“Seriously? Do they have to look like mafia men with full suits?” I walk sedately through the crowd past the wildly thumping dance floor to the far hallway, making sure the guards can easily follow without having to knock anybody out. I’ve seen them do so before. Then, because I’m in a good mood, I stand back while the first guy, a massive blond named Edward, kicks through the women’s restroom looking for threats. When he returns, I even smile and thank him.
For goodness’ sake.
I make use of the facilities and wash my hands, checking my makeup. My gaze catches on a barely there bite from Thorn over the pulse point in my neck. Fire lashes through me.
That reminds me. I should upload a new emotional connection with Scarlett as I give more details of my time with Thorn. We can play back and forth. I hope she’s all in with her new job. I don’t need to trust her to work with her.
The door crashes open and Edward flies toward me.
I yelp and leap out of the way. He lands face-first on the tile floor, quickly followed by the other guy, who lands on him with a solid thunk. They don’t move. Almost in slow motion, I look down at them and then back up to the doorway.
Which is filled by Thorn. “I’ve been waiting for two hours for you to use the restroom.”
My ears ring and my breath heats my lungs until they hurt. He’s angry I didn’t need to pee? Asshole. “We have the entire bar covered.” I can’t believe my voice is steady.
“I’m aware.” He steps inside and locks the door, looking around at the three open red stalls and a closed closet door. His intense gaze on me, he back-kicks the door and it flies open.
I jump. “What are you doing?”
Instead of answering, he ducks and yanks the dark-haired guy off Edward before tossing him in what appears to be a supply closet. Seconds later, Edward joins him.
Thorn shuts the door. “They’re gonna be out for a while.”
I look frantically around. At least there’s no window, so no easy avenue for him to take me. “Have you lost your damn mind?” Now my voice shakes, but it’s with anger.
“Yes,” he says in a low growl. “I most certainly lost my mind the first second we met. How dare you hide your intelligence from me?”
My chin lowers and I search for a weapon. “How dare you assume I’m not smart.” This is freaking surreal. Music pounds from the dance floor, and loud laughter trails beneath the door.
He leans back against it and crosses his arms, looking powerful and pissed.
I gulp, shocked at how hard my heart is beating. My nipples peak. He’s dressed in his usual black slacks and white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing his sinewed arms. There isn’t a spot of blood or a wrinkle even though he just incapacitated two of my best bodyguards. From the silence in the supply closet, they’re not coming to anytime soon.
The silver flecks in his eyes appear darker than usual, and his thick black hair is ruffled. He’s so handsome, so starkly beautiful, I wish I could paint. Or even draw. Then he ruins it by opening his mouth. “That’s three rules of mine, baby.”
Anger billows through me so quickly, I’m shocked my head doesn’t fly right off my neck. “You can shove your rules up your ass. We’re done, remember?”
One of his dark eyebrows rises, the action making him look beyond arrogant. “I told you we weren’t done.”
“You traded me for rocks,” I spit out. There’s no way to get past him to the door, so I’ll have to go right through the cocky asshole. I’m sure nobody has ever kicked him square in the balls before. It’s time.
“I’m fairly certain I don’t like where your mind has gone,” he says. “The trade was necessary. Your anger isn’t.”
The words send my temper full-on nuclear, and I kick up, hard as I can, toward his dick.
TWENTY-THREE
Thorn
She’s shockingly fast, and I barely have time to swipe her ankle before she connects with my jewels. My temper matches hers and I charge her, lifting her up and planting her ass against the door. That flimsy dress lifts to her thighs and I press in, right where I need to be.
“You fuckhead.” She slams both elbows down on my shoulders.
“Be nice with that mouth or I’ll make sure it’s too busy to talk.” I tangle my fingers in her thick hair and jerk her head back, pinning her to the wall with my body. “Knock it off.” Her scent surrounds me while the taste of honey floods my mouth. “Let’s get a couple of things straight right now.” My cock aches with desperation, but we need to talk.
She glares, her eyes sparkling spitfires. “There’s nothing to discuss.”
“Wrong.” I lower my voice into pure domination, and her pupils dilate. “First things first. The man who dared touch what’s mine. How far did he go?”
She frowns and struggles, not moving an inch. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, moron.”
“Call me one more name, and I’m beating your ass, and then we’ll talk.” I tighten my grip and force her head up more, enjoying the startled cry she issues. “In the bar,” I bite out. “Minutes ago.”
Her lips press together. “My life is none of your business.” She swallows. “What’s your problem with Quinlan?”
Quinlan. Good to know a name. I could only see him from behind when he put his arm around her shoulders. “He touched you, which means I cut off his fingers and feed them to him before I kill him. Learn that lesson right now. Unless he did more. Did he?”
The confusion in her pretty eyes calms the beast raging inside me.
She licks her lips. “Were you dropped on your head a lot as a child?”
That’s it. I step back, drop a knee, and plant her stomach over it. Five hard smacks to her perfect ass later, I put her right back where I want her, my weeping cock against her light pink panties, her dress up to her waist. Those pretty eyes are startled and her mouth is open. “I asked you a question.”
She snaps her pink lips closed.
I tilt my head in clear warning.
She rolls her eyes. “Fine. No. Quinlan didn’t do anything. He’s my cousin and was offering comfort because we were talking about my dead brother.”
