Page 4 of Paladin's Hell

I’ve booked a table, and I’m glad I did. The restaurant is full, in the bar area it’s standing room only. With my hand gently resting on her back, I lead her over to the table. There’s only one other table empty, and that’s the one closest. My eyes are focused on seeking out the location I’d reserved, and nodding to the bartender who knows me. When I go to pull out her chair, I freeze. The prez and his old lady are seated behind us. Coincidence? It’s unlikely. I can’t do anything except acknowledge Drummer’s raised chin lift, though I don’t fail to notice the way his lips quirk.

Martha, the assistant manager, comes over and hands us menus. “Can I get you a drink?”

I look at Jayden. She smiles. “A coke, please.”

“I’ll have a beer.”

I want to say something that shows my brain’s not tied up in knots, but all I can stammer out is, “See anything you’d like to try?” The menu’s got a number of gourmet dishes on it, things she might not have come across before. As well as a good variety of simpler fare.

Her brow creases a little as she reads. “I think I’ll just have the fried chicken. What are you having?”

I’m not here for the food. “The T-Bone steak.” It’s a quick decision with no thought behind it.

“Good evening.” The familiar voice startles me. Looking up I see Sandy, Viper’s old lady, and the manager of the restaurant delivering our drinks. I didn’t think she worked in the evenings. Just when I’m about to ask her, I hear the chair being pulled out at what was the empty table next to us. Oh fuck no. I feel like putting my head in my hands. This can’t be happening to me. Slick and Ella are taking their seats.

A laugh from behind me gets me turning, in time to see a glass being raised as if in toast toward me. It’s fucking Bullet and Carmen. That’s not all. Blade’s standing at the bar, half paying attention to something Beef is telling him. Just behind are Joker and fucking Lady.

Now I do place my elbows on the table and sink my head down into my hands. Every word we speak will be overheard. Any hopes I’d had of covering her hand romantically with mine, playing footsie under the table, have been dashed. I don’t have a chance.

“Pal? What’s up?”

I look up to see Jayden’s concerned eyes watching me.

“Did you know about this?” I hiss softly.

Her focus has been on the menu. As I jerk my head to one side, her eyes widen when she spies Slick and Ella. I then nod to something over her shoulder. She turns, when she looks back having seen Prez and Sam, she’s shaking her head, her eyes wide with disappointment. “Of course I didn’t know.”

My first inclination is to get up, throw enough cash on the table to cover the drinks and get out of here. But Jayden deserves a night out, I’ll just have to be on my best behaviour.

The food, when it arrives, tastes like cardboard in my mouth. I can see Jayden’s uneasy, her eyes flicking around to our audience which is watching us like hawks. I’m finding it hard to start any topic of conversation. All the things I’d wanted to say to her go unsaid. My anger begins to rise. She’s sixteen, almost seventeen. She should be allowed to date. Fine, send one brother or two to provide protection. But half the fucking club?

“Can I show you the dessert menu?”

“No.” I say fast. Then want to withdraw my sharp reply. “Jayden?”

“Not for me.” She leans forward. “Can we go, Pal?”

I ask for the tab, pay it, then stand, seeing brothers at the bar hurriedly finishing their drinks, then following us out of the restaurant.

The bikes surrounding the SUV as we drive back may have been an escort to ensure Jayden’s safety. That Blade, instead of me, escorts Jayden back to her suite is not. Unless it’s me, he’s protecting her from.

This can’t go on.Watching him walk my date away makes my body tense with frustration. I’ve been offered a chance, only to have it snapped away.

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