Page 35 of Craving Francesca

“I am not,” he replied stubbornly.

“You are,” I continued, keeping my tone civil. “Because if you don’t, my friends and I are going to start swingin’. None of us are real interested in hittin’ a woman, but there’s five of you men and seven of us. The odds wouldn’t be in your favor even if there weretwentyof you.”

“That’s assault,” he blustered.

Cian laughed.

“We’ve all done time.” I shrugged. “I could use the vacation.”

“Let’s just go, Dave,” a woman behind him said, glaring at me. “Come on. They can’t stand out here forever.”

“Don’t come back,” I warned as Dave’s woman tugged on his arm. “I find out you’re here, you won’t get another warning.”

There was plenty of grumbling and yelled insults as the group hurried away. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it back out. Frankie had texted back.

Who is this?

“You know they’re gonna be right back out here tomorrow,” Bas said, watching the protesters as they climbed into cars in the adjacent parking lot. “Fuckin’ hypocrites.”

Gray.

How the hell did you get my number?

Easy to get. Just stay inside.

Wait. Where are you?

“Well, I feel accomplished,” Draco said, slapping me on the back. “We done here?”

“Yeah, man. Thanks.”

“No worries. Got me outta the garage for a minute.”

I’m outside, I texted her back.

“You comin’?” Brody asked as the boys lined up along the curb. The protesters’ cars were pulling out of the lot, most of them flipping us off as they drove away.

“I’m gonna wait a minute, make sure they’re not circlin’ the block,” I replied. “Thanks for the assist.”

“Never a dull moment,” Mick said with a grin, waving as they crossed the road. “My wife’s gonna love me for this.”

“Jesus,” Otto said, shoving his brother.

I walked over to the building and leaned against it, watching my brothers as they separated and climbed on their bikes. I’d never known a time when the Aces didn’t have my back, and I’d been in some tight situations when they’d saved my ass. There was something to be said about a group of men who would drop whatever they were doing to help you out, no questions asked.

What the fuck?Frankie texted.

Ten minutes later, when I knew that the protesters were well and truly gone, I texted Frankie that she could come outside whenever she was ready. Letting out a deep breath, I settled in to wait. She’d only been inside for about half an hour, and I’d never known any doctor appointment to take less than a full one, so I figured it would be a while. Tilting my head back, I let the sun beat down on my face.

There had been something about Frankie’s expression before the security guard came out to get her that was eating at me, and it took me a minute to figure out what it was.

No fear.

Twenty people were crowding her and yelling at her and there hadn’t been an ounce of fear in her expression. She’d been ready to take on every single one of them by herself. No hesitation.

I wasn’t sure if it was stupid or brave.

When the door hinges squeaked, my eyes popped open.

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