Page 21 of Won't Let Go
“Are you Hunter’s ride? Is that why you’re here?” I ask as we sway like teenagers at a high school dance, and he pretends the women at the table don’t exist. But I sneak a peek, and they’re on the verge of drooling.
“No. I’m here for backup. We’re at war. We don’t let our own out in the wild without backup. I just got tired of sittin’ outside. Deke’s sittin’ at the bar. He’s Hunter’s ride.”
Right. I don’t know how that slipped my mind. Of course, they protect their own.
“Do me a favor and rest your cheek on my chest and pretend you’re obsessed with me.”
I laugh at his dumb shit. “I’m afraid to ask… but why?”
“To drive these out-of-towner bitches fuckin’ wild. So, when I get punched out, they’ll come to my rescue and put their sweet pussies in my face, and maybe I’ll get to put my dick in their asses.”
I lose my footing at his response and step on his toe, which he doesn’t notice. “Wait. Why would you get punched out?”
“Just rest your head on my chest, close your eyes, pretend I’m the hottest thing ever, and count to ten. Oh… and promise not to freak out.”
“That doesn’t…”
Viper stares into my eyes like he means business. “It’s gonna work. Just let it work. Be my wing woman here.”
Fine.
Sighing at his horn dogs’ idiocy, I fall prey to Viper’s wily ways and rest my cheek against his broad chest, close my eyes, and sway. The hands on my hips travel to my ass, but Viper’s right there, whispering to the top of my head. “It’s just me. You’re safe. I got you. Just don’t scream.”
“Why would I…” My words flutter to nothingness when I’m yanked out of Viper’s embrace by a red-faced, chest-heaving Josh, who shoves me behind him and clocks Viper in the face. “Keep your fuckin’ hands to yourself!” Josh snarls, and Viper takes it, with a goddamn smile on his face. He doesn’t even try to swing back when he trips and lands against the front of the jukebox. Blood drips from his nose, and he flashes me a wink as the women from the table rush over to help him.
That crazy son of a bitch was right. They fawn over him as Josh whips around, cups my face, and tips my head back to force me to look him in the eye. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” Why wouldn’t I be?
Josh’s nostrils flare. “I’m gonna fuckin’ murder him.”
I cup my hands over his on my face. “He was just bein’ Viper,” I reason. He already punched the guy out. For no reason, I might add.
“Well, he can go be that with anybody else but you,” he snarls.
As Viper joins the ladies at their table, Deke, having overheard the commotion, approaches and clasps Josh on the shoulder. “You good, brother?”
Josh notches his chin at the green-haired menace. “He put his hands on Jade’s ass.”
Deke looks at me, then to their brother. “Oh.”
“I’m gonna pour salt in his goddamn gas tank.”
I pat Josh’s pecs to calm him down. “Let’s not do that.”
A vicious growl rattles up his throat. “He touched your ass.”
“Do I look hurt?” I arch a brow.
“No.”
“Am I angry?”
“No. But you should be.”
“Then maybe we should let it go,” I reason, keeping my voice level, when I’m more than a little taken aback by his outburst.
“Nobody gets to touch you, Jade. Do you fuckin’ hear me?”
