Courting Darkness by Melynda Price

called him a Neph, Haden might have tried to put forth a more convincing argument to the contrary. “I have no interest in Olivia. Not like that, anyway.” Even as he denied it, the taste of her kiss came to memory, stirring an unsettling ache in his groin.
    “You’re lying,” Mitch accused. “I saw the way you looked at her. You wouldn’t defend someone who meant nothing to you.”
    “I would if it meant I’d get the chance to punch you in the face.” That comment earned him another surly scowl.
    “Sucks to want what you can’t have, doesn’t it,” the prick taunted.
    What the fuck? Did this asshole really think he was going to sit here and bond with him over that female? “Who have you told about me?” Haden asked, preparing to make a mental hit list.
    “She tastes good, doesn’t she? Man, I miss that.”
    She tasted fantastic, but that wasn’t the point. And the more Mitch sat there talking about that female, the shorter Haden’s fuse grew. That green-eyed monster lashing at its tether was just begging to reach out and snap Mitch’s neck.
    “—those lush lips and that sweet little tongue…”
    Snap!
    With blinding speed, Haden reached out, grabbed the back of Mitch’s neck, and slammed his face into the bar. The bartender paid little notice to the thump, probably figuring the guy just passed out and face planted into the wooden countertop.
    Mitch’s body went limp, slumping against Haden. His grip on the guy’s neck tightened as he held him upright. With a don’t-worry-I’ve-got-this nod to the man behind the counter, he slid his arm around Mitch’s back. Grabbing ahold of his waistband, he hefted the guy up, half-walking, half-dragging the unconscious POS out the back exit.
    No one paid them any mind as they crossed the parking lot, the clip of each determined step echoing counterpoint to the scuffing drag of rubber soles against asphalt. Patting Mitch’s front pocket, he felt for his keys and pulled them out. Using the keyless entry to locate his car, the security system chirped as a set of halogens flashed on a dark blue Audi.
    As he neared the passenger side of the car, Mitch began to stir. A pained groan left his lips as he attempted to lift his head. His flaccid muscles slowly tensed back to life as he started to struggle against Haden’s unrelenting hold.
    A quick look over Haden’s shoulder confirmed they were out of sight, and he slammed the prick up against the side of the car. Using his six-four, two-twenty frame to pin him, he reached around and grabbed Mitch’s head while the other leveraged his jaw. “I thought you would have learned by now not to fuck with me,” Haden growled.
    The quick jerk of his hands wrenched Mitch’s head to the side. Bone gave way with a satisfying crunch . His body fell limp as Haden stepped back, catching him around the waist. Unceremoniously, he dumped the lifeless body into the front passenger seat. Mitch lay slumped over the center console, looking like a passed out drunk to anyone who may happen by as Haden casually rounded the Audi and climbed into the driver’s seat.
    “You really shouldn’t have talked to Olivia like that,” Haden said quietly, making conversation with the corpse as he pulled out of the parking lot and hung a left for Mitch’s house. “She’s not a whore and she doesn’t deserve to be treated like one. You really upset her tonight.”
    Silence.
    He nudged Mitch with his elbow, shoving him away. His body flopped against the passenger side door, head clunking solidly against the window. “What’s the matter, Mitch? Cat got your tongue? You’re not much of a conversationalist. I do believe for once in your life, you’re finally speechless.”
    Haden pulled inside Mitch’s garage. As the large door slowly closed behind him, he tucked his hand inside his sleeve, briskly wiping down the steering wheel and gear shift. Using his cloth-covered hand, he opened the door and climbed out. Walking over to the passenger door,