“What are you talking about?”
He laughed at her confusion. “Did you think I wouldn’t find out about the little rich boy waiting in the wings? That I wouldn’t know he had an army of lawyers and private dicks following me around, waiting for me to step out of line? Too bad I had a few tricks of my own. I found you, Dani. All his money and I still found you.”
Sugar daddy? Liam? “You didn’t come for me, you came for money, didn’t you? You’re broke, because no one in your old crowd would let you near them if they thought you were being followed.”
“That asshole owes me. He took my woman and my livelihood.” He waved the knife threateningly, making an S shape in the air. “Either he pays up or I can put a mark on your face to match the one I carved into your side. He wouldn’t want you then. No one would want you.”
Dani laughed at him. She couldn’t help it. “Someone lied to you, moron. We live in a borrowed house on borrowed time. He works in a kitchen to pay the bills. You’ve built this fantasy in your head because you can’t imagine me being willing to leave you, even if I had to beg on the streets. But I was, Sal. I would have begged. I would have done anything to get away from you.”
She saw Jace, Kaya and Bailey coming around the back of the building behind her pacing ex. Shit, she’d told them to wait inside. Now she had to keep him distracted long enough for the cavalry to arrive. She hoped Jace knocked his block off.
“That’s how I left, Sal. In fear. Desperate. But that’s not who I am anymore. And now I’ve got someone who is everything you’ll never be. You’re a criminal, but he’s decent and kind. He’s honest and loving, and you’re a lying bastard. I may not deserve him, but I damn sure deserve better than you. I’m not afraid of you anymore, so if that’s what you wanted along with your failed attempt at extortion, you’re wasting your time and mine. You should leave before the cops get here. I doubt you’re related to any of them this time.”
She’d seen the blinding rage in his eyes before, and it used to terrify her. She was still hearing that call to run, but the stronger voice was telling her to try and get that knife out of his hand before he hurt someone else.
“Too late, asshole.”
There was a dull metallic thwonk and Dani gasped as Sal fell to his knees in shock, still staring at her, blood gushing out of his nose.
“Liam? What are you doing out here?”
He ignored her, dropping the small pot he’d used as a bat and kicking away the knife before straddling her bleeding ex. “You’re lucky I didn’t grab the cast iron, you son of a bitch.”
She watched in a daze as Liam started to pummel him, fists pounding Sal’s face without mercy. Even when he’d stopped struggling, Liam wouldn’t let up.
She and Jace reached the same conclusion at the same time, both trying to hold his arms to stop him from murdering Sal in the parking lot.
“Liam, don’t. You’re killing him.”
“That’s the plan.”
“He’s not worth it, man.”
“You don’t know what he did to her. He hurt her.”
Dani wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m not hurt anymore. I’m here and we can’t be together if you’re in prison.”
Her concern must have gotten through, because he stopped, standing up to take her in his arms in one swift move that had her crying out in relief.
“Damn.” Jace looked down at Sal’s face and shook his head. “Remind me never to piss you off again, man.”
“That. Was. Awesome!” Bailey lowered her voice when Kaya sent her a sharp look of reproval. “I mean, violence is bad, but that line. ‘You’re lucky I didn’t grab the cast iron.’ Awe. Some.”
Dani chuckled a little hysterically, calming when she felt Kaya’s hand on her back. “Sorry about what happened inside. I needed to get him out of there.”
“I understand.”
“I don’t,” Liam said hoarsely. “She came out here alone to face down a lunatic with a knife. Barefoot, for God’s sake. How does that make more sense than calling the cops? Or letting me know what the hell was going on?”
Bailey frowned at him. “Don’t start with us. You looked like you had your hands full of another woman, buddy.”
She buried her face in Liam’s chest and sighed. “He wasn’t with Gillian willingly. I could tell.”
“Thank God for that,” Jace muttered. “Seriously, she is one step away from going Fatal Attraction. Tarts or not, no man deserves that.”
Liam tightened his hold on Dani. “You said all that to piss me off so I wouldn’t follow you. But you were crying, and you weren’t wearing shoes, so I was coming after you anyway. When I saw Jace pick up that sauté pan and disappear with the girls, I knew something was wrong.”