Page 51 of Unwrapped

I look up as the door opens with a bang. Heads turn. My hands check for the gun tucked into my pants. I stand, blocking the man from fully entering the room.

“This is a private party.”

“I must’ve left my invitation at home.”

Despite his suit, the man’s a punk. His hair is slicked back with too much gel.

“You need to leave. Now.”

“My girl’s here. She’s hooking up with some dude from Creed.”

My hand resting on my gun relaxes. He’s just some local businessman who stumbled into the wrong bar on the wrong night. “Whoever she is…she’s not worth it.” I place a hand on his shoulder, gently pushing him back.

He barrels forward getting in my face. “I’m not leaving without my girl.”

“Really?” I cross my arms and raise a brow. Not in the least getting pissed. If anything, a deep calm comes over me. I feel her at my back.

“You got this?” Federico stans to my left.

“Go back to your date, VP.”

“I think you should help him,” Shiloh pipes up.

“This doesn’t concern you FB.”

“FB?” Federico mouths.

“Fur baby.”

“Denise! You’re coming home with me. Get your ass over here!” The man yells above the music and merrymaking, ending both.

He tries pushing past me to see into the crowded bar, but I hold grab his forearms, pressing down basically locking him in place.

“See? I got this,” I wink at FB. Her eyes widen as they stare at my bulging biceps popping under the fabric of my stretched shirt. “Catching flies?” And damn, it feels good watching her—watch me.

Her mouth snaps shut.

“Denise! Baby? Come home for Christmas.”

“Which one is she?” Federico asks, yanking the man’s elbow. His head falls forward, his body goes slack three seconds before his elbow comes up hard, clipping our VP under the chin.

“The fuck?” I snarl. One hand sweeping behind me to keep Shiloh out of his reach. In seconds, I grab him by the shirt lifting him up and pressing him back “Time to go lover boy.”

I turn him around, yanking his hands back and press his wrists together. Federico opens the door and I walk him down the steps. Mac will tail you and make sure you go home. I suggest you don’t come back.

“Deb-bie,” he wails.

“Are you cryin’?”

“Maybe.”

I shake my head, releasing him. “She ain’t worth it. They never are.”

The man shakes his head, muttering under his breath but as he stares at Mac, and Federico flanking me he knows there’s no way he’s getting through us.

I brush wet flakes of snow off my sleeves as I watch the dude’s taillights disappear with Mac right behind him. I climb the wooden steps letting the cold bounce right off me as I walk back inside.

“You followed me.”

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