One Fake Fiance - Jennifer Youngblood Page 0,27
sidestepped the attempt. He caught the guy’s arm and threw a punch that landed on the guy’s jaw with a sickening thud. The kid grunted in surprise. Lucas twisted the guy around and yanked his arm behind his back. He doubled over with a yelp. Lucas wrenched the kid’s hand, forcing him to drop the knife. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw another kid lunge for the knife, but Lucas was faster. He gave it a swift kick, knocking it out of the guy’s reach. He shoved the ringleader face-first into the ground before turning to the other guys. They came at him at the same time. Lucas socked the first one square in the nose, knocking him back. The teen’s hands went to his nose as blood spurted out. The second tried to grab him from behind, but Lucas jabbed him in the eye with his elbow. A few more swift hits and a kick and all three guys were down.
With a groan, the ringleader staggered to his feet like he was going to come at Lucas again. He wiped his bloody lip on his sleeve. “You’ve made a big mistake, mister,” he sneered.
“Stop right there!” a woman commanded. It went through Lucas’s mind that it was Magnolia who’d spoken. She was holding the knife, her jaw set in a steely determination, her blonde locks flapping. Lucas had kicked the knife in the direction of his truck, never dreaming that Magnolia would pick it up. “I said back off,” she screamed, wielding the knife. Her beautiful face was a picture of warrior-like tenacity.
If Lucas hadn’t been worried that Magnolia would get hurt, he would’ve been impressed by her grit. He was a trace bit amused that she actually thought she could take on all three kids. The princess had more torque than he realized.
From the corner of his eye, Lucas saw movement and realized the head honcho was making a run for Magnolia. Lucas was close enough to trip the guy with his foot, sending him sprawling.
“I’d stay down if I were you,” the older woman warned. “Clay, Brewster, I mean it!” She pointed a finger at the ringleader. “You too, Willie.”
Surprise rattled through Lucas as he turned to the older woman. “You know these jokers?”
“Unfortunately, yes,” she spat in a gravelly tone, the loose skin under her jowl jiggling.
“Just give us what we came here for, and we’ll leave you alone,” Willie said.
A light laugh floated from the woman’s throat. “Willie McHenry, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Sam and I came out here to find a Christmas tree.” She glanced at the tall man. “Didn’t we?”
“Yes, ma’am. That’s why we’re here,” he said dutifully.
Lucas glanced at Magnolia to get her take on the situation. Something strange was going on here. The man and woman had something that the teenagers wanted.
The older woman puckered her ruby red lips in distaste as she eyed the teenagers. “Melissa will be so disappointed when I tell her what you’ve done.”
The boys’ faces fell.
She continued. “And when Cannon hears about it, he’ll go out of his mind.”
“I don’t care what you tell Cannon,” the ringleader asserted, but his voice lacked conviction. The older woman had known just what to say to guilt-trip her assailants into a timid state of regretful embarrassment. She motioned with her head. “Go on. Get back to The Garrett House. And stop pulling shenanigans or I’ll do more than just talk to Melissa and Cannon. Next time, I’ll call the police.”
The boys got up and scrambled to their car. They started the engine and peeled off, slinging gravel behind them.
“Thank you so much,” the older woman began as she flashed an appreciative smile. Her curious gaze moved from Lucas to Magnolia. “You two are quite the team,” she said appraisingly. “If you hadn’t come along when you did, there’s no telling how that would have ended.”
Lucas studied the woman. Her curls were so flaming red that they looked fake, like they belonged on a doll. Her makeup bordered on being gaudy with her bright blue eyeshadow, her heavily penciled thin brows, the streaks of blush, and red lipstick. “Are you sure you don’t want to call the police? Those hoodlums could cause a lot of trouble. They could hurt someone.”
“The boys are staying at The Garrett House, a local shelter for children and women. Willie’s a menace, but he’s come by it honestly. His mom left when he was seven. He’s being raised