Destined (The Rangers of Ridge County #1)

Chapter Twenty-Four

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

EMMETT

I pushed through the door at Rowdy’s.

I didn’t have the energy to be here, but I couldn’t stay away.

Though, I was determined to only linger long enough to make sure my sisters were safe.

Millie, too.

At least, that was what I told myself before I eyed her partnered up with some tool on the dance floor. The rage I felt at seeing another man’s hands on her took me by surprise. It was a beast I was barely caging until I noticed her struggling against him. Then I was barreling toward them.

The motherfucker had a death wish.

Powering over to them, I grabbed the man by the back of his collar. He was a big guy, but I was bigger. I easily maneuvered him so he was facing me.

“What the fuck, man?” he coughed, and I had to restrain myself from punching him in the face.

My fist cramped, but I reveled in the discomfort.

“If you want to keep your hands, you’ll keep them to your-fucking-self!” I spat. “Do not touch her. Matter of fact, don’t even look at her.”

I dragged him toward the door and away from Millie. When I threw him onto the sidewalk, the bouncer looked the other way.

The man dusted himself off then shot me a bewildered look before raising his hands.

“H-Hey, man,” he stammered. “We were just dancing.”

“The fuck you were,” I snapped, fighting a losing battle with the part of me who wanted to rip him limb from limb.

“She was into it and has been flirting with me all night,” he whined, looking over my shoulder to where Millie stood. “Tell him we were just having some fun, Mills.”

I turned to her before I did something I was bound to regret.

“Millie, are you okay?” I asked, gently placing a hand on her arm. She didn’t answer, so I tilted her chin up until her gaze met mine.

There were tears in her eyes, and I threw a glare over my shoulder to the man who’d put them there.

“Honey,” I pleaded. “Talk to me.”

“I’m all right,” she whispered, and I pulled her into my arms. She melted into me, taming my rage.

Greer and Rory stormed out the door with two other men.

“What happened?” Greer demanded while Rory pulled Millie from my grasp and helped her into a jacket.

The three men were now grouped together on the sidewalk, and I positioned myself in front of my sisters who were protectively hugging Millie.

“Well, that asshole over there,” I growled, “Seems to think it’s all right to force himself on women.”

“Whatever,” said asshole mumbled under his breath. “Let’s head home, boys,” he said to his friends, turning to leave.

“I don’t think so,” I barked, stepping forward.

“You can’t arrest me,” he choked out. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“That’s Millie’s decision to make.” I shrugged. If it were up to me, I would throw his ass in one of the department’s holding cells whether I could make a charge stick or not.

I met Millie’s deep blue gaze and gave her the most reassuring nod I could muster. Despite my feelings on the matter, I was determined to make sure hers were the ones being validated and taken into consideration .

I watched as some of the color returned to Millie’s cheeks, and her piercing blue gaze speared Paul over my shoulder.

There’s my girl.