Hard Core (Hard As Nails Book 3) by Hope Conrad Page A

veins. And with each step I take toward that damned table, the narrower my eyes focus in on the man. He doesn’t even see me coming, doesn’t even know what’s about to hit him before I kick the leg of his chair.
    He falls backward as the chair flips against the hard floor. He winces in pain.
    “Axel!” Alyssa shouts.
    I zone her out, rip the piece of shit off the ground by his shirt, and stare him down.
    “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I seethe through gritted teeth. “You don’t put your hands on the women here. You don’t put your hands on any woman unless she tells you plain and clear she wants them there.”
    “But—but—”
    “No buts.” I throw him back, releasing him from my grip as his body lands against the table. His feet slide out from under him, and it’s as inevitable as the Titanic sinking to the bottom of the ocean—he rolls to the ground and the table crashes down with him.
    The other men that were sitting around the table all throw themselves to their feet. They’re not looking for a fight, or at least they shouldn’t be. Not if they know what’s good for them.
    “What the hell is your problem?” she snaps even as she walks past me and toward the bar.
    I’m about to go after her, but stop when I notice a shadow inching over my shoulder. I crane my head and stare down the wannabe ninja standing within arm’s reach.
    “Do you want to join your friend on the floor?”
    He swallows a nervous lump in his throat before shaking his head and backing away.
    “Good choice,” I say.
    I turn back around to follow Alyssa through the crowd, but once again my instincts tingle, and I sense movement behind me. Without looking back, I hunch over while throwing my arm behind me, hook my arm around the other man’s neck by feel alone and then roll him over the top of my head.
    He lands against the floor in front of me with a loud thud but I don’t even glance his way before taking off after Alyssa.
     

Chapter Ten
     
     
    Alyssa
     
    I throw the back door open and step out into the cool night air. I throw my arms around my chest, trying to comfort myself so I’ll stop shaking.
    Embarrassment. Annoyance. Even anger. They are raging through me. Axel just made one hell of a scene in my place of employment. More than that, his little display in there will leave anyone who witnessed it with the impression I’m a poor helpless girl who needs to be saved by a knight in shining armor.
    Maybe I am a poor helpless girl, but that’s my business. Nobody else’s.
    My phone buzzes with an incoming text and I check the screen. My stomach clenches when I see the message. It’s from Mr. Prince, telling me he’s setting up a pole dancing lesson for me tomorrow and will get back to me on the time and place.
    I’d been expecting it. So why do I suddenly feel so trapped?
    So defeated?
    The door is thrown open behind me, and I don’t even need to turn around to know who it is. Quickly, I shove my phone back into my apron pocket.
    “Go away, Axel.”
    The door clicks behind me, but I’m not fooled. I don’t know much about him, but I know he’s not good at following orders. Mine least of all.
    “I’m sorry,” he begins and I turn to face him. I don’t see a hint of guilt on his face. “I’m sorry that you’re upset, but I’m not sorry for what I did.”
    “If that isn’t the most cliché bullshit of an apology I’ve ever heard—”
    “It’s not bullshit,” he cuts me off and takes a step toward me, but I take two steps back. “I really am sorry for upsetting you.”
    “He didn’t deserve that.”
    He raises a confused eyebrow. “He slapped your ass multiple times.” He shakes his head angrily, his disdain glowing under the neon light hanging from above. “And there’s nothing wrong with that?”
    “It’s my job,” I yell. “I don’t get to walk around with a sign saying, Please do not touch this girl.”
    “It’s not your job. You’re a server. Even if you were a