My Angel is the Centerfold

Chapter 8

Carol could feel all the vodka and tequila and whatever else she drank swirling and churning in her stomach. It was threatening to make a reappearance as she focused her eyes on the other side of the club where Cydnie was pointing. Carol heard a lot of stories about River's ex husband. Or lover. Or stalker. Or whoever he was to her this week. Merle's unofficial title seemed to change depending on River's mood. But Carol had never actually seen the man. Still, the moment she spotted him she knew.

The man she spotted was leaning against one of the tall decorative columns that supported the balcony area with his arms crossed. His hair was shaved down to almost skin on the sides, with only a little more length left on top. He kept it short because it was curly, like Harley's hair. There was a black sleeveless shirt under his leather vest. A vest that Carol guessed had wings on the back, like Daryl's. There was a leather cuff on his wrist. But none of that was the reason Carol knew who he was. It was the intense expression on his face. And the way he was staring across the crowded dance floor, his eyes following River's every movement.

"Thanks for the drinks," Carol said. She turned and handed Ezekiel her still mostly full glass as Cyndie went clicking and clattering down the metal stairs in her heels. Carol stepped out of the booth. She was planning to shimmy or even push her way across the dance floor to get River. They might not be able to get out of the club before Merle got to them. And Carol wasn't sure if they should even try. Heading back upstairs and calling for security seemed like the better option. But before she even made it down the first step, Carol could tell she was already too late.

Carol watched as Merle walked out onto the crowded dance floor. The crowd parted slightly to allow him through. Most people instinctively moved to put space between their bodies and his, as if they could sense he was dangerous. Carol knew there was no way she was going to beat him over there. She waved her arms instead, screaming River's name even though she knew there was no way her friend would hear her over the thump and beat of the music.

Carol's eyes widened as Merle reached the area where River and her dance partner were. Images of her own soon to be ex husband flashed through her mind like rapid fire. The time Ed drug her up the stairs by her hair. And all the times he dislocated her shoulders by jerking and pulling her by the arms. That's what she expected she was about to see happen to River. Her breathing was coming in short hard pants. And her vision was going blurry around the edges.

The moment River saw Merle, she straightened up her back and stepped forward towards him. Carol couldn't hear what they were saying over the music. But it was obvious they were arguing with each other. When she saw Merle reach for River, she gasped. But he didn't jerk or hurt her. Not yet anyway. Merle wrapped his arm around River's slim waist and moved her so that she was behind him instead of between him and the man she was dancing with.

"Walk away," Carol hissed under her breath. This could be over without further incident if River's dance partner just walked away. He had to have some idea that the man confronting him was crazy. Carol could see that from across the club. But as soon as she saw the other man start to puff his chest up and move forward, she knew the situation was going to escalate. She wouldn't have guessed how quickly. But she wasn't totally surprised either when Merle lifted his leg and kicked the man square in the center of his chest before he jumped on him and started beating the absolute shit out of him.

Carol took off running down the steps as the dance floor exploded into chaos. Most people were running from the fight. But others were moving in, looking to get a piece of action themselves. Carol almost made it down the steps without incident. But she caught the edge of the last stair with her heel. Her ankle twisted. And she fell, hitting the ground hard even though she broke her fall with her hands. The frightened crowd was surging towards her. She was going to be trampled if she didn't get up. Carol rolled, trying to push herself up off the ground. But her ankle was throbbing and pulsing with white hot pain. She fell back to the floor and lifted her hands to cover her face.

Suddenly, Carol felt herself being lifted gently from the floor. Her first thought was that River's DJ friend had come down the steps to help her. But then she smelled the distinct odor of leather and cigarettes. She didn't hesitate to wrap her arms around Daryl's neck, holding on as tight as she could as he pushed his way through the crowd towards the emergency exit.

Carol felt it when their bodies hit the door. And then the cool evening air was around her. The noise of the club muffed and ebbed as the door swung open and closed a few more times behind them.

"Where's the car?," he hissed. Carol released her death grip on him and pointed across the lot.

"River parked it by the light pole," she said. "But we can't just leave her here!"

"I'm not," Daryl countered, turning his body so he could squeeze between the haphazardly parked cars. "Just gonna make sure yer good and I'll go back in a get 'er."

Carol responded to this by snaking her arm back around Daryl's neck. He was carrying her like she weighed next to nothing. And despite the strange and frightening situation, being in his arms felt good. Really good. She could feel the hard plane of his muscular chest pressing against her side. And the arm that was hooked under her knees was pressing against the bare skin of her freshly shaved legs. She had to fight back the urge to run her tongue up the side of his neck and see if he tasted as good as he smelled.

"I'm drunk as fuck," Carol announced, earning her a soft rumbling chuckle.

They reached the car. And Daryl set her down gently on the hood. She had the car keys in the tiny wristlet purse Wren loaned her. Thankfully, it stayed latched in place during her fall. Carol jerked the keys out and handed them to Daryl. He quickly unlocked the car and lifted her up into his arms again, this time setting her down in the passenger seat. Daryl straightened up, turning as he prepared to head back into the club for River. But he didn't get far.

"START THE FUCKIN' CAR!," River screamed. She was flying across the parking lot, her high heels clicking and clattering against the pavement. She had one hand across her chest to keep her breasts from bouncing out of her dress. And her long dark hair was swinging with the hurried movements of her body.

Carol felt Daryl's hand against her legs, making sure she was all the way inside the car before he clicked her car door shut and went tearing around the front end of the car. As he was jerking the driver's side door shut behind him, River was pulling the door to the backseat open and diving inside. She nearly caught her own foot in the door trying to close it so fast behind her. As she was swinging the door shut, Carol reached for her own door, hitting the lock button just in time.

Merle's hand slapped against the car door River just shut. Blood smeared across the glass. And Carol had a sneaking suspicion it wasn't his. Merle yanked at the door handle, trying to force the car door open. The loud slap of his palm against the glass startled River and she let out a high pitched shriek.

"Merle!," she hollered. "Stop bein' such an asshole!"

Seeing as he wasn't going to get anywhere with the door handle, Merle released his grip on it and bent down. He put his face as close to the glass as he could without actually pressing against it. "Open the door," he demanded.

River reached down, gripping the slit side of her dress. The fabric was ripped, making it so the slit was clear up to her waist. "I'm not openin' this door!," River yelled through the glass. "Ya already ripped my damn dress!"

"Open the door River," Merle ordered. His voice had suddenly gone low and intensely calm, which honestly scared Carol more than when he was yelling. "I'm not playin' with ya. Open this door up right now or yer gonna regret it."

"NO!," River barked. To emphasize her point, she held up her middle finger and pressed it against the glass.

Merle stood up. And for a split second, Carol was hoping he might just walk away. But instead, he slammed the side of his fist against the glass. River screamed, scrambling back across the seat.

"Hey!," Daryl hollered, whacking at the glass of his own window. "Chill the fuck out Merle!," he hollered. "Yer gonna break the damn window!"

Merle did stop punching the glass. But he also turned his attention from River to his brother. And from the look on his face, Carol wasn't sure if that was a good thing.

"Unlock this fuckin' car Daryl!," Merle screamed. "DO IT!"

Carol wasn't sure if there was a chance of Daryl complying with his brother's demands or not. But she reached forward, gripping Daryl's bicep with her hand. He felt the contact and turned towards her. Carol shook her head. Her makeup was smeared and her eyes were wide and frightened. "Please don't open the door," she whispered. Daryl nodded and turned back towards the window.

"I'm not unlockin' shit until ya calm yer ass down," Daryl hollered.

Merle took a step back. And then he repeated the same move he used on River's dance partner in the club. The sole of his boot slammed down against the driver's side window. The glass cracked and both Carol and River started screaming absolute bloody murder. Daryl let out a loud string of expletives as he jammed the keys in the ignition and twisted. The engine fired up. Daryl put the car into reverse and jammed on the gas, sending his brother reeling back into the next car over.

"Shoulda run his stupid ass over," he grumbled as he hit the brakes just long enough to put the car into drive. Then Daryl hit the gas again. People were still pouring out of the club. But Daryl headed for the back of the lot. There wasn't an exit there. But he drove through anyway. The car bumped and bounced as he drove it across the grassy partition and down over the curb onto the road. River squealed with laughter as she was tossed around in the backseat.

"I got the best idea!," she exclaimed. "It's barely past midnight. We should go to another bar!"