Chapter 9
Three hours later, and the situation was anything but calm. The tension in the air was so thick it could be cut with a knife. At Dax’s side, Calla tugged on his arms to get his attention. “This isn’t going to be good.”
“You’re tellin’ me?” Dax couldn’t stop watching Magnolia even if he wanted to. That woman had been a blessing and a curse since the day he’d met her. Even now, when she’d been beaten down by her circumstances, he could see the old Magnolia simmering underneath the fragile shell. It was a waiting game; sooner or later, she’d peel away those pieces then he’d be really fucked. An untamed Magnolia was like a drug to him. Even now, drunk as a skunk, she was everything. She’d piled her thick caramel waves in a bun on top of her head, letting pieces fall down around her face in the way he loved. When she swayed to the music, he felt himself being hypnotized by her full figure. The years had been kind to her, filling her out in all the right places. She still had that flat tummy, but the fullness of the rest of her begged for him to touch her.
A drug… Magnolia Reed was his drug of choice. Calla tapped him, getting his attention once more. “We should try and get her out of here before this explodes.”
“Yes, turn it up!” Zinnia climbed on top of the bar and began playing with the hem of her shirt, teasing the men around her as though she was going to take it off.
Before either Dax or Calla could stop her, Magnolia began marching across the bar. Dax hiked a thumb at her. “I think it’s too late.”
“Shit.” Calla stomped her foot and pushed him forward. “Well, don’t just stand here! Go stop it.”
Dax shook his head, holding up his hands. “No, ma’am. This has been a long time comin’.”
“They’ll tear the place down!” She put her hands on her hips.
It was true. Magnolia had a fire in her that could burn up the whole building. The only thing that might save them all was that she wasn’t quite herself just yet.
“Maybe not,” Dax remarked.
As soon as Magnolia got close to Zinnia, she reached up, grabbed her arm and yanked her down off the bar. “Stop actin’ like a slut!” she screamed in Zinnia’s face.
Calla crossed her arms over her chest, elbowing Dax. “You were sayin?”
“Fuck.” He waved for Finn and Adam to join him. “When they start going at each other, wait until they hit the ground, otherwise one of them will take you out.”
Adam chuckled. “Those itty bitty things? You’ve got to be kiddin’.”
“He’s not.” Finn shook his head. They made their way toward Magnolia and Zin, trying to shove through the onlookers.
Zinnia grabbed a drink off the bar and threw it at Maggie, soaking her shirt in brown liquid. “Fuck off.”
“Fuck off? Really?” Magnolia stumbled to the side. “I’m the only one stoppin’ you from makin’ a fool of yourself.”
“Bitch.” Zinnia hauled back her arm and back-handed Maggie across the face. A collective gasp sounded around the room as Magnolia fell back and caught herself on the bar. Her hair fell over her face, and for a moment she hung like that.
Adam stepped forward. “Enough is enough.”
Dax shot his arm across Adam’s chest. “Wait for it.”
It was in that moment he saw his Maggie shed her fragile pieces and become the girl he knew. She pushed her hair out of her face and ran her tongue over the blood at the corner of her mouth. Then, to everyone’s astonishment except his, she smiled. “Big mistake.”
Zinnia’s eyes went wide and she stepped back. “Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah.” With a scream, Maggie ran at her full force. Zinnia held up her hands and threw a quick jab. Just as it looked like Maggie was about to get hit, she dodged the fist and spun to the side, grabbing Zinnia by the roots of her hair.
Zinnia’s head snapped to the side, and Maggie threw her to the ground. At Dax’s side, Adam took a step back behind him. “Dammmnnnn, she country.”
Dax nodded, unable to hide his pride. He’d taught her that move. “You have no idea.”
Magnolia leapt on top of Zinnia, pinning her to the ground. “I’m sorry I left, but you can’t blame me for how you are.” Boom! She cracked the palm of her hand across Zin’s cheek.
Underneath her, Zinnia bucked her hips, tossing Magnolia off to the side. She scrambled to get on top of her. “You were supposed to be my sister!” Crack across the cheek. “We were family.”
Just as Dax thought Zin had the upper hand, Magnolia kicked up her legs, nearly folding herself in half to wrap her boots around Zinnia’s shoulders and yank her back. She shot to her feet while Zinnia still lay on the ground. “How many times do I have to say I’m sorry?” Magnolia kicked her in the thigh. She was pulling hits, and Dax knew it. If Magnolia really wanted to do damage, she would’ve gone for the face or stomach. It wouldn’t have been the first time.
Zin grabbed Maggie’s boot and dragged her to the floor once more. The back of her head cracked against the hard wooden planks yet she didn’t stop. She rolled to the side, dodging a fist. Zin sat up on her elbow. “It’s not enough.”
The barkeep and other staff members began to wade into the fight, and Dax knew they’d get hurt if anyone but him tried to break this up. Two small hands shoved into his back, forcing him forward. “Get in there before they kill each other!” Calla yelled then stormed past him.
Adam jumped forward, trying to catch her arm. “Are you crazy?”
Ear-splitting screams filled the room as the two women fought to take control. Calla shot Adam a hard look over her shoulder. “Grab Zin.”
With wide eyes, he turned to Dax. “Why Zin?”
“Because Magnolia will kill you. She’s pullin’ her hits.”
“Are you fuckin’ kiddin’ me? That’s pullin’ hits?” Adam took a step closer to them.
“On the count of three, you and Calla grab Zin. Finn and I will take Magnolia.” They all nodded. “One… two… three.”
Leaping forward, Dax wrapped his arm around Zinnia’s waist and pulled her up off of Magnolia. He handed her over to Calla and Adam, who struggled to control her, while he corralled Magnolia. Magnolia’s arms continued to pinwheel forward as though she was still trying to hit Zin. She kicked her legs out, bucking against him. When her nails scored his arm, he wrapped her in a bear hug. “Maggie, stop.”
She paused for a second, only long enough for him to drag her back. Across from him, Calla held Zinnia’s legs, and Adam wrapped his arms around her stomach. The two struggled to hold her back but were having more success than Dax was with Magnolia. “Finn, grab her legs.”
At six-foot-four, Finn should’ve had no problem holding her, but even he struggled to get her to stop kicking. Venom spewed from her lips. “Put me down! I’m gonna kill her.”
“I know, darlin’. That’s why I’m stopping you.” He called out to the others, “Drag them outside.”
Dax was the first to move, holding Magnolia’s torso pressed against his chest with his arms wrapped around her. Step by step, they dragged the two of them out the front door. As soon as they were outside, he let Finn put her on her feet. “Now, hold still, or I won’t let you go.”
Her breaths heaved in and out, but he could see her begin to calm. A few feet away, Adam and Calla dropped Zin on the ground. She scrambled to her feet and pointed at them. “That’s right, Dax. Take care of your precious Magnolia.”
“Shut up, Zin,” he called back, fearing she’d say something they’d all regret.
Magnolia squirmed in his grip. “Why don’t you just dive into the bottom of another bottle, Zinnia? Like father, like daughter.”
A flash of hurt drew Zin up short, like Magnolia had slapped her in the face. She stumbled back, and two tears streamed down her cheeks. “Nice! Real nice!” She shot Dax a hard look. “Did you tell her about us?”
Like a nuclear bomb, silence dropped around them. A breath left his lips, and he locked his jaw. Magnolia had gone completely still before shoving him away. She turned on him, her green-hazel eyes blazing. “What is she talkin’ about?”
A humorless chuckle bubbled in Zinnia’s chest. “Oh, he didn’t tell you.” Again, that cold laugh. “After you left, Dax and I… you know.”
In that moment, he’d never regretted something so much. A new crack in Magnolia’s armor appeared. She brushed at her little nose and sniffled. Her words came out as a hurt whisper. “You slept with her?”
What could he do? He’d never lie, not to her. Instead, he chose to stand silently and let her look of utter pain kill him from the inside out.
From behind them, Zinnia called, “Oh, yeah, best he ever had, too.”
“Shut up, Zinnia.” Calla grabbed her arm and began to drag her toward her truck with Adam at her side to help. “You’re a lousy drunk.”
Still Magnolia said nothing, just looked at him with those hurt eyes of hers. Her cheeks were pink from the hits she’d taken, and her shirt was stained with liquor. Yet to him she’d never looked more beautiful and upset. He turned to Finn. “Can you go inside and get her purse and see that the truck gets back to the ranch?”
With a single nod, Finn disappeared back into The Hole. Magnolia wrapped her arms around herself and swayed, the booze obviously taking its toll on her. “I’m not goin’ with you.”
“You can’t drive home, Maggie. Think of Hayden.”
She spun on her heels and stumbled forward. “Fine.” When he reached forward to grab her, she smacked his hands away. “Don’t touch me.”
“Fuck.”
This was going to be a long ride back.