractions, especially of the female variety.

The few relationships I've tried never ended well, mainly because of my surly attitude and tendency towards...destructive behavior.

"You're bleeding!" Holly suddenly exclaims, eyes going wide as she takes in the various cuts and gashes crisscrossing my shoulders and arms from the shattered glass. "We need to get you to a hospital right now."

Before I can react, she reaches out towards me, likely intending to inspect the wounds closer. On instinct, I throw out a hand to shove her back, perhaps a little too forcefully. The girl lets out a startled squeak as she tumbles backward, hitting the floor hard.

Immediately, I regret my harsh reaction. But I quickly bury it, fixing her with a steely glare as she stares up at me with those big, wounded doe eyes.

"You need to quit acting like I'm some kinda good guy here," I growl. "Ain't no way in hell I'm going to no hospital. You're damn crazy if you think so."

To her credit, she doesn't cry or look scared this time. Holly simply grits her teeth, pulling her dark hair back into a messy ponytail that somehow makes her flushed cheeks seem even rosier.

"Well, you're lucky I'm a nurse then," she bites out, returning my glower. "And that I took an oath to help everyone in need of it. Otherwise, I'd leave you here to bleed all over your precious bar without a second look back."