Page 58 of Reclaimed

Silas:

Jeez, I’m feeling left out

Sutton:

Me too.

Silas:

You could bring Nellie. I could bring mom

Corjan:

Please don’t bring your mom. She’s more of a handful than Bree and Juniper combined

Lee:

Agreed

Silas:

She’s a hoot

Sutton:

She’s liable to get the cops called on her

Me:

You are the cops

Sutton:

Exactly

Chuckling at my screen,I blindly find my drink. Time and place secured, I tuck my phone away and let the boys banter. The humor dissipates from my mind as a commotion across the room catches my attention.

I’m out of my seat before I’ve even ascertained what’s happening. All I know is it involves Isla and a man at the bar. He appears to be fifty or so, his black hair streaked with gray but it’s the lines creasing his face that really define his age.

His chair flips over as he suddenly stands and screams something at her that I can’t hear. She stops moving, her heel catching as she takes a step back as far as her box allows her to go.

A security guard—someone other than Lucien, thank god— reaches him first, holding him back as he waves his finger around and yells at Isla.

“You dumb dirty little bitch! I want my dance!” he screams, spittle flying from his mouth.

She looks equal parts scared and pissed as she stands beside her silver pole.

As I reach the bar, I don’t stop, vaulting myself over the top.

“You can’t be back here!” someone shouts, but I don’t stop moving to see who it is.

“Let’s go, darling,” I hold out my hand for her to take.

“Aiden,” she whispers, and I know what she’s thinking. She’s worried about how this looks and she’s worried about her job. Her fingers find mine anyway, curling tight like I’m a lifeline.

“I’ve got you.” I tighten my grip as she walks down the hidden stairs behind the bar.

“I should strangle you just like those other whores!”

---