Chapter 209: Penny
The first crash of the door jolts through me like a gunshot.
I flinch mid–laugh, halfway through a story the older vet beside me was telling his hand halfway to his glass.
The music stutters, drops, then picks up again, like even the speakers know something’s wrong.
I turn instinctively, eyes searching-
Then I see them.
something about a faulty parachute and a bottle of whiskey. He pauses too,
A wall of leather. Boots, Bulk. Swagger.
Four, maybe more.
They enter like they own the place, all wearing the same patch. I don’t need to know what it says. I know. I’ve seen this look before, once, in a gas station that made my skin crawl.
Asher’s already standing.
My feet move before I can think.
make
way toward him across the room. I don’t even know why yet, just that the air shifted. Something
I slide off the stool, heart pounding, trying to changed.
“Penny.”
Boomer steps in front of me so fast I almost run into him.
“We’re leaving. Now.”
I blink. “What? No–wait. What’s going on?”
“It’s not safe. Come on, through the back. Quietly.”
I glance past him – Asher’s across the room, jaw locked, eyes scanning the gang like he’s reading each threat one by one. I open my mouth to call him.
Boomer shakes his head. “Don’t. Don’t draw attention.”
“I can’t just leave him.”
“You have to.”
“I’m not leaving him here!”
“Penny.” His voice is lower now, tight. “I don’t have time to explain. But if he told me to get you out, it’s not up for discussion.”
That stops me.
My stomach flips.
If Asher said that…
I let Boomer guide me toward the hallway, past the kitchen, metal swinging doors groaning behind us.
I’m still protesting. “I don’t understand, why are we running? Shouldn’t we be the scary ones in this place? It’s a military pub-
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Chapter 209: Penny
And then I hit a wall.
Boomer’s back.
He stops cold, arm flying out in front of me like a shield.
“What–”
I see it.
Oh my god.
The back lot is filled with motorcycles. Big, black, ugly beasts. Their engines are off, but the threat is alive. Trucks too. At least eight men already standing there, smoking, laughing, leaning against vehicles.
One looks up and grins when he sees me.
“Well, well. Look what we’ve got here.”
Another flicks a cigarette to the ground. “Thought you boys were sending the kids out the back door, not dessert.”
The first one starts walking toward us. His boots crunch gravel with purpose.
“Goddamn, you’re pretty.” His smile spreads like an oil slick. “How much you want for her, soldier? I got cash.”
Boomer doesn’t flinch.
He moves. Half a step to block me, one hand sliding behind to hold my waist and keep me back.
The man keeps talking. “What, twenty bucks? Fifty? I don’t mind paying. Or we can just take her for free.”
“You don’t want to do that,” Boomer says coldly.
“Oh, I do.” The guy glances at the others. “Hell, we all do. That mouth of hers could keep the whole lot of us entertained all night.”
Someone behind him whistles. Another guy laughs.
“I’ll even go easy. She can pick who goes first.”
My blood turns to ice. Their words make me nauseous.
Boomer’s jaw flexes. “Back. Off.”
“She yours?” one sneers. “Didn’t peg you for a selfish type.”
“Don’t you worry boy. We can keep her company.”
Another steps closer. “Better yet–just go inside. Let the big boys have a turn.”
They laugh.
I can’t move.
Boomer turns his head just enough to speak to me. “Go back inside. Now.”
I nod. Try to move. I reach for the door
But another man’s already there, leaning on the frame, smiling like he’s waiting for me to try.
Chapter 209: Penny
“You’re not going anywhere, pretty thing.”
Boomer’s grip tightens.
“Let hei through,” he growls.
The guy tilts his head. “Or what?”
Boomer doesn’t answer.
Not with words.
Because the next second, a fist comes flying toward us
Boomer grabs me, spins me out of the way, and catches the guy’s wrist mid–air like it’s nothing. Then he twists, crack–the want of hone and sickening–and the man drops to his knees screaming.
Another rushes him from the side with a metal pipe.
Boomer ducks, grabs the bar, yanks it from his hands and slams the end into his gut. Then a second hit across the back of his neck drops him like a sack of rocks.
“Jesus,” I whisper, eyes wide. It’s at this exact moment that I am reminded that boomer is not just any solider, he’s a Navy SEAL like Asher. He’s trained co perfection. Even if he looks young and kind and funny, underneath is a fighting machine like no other.
Another charges. Boomer doesn’t hesitate – elbow to the throat, knee to the ribs. The guy stumbles and Boomer throws him face–first into the side of a truck.
A fourth tries to tackle him from behind –
Boomer sidesteps, grabs him by the collar, and uses his momentum to swing him face–first into the gravel.
They don’t try again.
The rest scatter back, shouting curses and spitting blood.
“She’s not worth it,” one growls.
“I’ll remember your face,” another hisses at Boomer.
“Yeah?” Boomer calls after them. “Try me again. I’ll send you home in a bag.”
The gang starts heading inside, shoving the door open hard enough to knock over chairs.
Then I hear it.
Crashing.
Shouts.
Someone yelling Asher’s name.
My body jolts forward. “We have to go back. They’re going in there. Boomer, we can’t leave Asher-
“I know what they are. I know what they’ll do
“Then let’s go!”
“I said no!”
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Chapter 209: Penny
He grabs me before I can take another step, and the next second, I’m aicherne:
“Hey! What are you let me go!*
“Not happening.”
“Boomer!”
He throws me over his shoulder like a sack of flour and starts marching across the parking lot.
“Put me down! I’m not leaving him! I’m
not
“This is non–negotiable.”
The tone in his voice shuts me up.
It’s cold.
Commanding.
Like Asher when he’s gone full SEAL.
I stop squirming, chest heaving.
Boomer unlocks his pickup truck with one hand, sets me down in the passenger seat, and slams the door.
I’m still breathless. Panicked. Angry.
He gets in, starts the engine, tires squealing slightly as he pulls away.
I press my fingers to my lips, fighting tears.
“You okay?” he asks after a moment.
I shake my head. “No. I’m not. I’m scared.”
He glances over.
“Scared of what?”
“Everything,” I whisper. “Of what they said. Of what they were going to do. To me. To you. And Asher’s still in there-”
“Hey.” His voice softens, just a little. “I’m fine. You’re fine. And Asher… he’s more than fine. Trust me.”
I nod slowly. A tear slips down anyway.
“…Thank you,” I whisper. “For getting me out. For protecting me.”
He’s silent for a beat.
Then he looks at me
something in his expression I can’t quite name.
Not pity. Not pride.
Something else.
I almost ask what it is, but the moment passes.
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Chapter 209: Penny
“Where are we going?” I ask instead.
“My place,” he says. “Five minutes out. Asher’ll come get you there.”
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