So weak and useless. Pathetic. “Let me go and I won’t tell Chef what you tried.”
He chuckled but it was a nasty sound. He pressed his body to hers. “You really think Taggart is going to listen to some two-bit whore over me? You’re a dime a dozen. He can replace you in a heartbeat.”
She hated that word. What she hated even more was the way some men used their strength against women, as though being bigger gave them rights. She brought her knee up as hard as she could, but she was too close. She caught his thigh and it only seemed to make him madder.
His right hand tangled in her hair, pulling and making her scalp ache. Pain sizzled along her skin, making her grit her teeth. “You’re going to pay for that, bitch.”
And then she could breathe again. Timothy was gone in a flash and she heard a strangled shout before her eyes could process what was happening in front of her. She fell back against the Dumpster, only barely managing to stay on her feet.
Macon was here. He’d pulled Timothy off of her, but it seemed he wasn’t satisfied with breaking them apart. He punched Timothy squarely in the gut and the older man hit the concrete. “You want to pick on someone your own size, asshole? Or do you get your kicks off raping women?”
Her hands were shaking, her whole body aflame with shock. They weren’t alone in the alley anymore. It seemed like the entire staff of Top had come out to witness her humiliation. Tears poured from her eyes. They would all know what kind of trouble she’d gotten into. They would probably side with the man.
“The bitch wanted it,” Timothy managed to squawk, holding his gut. “She asked me to come out here for a quickie. I’m going to sue the fuck out of you, you one-legged freak.”
“Did he really say that?” Eric grinned. He was standing next to one of the line cooks, a big guy named Drake.
Drake shook his head. “I think so. Go on, Macon. Beat the little shit to death with your prosthetic.”
“He doesn’t need two legs to kill you, asshole,” Eric said. “He could do it with no legs and one hand tied behind his back. I suggest you shut your trap.”
They weren’t reacting like she’d expected. There were no pitying looks her way. Eric gave her a reassuring smile.
“Let Macon handle it,” Drake said, nodding her way. “The big guy can take care of this. Don’t you worry.”
Macon ignored everyone, choosing to put himself between her and Timothy. He didn’t crowd her, didn’t back her into a corner, simply offered himself as a wall against the man who’d tried to hurt her. “You okay?”
“Yes,” was all she could manage.
“All right, let’s break this up. We’ve got service in less than two hours.” When Sean Taggart barked an order, every man snapped to attention. She’d heard rumors that Taggart had been a Green Beret. She believed them. The blond god of a man stalked out of the back door, gesturing for everyone to head back inside. He was six foot three, a bit shorter than Macon, but there was no question who was in charge. Chef Taggart had led men into battle.
He was also probably about to fire her.
Damn, but she’d liked this job. It wasn’t fair.
When everyone was gone, he looked down at his pastry chef. Sean stepped up and reached down, giving Timothy a hand up. “Are you all right?”
At least the crowd was gone. There would only be a couple of people to watch her get fired.
Timothy’s eyes narrowed as he allowed Sean to help him up. “No, I’m not all right and I have to insist that you fire that asshole. I was taking the girl up on her offer when that meathead came out and went berserk. I want the police out here. I’m having him arrested for assault.”
Oh, god, she was going to get Macon arrested. She couldn’t stand that thought. He’d tried to help her. “It wasn’t Macon’s fault.”
Sean turned her way, one brow arched. “Really? Macon didn’t rearrange this guy’s intestines?”
She shook her head. She had to cover for him. “I did.”
Macon stepped in front of her again, as though protecting her from both men now. “That’s utterly ridiculous. It was me, boss. He was…”
Sean held a hand up. “Don’t. I don’t need an explanation.”
“The cops will,” Timothy said.
“Yes, and if you call them, I’m going to give them