Up In Flames

Chapter 28

"Let me guess, the ex?" Ryder let her wrist go but didn't back down from the stare he and Happy were exchanging. "I think this proves my point."

"Ryder," Rory snapped as she stepped toward Happy. Lowering her voice, she looked around mortified by the entire scene. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm keeping an eye on you." Happy glared over her head. "Lucky I did with this fucking guy putting his hands on you like that."

"Stop," she looked between them, "Both of you."

The manager rushed over and, deciding Ryder looked less threatening, pulled him aside. "Sir, I'm going to have to ask you and your...friends...to please pay you bill and leave."

"I'm sorry." He shot a look at Happy as he pulled his wallet out and offered the man his credit card.

"Let's go, Rory." Happy pressed his palm on her back.

"Don't, Hap." She slapped his arm away and, grabbing his cut, pulled him out to the sidewalk. "Did you follow me? Where's Emma?"

"I was making sure you're okay." He said his upper lip curled as he spoke. "She's with Benny and his old lady."

"She's where?!" Rory didn't trust anyone to watch Emma but especially not those people. "How could you leave her with them? What is wrong with you?"

Ryder hurried out of patio setup and as he came behind Rory interjected himself into the conversation. "Are you okay?" When he touched her back, innocently, Rory spun and punched him in the nose.

"Oh shit, I'm so sorry." Her reactions were heightened since the attack, she couldn't help but defend herself.

He stumbled back, blood trickling down his lips, while Happy laughed. "Nice hit, baby."

"Are you okay?" She crouched down to make eye contact with Ryder. "I am so sorry."

"It's fine." He stood up straight and wiped the blood from his face. "Obsessive and controlling," he said with his eyes locked on Rory. "Be careful."

She nodded and, standing, took Happy's hand pulling him down the street a few feet. "You can't stalk me." She snapped. "I know it looks bad but he wasn't trying to hurt me. You can't do this, this crazy shit isn't you." She paused and shook her head, "It is but you're not this kind of guy. You're not abusive and manipulating but your behavior is telling a different story."

"Ma'am?" Rory almost threw another punch but Happy grabbed her wrist before she could. She peeked over her shoulder to see two officers, one speaking with Ryder and one eyeing her, his hand on his gun.

"I'm sorry." She held out her hands, palms up, and tried to think of some excuse. "Everything is fine, officer, really."

"If I asked the bleeding man to my left will he say the same?"

"Yes. That was an accident he startled me and I reacted badly. This," she pointed to Happy, "This is the same relationship crap it's always been. Really, it's all fine."

"Not according to the call dispatch received. We got a report about a blonde female assaulting a man." He looked at her hands and gently he took her wrists, turning her hands around, to see a few drops of blood on her knuckles. "Ma'am I'm going to ask you to put your hands on your head."

"Are you fucking serious?" Happy was fine letting her attempt to talk them out of it but now, seeing her about to be arrested, he lost his already minimal control.

"Sir, back up and have a seat on the curb."

"It's fine, Hap." Rory warned. "Please." She did love the passion with which he defended her.

"She didn't attack him," Happy protested. "Is he pressing charges?"

The officer cuffed Rory and with a grin, looked at Happy. "That doesn't matter. Until we straighten it out I'll take her in."

Rory looked up from the ground and right at Happy and shook her head. "Just bail me out. Don't get yourself locked up, please." Her eyes were intense and pleaded with him silently. When the officer helped Rory in the car she whispered quickly. "I love you, Hap."

"Hey, what's going on?" Ryder came up the block, the second cop following after, and spoke passionately and rather animatedly with his hands. "Why is she being arrested?" He looked into the squad car and instantly blamed Happy.

"Sir, is she the woman who attacked you?"

"She didn't attack me." Ryder's face was twisted as he looked at Rory then the arresting officer. "I scared her, she threw a punch, it's nothing."

"Assault and disturbing the peace it is."

Happy's eyes fell on Ryder and he could feel the heat instantly. Without the practice Rory and Happy had, Ryder was the worst man to speak to police.

"You fucking asshole." Happy snarled. "You stay away from Rory from now on."

"Or what?" Ryder spat, his chest puffed out as he stood up to Happy. "You don't scare me. I'm trying to help her; no woman deserves this kind of bullshit."

Happy knew the type now. He thought he had Ryder pegged as someone who saw themselves as some savior but ended up using the woman's trust for nefarious purposes. He kept reminding himself he had to ignore Ryder's remarks and bail his old lady out. Not rising to his antagonistic statements, ones that were aimed at getting Happy locked up as well, he spit at Ryder's feet and turned back toward his bike.