Page 66 of Cruel Debts
They weren't a threat in the sense that they were dangerous, but they were another kind of threat.
The sexual kind.
"So, pretty girl, what's the chance you wanna get out of here and grab one of these private rooms, see what it's like to run your hands all over a man's body instead of those paintbrushes?"
Trinity giggled, and her eyes struggled not to roll. I knew that look. I'd seen it on her face plenty of times before. This man didn't stand a chance. She wouldn't tell him outright, though. She was too well-trained for all that.
"Oh, you're so sassy, huh?" She slapped his bicep lightly, and he preened at her.
"I'm not sassy," his partner said, "but Iamhung. And I know how to clean my plate when presented with a good meal." Helicked his lips, and I internally groaned. The stupidest pick-up lines of the century.
Men were stupid. But these men were doubly so.
The first leaned in, running his fingers along Trinity's collarbone, and the second she flinched inward, I lashed out and gripped his wrist, halting his progression across her body.
"She's taken."
TWENTY-EIGHT
TRINITY
I couldn't believewhat I was hearing. I mean, sure, I wasn't interested in these jackfucks standing around me trying to snag some fun, but still?—
"Excuse me?" I batted my eyes sweetly at Asher, flushing red when I realized Liam stood next to him with a matching scowl on his face. "I'm not taken."
It didn't matter that I wasn't thinking of pursuing these two. I was a grown ass woman. If I felt like pursuing someone in this damn club, then I damn well would.
Asher gritted his teeth and stared down at me with eyes that saiddon't argue, play along.Too bad for him I was bad with following orders. And I still hadn't forgiven them for the other day. That was still fresh, like an open wound being held together with butterfly stitches and glue.
"Yes," Liam growled, reaching down to grab my wrist, "you are."
I looked around like a smartass, putting a hand at my eyes to act as a visor to search the room. "Funny, I don't remember coming in with you. Nor do I remember being in a relationship with anyone."
One of the guys pushed Asher in the chest, growling menacingly, puffing himself up to appear bigger. "You heard the lady, she can play with whoever she wants."
"Now wait a minute, I didn't say I was interested in playing withyou,buddy." I tugged on his arm, mostly because he had no idea who he just shoved, and I wasn't trying to get fired for letting these assholes start a fight. "Maybe you should go find Candace. She's been looking for some fun all night?—"
He slung me to his partner, shaking me loose, and I grunted as his hands went around my upper arms like steel bands while the first idiot squared off with Liam next.
This was going to be bad, fast.
Think, Trinity, think!
There were two options. I could leave them to it and go find security, who should be just around the corner. Liam, Asher, and these two fools would be banned from the premises. I would be alone, unprotected, and very vulnerable, which I didn't like. Or I could try to de-escalate by agreeing with the guys, or going with them, effectively ending their participation in the stand-off.
I wanted neither option. They both sounded like shit.
Tensions were high as I raised my finger and started to speak, but idiot number two shook me a little, and I squeaked in pain, flinching in his grip.
Thatgot the attention of the guys, who looked ready to murder now.
"Let her go, asshole, or I'll remove your arms and beat you with them," Asher spat, his eyes narrowed to slits. "I can do it, too. I used to be a surgeon in the military."
Liam's eyes were dark now, too. "You ever hear of the Guild?" He tapped the pin on his shoulder, flexing his own muscles for maximum effect. "We're killers, guys. And we're good at it. So good, in fact, that they'll never find your bodies."
The two of them exchanged a look over my head, probably contemplating the likelihood of Liam and Asher's stories. I hated to break their disillusion, but they weren't making it out of here any way you cut the cake. Once they walked away from these two, Hawke was bound to be right around the corner, lying in wait. Probably with every intention of beating their asses.
"If you know what's good for you, you'll let our girl go and walk the fuck away, right now, while we still feel like letting you."
