Guardian Bears: Marcus by Leslie Chase Read Free Book Online

waist, stopping her in her tracks. “You gotta hear what I’ve come to say.”
    Lisa struggled in his grip, and he laughed as she pulled herself out of his grip. She spun around to face him, face hot with anger.
    “How many times do I have to tell you I’m not interested!?” She spat the words. “I don’t want you, I don’t want any of your Serpent friends, I’m not going to be anyone’s old lady. Just leave me alone!”
    Cal laughed, undeterred by her protests. “Don’t worry, babe. You’ll like it,” he promised, a nasty smile on his face as he reached for her again. She gasped, pulling away, but this time he wasn’t letting go.
    That’s enough , she thought, anger overwhelming her fear as he dragged her closer. Calling up memories of a self-defense video she’d watched once, she lashed out with her foot, kicking at his knee hard, and slammed her fist into his stomach with as much force as she could muster. Cal howled in surprise and pain, stumbling backward.
    Lisa didn’t wait for him to recover. She turned and bolted, hearing heavy booted footsteps behind her as she sprinted away.
    She didn’t get far before he caught up, and his hand grabbed her hair, yanking her back against him. Lisa tried to elbow him in the stomach, but she was off balance and only glanced off his hard muscle. She couldn’t fight against his strength, struggling helplessly as he pulled her close.
    A car passed by, and she tried to get the driver’s attention, but it was futile. In a town like Coldwood, the odds of happening across someone willing to stand up to a member of the Serpents were slim to none. No one was willing to take on the gang, and that left everyone else on their own in the world.
    “You bitch,” Cal hissed into her ear. “You’re going to pay for that!”
    He slammed her into the wall, driving the air out of her lungs. Lisa struggled for balance, trying to remember anything else from that video that could help.
    Behind them, another Harley engine roared to a halt, and she lost all hope. She didn’t have much chance of fighting off Cal on his own, but with one of his friends backing him up it was hopeless.
    “Get off her. Now.”
    The voice was low, angry, an inhuman growl. Lisa almost didn’t recognize it as Marcus’s. Twisting in Cal’s grip, she watched in shock as Marcus stalked closer, fury written across his face. He looked terrifying, eyes intense and narrow, fists balled, broad chest rising and falling as he struggled for control.
    Cal dropped her and stepped back, snarling at Marcus as he approached. He didn’t look like he was about to back down. “This isn’t your business. Fuck off back to the compound, and get out of my hair.”
    Marcus reached out to shove him in the chest, sending him back a couple of paces. “It is my business. This is my girl.”
    “No she ain’t,” Cal said. “She’s no one’s yet. Could choose me as easily as you.”
    “Doesn’t look like you were giving her a great reason to choose you,” Marcus pointed out with a snarl. He stepped forwards again, and Cal took another step back, watching his opponent. Marcus stopped once he was safely between Cal and Lisa, planting himself to defend her, waiting.
    Cal didn’t have the patience to wait out a confrontation. Losing his temper, he stepped forward and shoved Marcus, hard. Marcus turned slightly, letting Cal’s push glance off him, and didn’t move. He wasn’t quite as bulky as Cal, but he didn’t need to be. His reflexes were enough to give him an edge, and his taut compact muscles looked more powerful than Cal’s heavy bulk.
    Lisa watched, heart in her mouth, as the two men squared off to fight over her.
    “You don’t want this to be a big deal, Cal. Trust me. Aside from what I’d do to you, what would Big Jack say?”
    “Who gives a shit?” Cal snarled, circling Marcus. “You aren’t a Serpent, and this is our town. He doesn’t get to give my girl away.”
    “She isn’t your girl,” Marcus