Page 105 of Wildcat
“No way,” he says. “Stay. Lawrence gets off in an hour, and then we’re going to hit the bars downtown.”
“Another time, maybe.” I press into Leo’s side.
“Ready?” I ask Leo. I think getting blitzed might be the norm for Antonio. He reeks of booze, and he sways on his feet.
My boyfriend gives me his attention. His brows furrow when he catches Antonio next to me entirely too close. He looks between us. “Problem?”
“Nah, man. No problem. I was just trying to talk Scarlett into coming out with us. The night is young.”
“She has plans.” He kisses me hard and possessively.
“All right,” Antonio says when we break apart. He lifts his hands in surrender. “I didn’t realize she was spoken for.”
Leo lifts our joined hands and shoots him a look that would send a smart man running. Of course, that isn’t what Antonio does. He nods slowly, and a smile tips up the corners of his mouth. “Another night then.”
Leo’s grip on my hand tightens.
“No, man. Not another night.”
Leo’s jealousy is irrational. I’d never go out with this guy, but it eggs on Antonio.
He stumbles. “I just want my turn on the carousel, man.”
Shame and humiliation coat my insides, and I can practically see the wall of red in front of Leo as he steps to Antonio.
“What the fuck did you say?”
Antonio laughs. “She’s not that hot. Does she have a golden pussy or what?”
Leo spews a string of curses as he swings at Antonio.
“Leo,” I gasp as Antonio crumbles, holding his nose and blood dripping down his face.
Jack and Declan grab him on either side, but Leo doesn’t make any move to hit the guy again. His face slowly morphs from rage to shock, and he looks down at his hand.
“I think he broke my fucking nose.” Antonio has the audacity to look surprised that his words had consequences.
“You’re lucky that’s all he broke,” Declan says.
“We need to get out of here,” Jack says quietly. He puts himself between Antonio and us. “Now.”
We’ve attracted an audience, and one of the security guys is making his way toward us. My ears ring, and panic sets in even before they ask Leo to come with them. Jack, Declan, and I follow. I lose track of Antonio, but a few minutes later, the police arrive, and he reappears, pointing at Leo as he holds a wad of gauze to his nose.
The officers pull Leo aside, and I watch on, horrified as they escort him away.
“Oh my god, is he going to jail?” I ask.
“They’re just going to talk to him,” Jack says. “I’m going to follow and call Daria on the way. Declan, can you get Scarlett home?”
I start in the direction Leo went. “What? No, I want to go with him.”
Declan places a hand on my arm to stop me from following. “It’s probably better if you meet him at his place. He needs to get this sorted.”
Leo’s broad back disappears out of view. Declan escorts me outside, and I climb into his sports car feeling numb. He hits the seat heaters and turns down the music. We ride in silence until we get to Leo’s neighborhood.
“Is he going to be okay?”
“Yeah.” He glances over at me and then tries to sound more convincing. “He’ll be okay.”
