Chapter Text
Outside the Bulkhead Bar
Katie stayed close to Clay, matching his slow pace across the full lot to his car in the far corner. It had been the only open spot when they arrived. Tonight had been fun right up until those nine over-muscled, steroid-popping idiots picked a fight with Clay.
She noted the line of blood on the back of his lightweight shirt and hoped the glass from the shattered lamp didn’t cause a deep laceration, though if it had, she believed Clay would’ve allowed Trent to tend him in the bar. She was glad Clay’s mates intervened when they did, or his skin grafts could’ve been damaged. He was on the mend and doing well, but it was still too early for him to be getting into any minor physical altercations let alone a knock-down-drag-out bar brawl.
Wishing she didn’t have to leave tomorrow her thoughts were interrupted as an unknown man yelled Clay’s name as they approached the Mustang. The sucker punch shocked both her and Clay as her friend stumbled to into her and his nose began bleeding again.
“Time to teach you who is the better man!” Ash swung again.
Katie reacted … training coming into play without conscious thought. She blocked the hit heading for Clay and struck out with her own. Pain shot through her hand as she connected with the attacker’s cheek, but she ignored it and followed up with a scoop kick to the man’s groin, sending him to his knees and his hands to his nuts to cover himself, making it impossible for him to attempt another strike on Clay.
Everything happened so fast Clay only stared as his father’s knees hit the asphalt, cupping himself after Katie kicked Ash in the balls. He couldn’t stop the chuckle which emitted, the whole scene surreal to him. Ashhole dared to assault him again. Did Ash possess a death wish? Ash had to realize Bravo would never allow him to pull this shit without repercussions.
Ready to defend Clay again, Katie flicked an eye at a laughing Clay. “Do you know this wanker?”
“Yeah, this is Ashhole … my father.”
Katie’s eyes rounded. “Your oldie?”
“Unfortunate side effect of birth … yeah.” Clay got ahold of his laughter and turned a glare on Ash. “What the hell do you think you are doing? I told you I don’t want anything to do with you. Period! You’re lucky, my brothers didn’t witness your assault, or you would be a bloody pulp, not just holding your balls.”
Growling, due to both pain and anger, Ash straightened up and rose. “Need a girl to fight your battles. You will never measure up to my standards. Not sure why I ever worried about it.”
“Might need my wife to fight for me at the moment … but keep in mind … a woman just chopped you off at the knees.”
Katie noted the gleam of rage flashing in the elder Spenser’s eyes, but she glimpsed reinforcements exiting the bar, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She never doubted Clay could hold his own against this man, but he was in no condition to fight. And her hand throbbed, she might’ve broken a knuckle … or two. Koala’s not gonna be pleased with me. I know better than to go for hard bones, should’ve gone for the solar plexus.
“WIFE?! When the hell did you get married?” Ash shouted as the four-letter word sunk in. The last he knew Stella dumped Clay, and he was moping around like a pussy-whipped little boy who lost his favorite toy.
Too exhausted to even care about his father anymore, as Clay turned away, he said, “You lost the right to know anything about me when you tried to ruin my career.”
Quick as lightning, still possessing the skills he utilized as a SEAL, Ash reached out and grabbed the back of Clay’s shirt, intending to pull him back, and pivot him … his obstinate and obnoxious son would provide him the answer he demanded.
Fabric tearing filled the air, and Ash was presented with a back covered in bandages and some blood. For one split second, an ounce of concern for his child snuck in, and he breathed out, “What happened?”
Fury lit Clay’s eyes as he faced his odious father. He liked this shirt, and now it was ruined … just like everything Ash ever touched. “Lay a hand on me again, and it will be the last thing you ever do.”
The fleeting concern was replaced with opportunistic strategy. Banking his rage behind a mask, Ash used a honeyed tone, “Son, I’m sorry.” He raked a hand through his hair, searching for words to manipulate. “I’m terrible at this father thing … I know, but I try. You’re hurt.” Then Ash lied, “I care about you,” and he added his tag line attempting to gather intel, “Did this happen on a mission? Perhaps in Australia … your wife’s got a pretty accent.”
Recognizing the snake oil, Clay didn’t bother to answer Ash. He reached for Katie’s hand. “Let’s go.” Katie’s hiss had Clay peering down at her hand. Anger welled again. She had been hurt defending him from Ash.
Though he shouldn’t, blind fury made Clay strike out at his dad. He caught Ash off-guard, swept Ash's legs out from underneath him, taking the bastard to the ground. Out-of-control Clay straddled Ash a micro-second later and pummeled his face as he yelled, “Leave me the fuck alone. I’m sick of you ruining everything in my life. You hurt everyone …”
Three sets of hands overpowered Clay, dragging him off Ash. He stood panting, his fists clenched as he glared at Ash.
“Whoa, calm down, brother,” Ray spoke trying to breakthrough Clay’s haze of fury.
“Stay back! Don’t even think about retaliation or you’ll be dealing with more than a few bruises,” Jason barked at Ash as Clay’s father rose and tried to come at Clay, the outrage as clear in Ash’s expression as the blood flowing from his nose and split lip.
Sanity started to return as Spenser glowered at Spenser, neither one willing to break the gaze. Clay spat out, “Wish I was an orphan.” He pivoted on his heel and took the five steps necessary to reach his car. He wanted to sag on the trunk but refused to display weakness in front of Ash.
Katie hurried to open the passenger door, and her hand was rebuffed by Clay as he insisted on getting in without help, though he definitely could use it.
Jason and Ray maintained a wall between Spensers.
Wiping the blood on his sleeve, Ash said, “I’ll be pressing assault charges. Clay’s finished as a SEAL.”
In his calm tone, Ray said, “Appeared to be self-defense to me.”
“He attacked me. I’m the one who was on the ground,” Ash retorted.
Jason arched a brow. “Hmmm, so the great Ash Spenser is bested by a mere woman and a grievously injured man. Wonder how many books you will sell if that story comes out?”
After closing the door, and heading for the driver’s side, Katie stopped next to Jason. “For the record, this man sucker-punched Clay first. If anyone is to be accused of assault, it is this poor excuse for a man.”
She roved her eye up and down Clay’s oldie. “You are a bloody offensive parent. Glad Clay is nothing like you. And as far as teaching him who the better man is … it is a lesson you need to learn because we already know it’s Clay. I suggest you leave before I call the police and file a complaint against you.”
Understanding when it was time to retreat, Ash turned and stormed off. This isn’t over … not by a longshot. Clay will pay dearly for trying to overshadow me.
Once Ash vacated the area, Jason handed his keys to Ray and turned to Katie. He had not missed her now swelling hand. “Give me Clay’s keys. I’ll drive him home. You ride with Ray, and he’ll take you to get your hand x-rayed by our team doc.”
“Not necessary. A little ice and I’ll be fine,” Katie downplayed the injury, not wanting to leave Clay.
Ray chuckled. “We’re too versed with the kid for your words to ring true. I swear you two are a matched pair. Let’s go, Katie. Dr. Irving won’t take long, and we’ll be at Clay’s by the time Trent is finished examining him.”
Katie nodded and followed Ray to Jason’s truck after relinquishing the keys.
Jason opened the driver’s door and slid in. He expected to find blue orbs filled with a bit of concern for the dressing down he might mete out to the kid for his dumbass and hot-headed move which could’ve resulted in significant damage. Instead, he found Clay’s head leaned on the window, and the light snore and regular breathing told him the kid had fallen asleep.
He let out a long sigh. You, kid, are gonna turn me gray prematurely. Jesus, what the hell are we going to do about your asshole father? Jason gripped the steering wheel and squeezed until his knuckles turned white. “I would love to dump Ash in the middle of the ocean and let the sharks eat him. What the hell kind of father attacks his son, not once, but twice … hell, maybe more?”
Clay’s soft, “An Ashhole father,” startled Jason.
He released the wheel. “Thought you were sleeping.”
“No … only trying to … hell, I don’t know. Why?”
“Why what?” Jason turned and met sad and confused blue eyes.
“Why does he hate me so much? As a kid, I looked up to him. Even though he was never around, I built up in my head he was off saving the world from bad guys, and so it was okay he wasn’t around. It was okay he left me with my grandparents. It was okay he abandoned my mom because others needed him.”
Clay let out a ragged breath. “I wanted to be a Navy SEAL just like him.”
Jason reached out a hand and laid it on Clay's thigh and patted. “Thankfully you are nothing like him. You are better. You are a damned fine SEAL, and one day you will lead a team of your own. Something Ash could never do. He didn’t have what it takes to lead a team, and you do.”
“Let’s get you back to your place so you can crash on a comfy bed and Trent can take a look at the damage done.” Jason turned on the car and put it in gear when Clay only nodded.
As they pulled out of the parking lot, Clay said, “Thanks for not yelling at me for my out-of-control reaction.”
Jason chuckled. “Oh, you’re not off the hook by any means. Just waiting for the right time and place … which this is not. You’d probably nod off as I waxed poetic … and I want you to hear every last word I have on the subject of maintaining control and engaging your head before your fists.”
Clay closed his eyes about midway through Jason’s words, and he kept the smile from his face as he faked a snore, which produced more laughter from his team leader. Yeah, he would pay the price, but his brothers would always have his back. Two miles down the road, Clay drifted off to sleep for real. He did not see Jason’s concerned expression nor hear the sigh or the call Jason placed to Blackburn to bring him up to speed on what occurred. Jason understood they might need to keep an eye on Ash Spenser.
Clay’s Apartment
Trent covered Clay with a light blanket. The kid zonked out within five minutes of him arriving. Overtaxed by the events of the day, Clay never stirred once as he cleaned and dressed the cut caused by the lamp breaking as Clay was shoved into it at the bar. He exited the bedroom and shut the door behind him.
He grinned as he found Jason, Sonny, and Brock all in Clay’s small living area. “This apartment isn’t really big enough for all of us to visit him all at once.”
Sonny removed the toothpick from his teeth and eyed Trent. “None of us plan on going anywhere until you tell us how Orcinus Orca fared.”
Brock chuckled. “New name … I’ve lost count.”
Sonny sat forward and clasped his hands, wanting to wring them around Ash Spenser’s neck. “Hey, it fits. The kid is one badass killer whale. He took his shark of a father to the ground from what Jace said. No easy task in his condition … which reminds me, Trent … did he hurt himself?”
“He needs rest. Overdid it in the sun today, and tonight’s events didn’t help. But other than that, no damage to the grafts. His knuckles are a bit bruised, and the cut on his back was shallow … didn’t require stitches. Nose isn’t broken, but he’ll likely have black eyes due to the broken capillaries beneath the skin leaking into the surrounding tissue.” Trent went to Clay fridge and helped himself to an orange soda … he was done with alcohol tonight.
After he popped the top, he peered at Jason. “Ray call yet?”
Jason shook his head.
Standing to pace, Sonny did the short trip in the small space several times before he stopped and gazed at the others. “Don’t it seem a bit opportunistic for Ash to be in the parking lot just as Clay is leaving?”
Chuckling again Brock teased, “Wow big word for you, Sonny. Do you even know what opportunistic means?”
“I may be a Texan, but I ain’t stupid. Ashhole appearing right after all those ornery bulls with more brawn than brains tried to rough up Clay. Something stinks and it ain’t my shoes.”
Jason nodded. “Been thinking the same. Called Blackburn. Might call Mandy to do a little research into those nine guys. They’re not from around here. The Bulkhead bar owner said they had never been in before, and none of them drank more than two beers, so they weren’t drunk. Feels like a targeted attack.”
“Well, shit. The kid don’t need this crap on top of everything else. Just rehabbing is gonna be tough.” Sonny blew out a breath and stuck his toothpick back in, chewing one end and wondering what the hell they would do about Ash going after Clay.
The guys lapsed into silence, each lost in his own thoughts as they waited for Ray to return with Katie. Time flew and before they knew it two hours had passed before Clay’s front door opened.
Katie entered and smiled finding Clay’s team all there. She held up her bandaged hand. “Not broken … which is good cause I would’ve gotten an earful from Koala. Bruised, just need to ice my hand, and it’ll be fine.”
Brock stood, vacating a spot on the couch. “Have a seat.”
“Thanks.” Katie lowered herself to the cushion and before she realized, she had a soda set by her, a couple of analgesics, one of the guys put a pillow under her hand and another laid an ice pack on top after covering her hand with a towel. Then they stood in a semi-circle around her. “What?”
Jason became the spokesperson. “Thanks for taking care of him. Sorry you were hurt. But time to tell us exactly what went down. Clay was too wiped out to say, and Ray and I came out and we don’t know what happened to cause him to overreact and become so outraged he quit thinking before taking action.”
Katie shook her head. “First up, I don’t believe he overreacted … well, maybe a little, but his father is as foul as decomposing offal.” She proceeded to explain the full exchange to them. By the time she finished five sets of eyes burned with outrage and she believed had Ash Spenser been in the room, the man would be dead … his body dumped in the ocean to become fish food.
She rose and said, “I’m tired. I’m going to bed. Feel free to stay or go. I’ll ensure Clay is okay tonight, but after I leave, I believe one of you should stay with him.”
“That’ll be me,” Sonny eyed the couch, not looking forward to sleeping on it … he would rather stay at his place or Lisa’s, but he wouldn’t abandon his brother.
“Been thinking on that too. Might be best if he didn’t stay here if Ash is targeting him. We can discuss it tomorrow, but Clay will have to accept he is coming to live with one of us … at least until he is out of the woods and we get a handle on the Ash situation.”
“Night,” Katie said as she ambled towards the bedroom. This had not been quite the vacation she expected when she spontaneously bought the ticket ten days ago, but she was happy she came and helped Clay. Leaving him and flying back home tomorrow would be depressing. She was half-tempted to call Koala, tell him about her minor injury, and beg for a week off … but she wouldn’t, her job was as important to her as Clay’s was to him, and she worked her ass off to attain her position.
When the bedroom door closed, the group broke up with everyone except Sonny taking their leave. He went to the tiny closet, pulled out the extra pillows and a blanket then bedded down for the night on the couch. As he attempted to go to sleep, he developed numerous outrageous scenarios to rid the world of an Obsolete Ashhole.