Guardian Bears: Marcus by Leslie Chase Read Free Book Online Page A

said, voice low, calm, dangerous. “She’s not his to give away, either. She’s mine.”
    Cal jumped forward at that, slamming a punch towards Marcus’s jaw. Marcus stepped back, letting the fist pass harmlessly through the air in front of him, and retaliated with a quick jab to the bigger man’s ribs. Cal stumbled back, gasping, but kept his guard up.
    “I don’t care how much business you’re bringing in,” he spat. “We’re settling this here and now, and if that fucks up Big Jack’s plans, he’s just gonna have to deal with that.”
    He backed off, pulling off his leather jacket and throwing it aside. Rolling up his sleeves, he showed off the tattoos covering his forearms. Lisa saw the feral grin on Marcus’s face as he took off his own jacket and dropped it.
    He glanced back at her, and she shook her head, afraid. She didn’t want to see him get hurt over her, not if there was any other way. And winning here wouldn’t keep him safe, not from the Serpents, not once he’d picked a fight with them. He gave her a little nod of understanding before turning back to Cal.
    “We don’t have to fight,” he said. “We can settle this another time, just walk away. But if you want to settle things, let’s get it done once and for all.”
    “You walk away,” Cal sneered, seeming to draw confidence from Marcus’s reluctance to fight. “I promise I’ll look after your little friend here just fine.”
    He stared at her and licked his lips, and Lisa shuddered in disgust. “No chance, I’m not spending another minute with you!”
    “You’ll learn to like it, you’ll see,” Cal said, leering and stepping forwards. Before he could say any more, Marcus was between them, shoving him back and snarling. Cal grinned with a sadistic pleasure, and the fight was on.
    The two men leaped at each other, fists flying in a blur Lisa could hardly follow. Cal’s jab smacked into Marcus’s blocking arm, and Marcus’s answering swing rocked his opponent back, but before he could take control of the fight, Cal twisted aside.
    The two men snarled at each other, and she backed away, wondering if she should run. But she could hardly abandon Marcus when he was fighting for her.
    Cal grabbed for Marcus, trying to use his bulk to immobilize him, but Marcus twisted aside with a grace she wouldn’t have expected from a man so big. He’d always been quick on his feet for a man his size, but now he was like lightning, his fists darting out in controlled punches to Cal’s side as he moved past.
    Roaring in rage and pain, Cal turned, lashing out wildly. Marcus ducked his head, stepping closer and letting the blow glance off as he continued to pummel Cal. The big man roared in pain and grabbed Marcus, arms circling him in a powerful bear hug and squeezing.
    Marcus grinned and slammed his head forwards, hard. His forehead struck Cal’s nose with a sickening crunch, and Cal dropped him, staggering back. Marcus shook his head and glanced back at Lisa.
    She saw the glint of steel in Cal’s hand. Quick as a snake, the biker had pulled a knife while Marcus’s attention was on her. Blood streaming from his broken nose, he leaped back into the fight.
    “Look out!” she shouted, heart in her mouth, watching the blade as if it was in slow motion. She was sure she was watching Marcus die.
    But he was faster than she’d thought possible. No sooner had she shouted her warning than he was twisting out of the way, his arm coming up to block. The blade bit into his flesh, scoring a bloody gash along his right forearm, but he kept it away from his body. His left hand came up in a short, sharp arc, smashing into Cal’s face with enough force to lift him off his feet and carry him backwards to land in a heap six feet away.
    Lisa blinked, caught between shock at his wound and surprise at his strength. That punch just didn’t seem possible. No one could be that strong, could they?
    It looked like something out of an action movie, and even there