Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 128702 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 644(@200wpm)___ 515(@250wpm)___ 429(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128702 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 644(@200wpm)___ 515(@250wpm)___ 429(@300wpm)
“Hey. I’m Ramon, a good friend of Tech’s. Ramon Vasquez. Has he mentioned me?” he slurred.
“Um, not that I know of, but it’s my first day. We haven’t had the—”
“Probably too full of that hot shit Marine of his. But forget that. So, how’s it been going with your new team?” Vasquez asked, cutting him off. The question didn’t sound right like Vasquez didn’t care either way, and the sneer he’d worn with the words was another clear sign he may not be the friend of Tech’s he claimed to be. “You just popped up out of nowhere and got right in with God’s team.”
Free didn’t answer, looking through the glass to see if anyone was paying attention to them, but it didn’t look like it. He checked his watch, a universal sign that he was ready to go. Besides, it was going on two in the morning. He’d had a long flight and a long day. He hadn’t expected an impromptu bachelor party. Right now, he just wanted to get some rest in a comfortable bed. “It was nice to meet you,” Free said, his tone final, and went to leave, but Vasquez blocked his path, putting one hand on the brick wall and the other on the railing. Free’s throat tightened at the feeling of being closed in.
“Hey, what’s your rush, pretty man? I was only talking with you. You have a sexy ass accent, you know that? Did you fly here from England?”
Free didn’t answer. He didn’t want to talk with this guy another second. Obviously, he was drunk and didn’t know what he was doing was making Free nervous. He tried to calm himself down; after all, this guy was a cop. So was your father. Free swallowed the nervousness and shook those thoughts from his mind. His dad was a monster. There was no way Tech would place him around men like that. Vasquez was a guest at the party; he wasn’t going to hurt him. Free cleared his throat. “I think I’m gonna go. It’s late.”
“You’re right,” the man blurted loudly before toning it back down. “I think maybe we should get out of here. It’s late and I’m… I’m thinking maybe I can take you back to your hotel or whatever, seeing as you’re new to the area. Besides, Tech looks pretty busy.”
“I’m good,” Free said curtly. “I’m staying with Tech.”
Vasquez’s creepy eyes were looking all over his face. “You have nice skin. Are you… are you black...? Or um, what nationality are you?” Vasquez corrected himself like he was trying to make the question politically correct. “I’m a half-breed, myself.”
Free frowned. “Excuse me?”
Vasquez’s eyes narrowed a fraction then he waved his hand around in the air. “Never mind, forget that. Came out wrong. I meant I’m Hispanic and Irish. Weird combo, huh?”
“If you say so.” Free went to move again. “Have a nice night.”
“Man, I could listen to you talk all night.” Vasquez reached out and tried to touch his hair, but Free batted his hand away. “Oh, easy now. You’re a feisty one. What’s the problem? You already got your eyes locked on one of God’s guys? Well, you can forget that idea, they’re all taken. I saw you all cuddled up with Ronowski, he’s taken, too.”
“I’m not fixated on anyone. You need to move now,” Free said sternly. He didn’t like feeling this way. He wasn’t a weakling and he had some muscle on him, but anytime he was met with this type of threat his body shut down and his mind followed shortly after. After all the self-defense courses he’d had, he’d never been able to apply them when confronted, especially by a larger person. Confrontations didn’t happen often in his life, but those that had happened when he was younger screwed him up good. Now that he had an obnoxious asshole in front of him, he had no clue how to handle it.
Vasquez inched in closer and ran his hand down the center of Free’s chest, right between his thick pecs. “You don’t have to be so mean, pretty. I won’t hurt you… unless you’re into that.” Vasquez’s laugh was cold and eerie.
Free tried to hurry past but Vasquez caught his arm and held him back.
“Let go,” Free hissed, his forehead breaking out with a fine sheen of sweat, even though his body was freezing. He closed his eyes when Vasquez leaned in. Next thing he knew, he was jerked hard, his body was knocked back a step and a rough, angry voice laced with danger followed.
“Get your hands off him, Vasquez. Have you lost your mind?!”
Free opened his eyes but saw nothing except the broad back standing in front of him, blocking him from Vasquez.
“Chill out, Hart. I was only talking with him,” Vasquez replied with more than a little irritation.