Bradley

The kids are fine now; I can head out.

Bradley grabbed his coat and his empty pizza boxes before flicking off the lights and walking out into the store.

Hayden and Lucy were stocking shelves, and beyond them, Daisy seemed to be arguing with that nauseating mollusc, Doug.

He must be complaining about the specials again, all the more reason to leave quickly.

“I’m heading out. You have my number if you need it.”

Everyone gave him a nod or a wave, except Doug. That peckerhead just sneered at him.

“Want us to throw another pizza in for you?” Doug asked, glaring at Bradley.

Bradley turned his broad shoulders, squaring off against the little man standing at the back of the room.

“You might need to get your eyes checked, old man,” He said, raising the boxes in front of him. “I’m good.”

“Sure, you are,” Doug said, a shit-eating grin twisting across his tanned face. “Even if those were full, they probably won’t make it through the drive home.”

Hayden laughed before Lucy hit him on the shoulder, covering her own mouth to hide her expression.

How fucking dare…

“Outside, now,” Bradley said, pointing sharply at Doug.

He turned and left just as he heard the clipped comeback.

“Oh no, guess I struck one of those clogged veins.”

It only took three slow and easy breaths for Doug to wander outside. Not enough time to calm down, but just enough to compound the rage.

“Listen, if you can’t take a ribbing—”

“Shut up, chuckle fuck,” Bradley said, cutting him off.

“Ok Brad, get it out of your system.”

Where the fuck did this come from?

He’d always been obnoxious, but he wasn’t usually this brave.

“Get it out? You think I just need to vent?”

His chest was stiff, and when he looked down, his hands were balled up into fists. For some reason, that just made him angrier.

How fucking dare he bring me this low.

“No, Doug, I don’t need to vent. But what I’m about to do has been a long time coming…”

Suddenly, as if brought back to reality, all the confidence, all the smug bravado washed away.

And all that was left on Doug’s face was pale, pure, animalistic fear.

“Wait…are you going to beat me up?”

Bradley laughed, a good hearty chuckle that nearly pulled him completely out of the anger.

How can I stay angry at something so pathetic?

But again, as if determined to try his luck, Doug smiled back…and clapped him on the shoulder.

“You had me going there,” he said, letting out a long sigh.

“Oh no, I’m not going to beat you. I’d hate to get your stinking blood on my nice clothes,” Bradley said, as coldly as he could, savoring the mixture of fresh fear and anger flashing across Doug’s stupid face. “No, no, I’m thinking something more permanent.”

Bradley reached out and placed a meaty hand on Doug’s shoulder.

“Dougy boy, you’re fired.”

And without giving him the satisfaction of a second glance, Bradley turned and strode off towards his car, making an obvious gesture to wipe his hand on his pants.

Good fucking riddance.

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