Page 86 of Tangled In Tinsel & Knots
The music is still blaring, and for a few seconds, no one processes what’s happening. I am clueless.
The dancers freeze, confusion crossing their faces.
Then one of the figures grabs the lead dancer, spinning him around and wrenching his arms behind his back.
The dancer yelps, trying to twist away. “What the fuck? Get off me!”
The second and third figures move on the other two dancers simultaneously. One dancer tries to run, but he’s tackled frombehind, hitting the stage floor hard. The third dancer swings wildly, trying to fight back, but he’s outmatched.
My heart stops as the stage lights illuminate their faces.
Noel. Chris. Kane.
Oh my God.
Noel has the lead dancer in a submission hold, zip-tying his wrists together while reciting something to him. The dancer is struggling, kicking, trying to break free.
Chris has the runner pinned facedown on the stage, one knee in his back, while he secures the zip ties. Kane is grappling with the one who tried to fight, and the dancer is not going quietly. He’s throwing elbows, trying to headbutt Kane, but Kane’s too strong. He gets the guy’s arms behind his back and clicks the zip tie into place.
The crowd is dead silent, staring.
Then someone in the third row starts clapping.
Others join in.
Suddenly, the entire venue erupts in wild cheering and applause, women jumping to their feet.
“Take it off! Take it off! Take it off!” they start chanting, clearly thinking this is part of the show.
I’m rooted in place, dread pooling in my stomach like ice water. This is not part of the show. “Oh, fuck,” I breathe.
Ruby turns to me, eyes wide. “Is this the act? Because holy shit, those three are gorgeous. Where did you find them? I would watch them strip any day of the week.”
“No,” I manage. “I need to deal with this. Can you stall the audience?”
“For sure.”
I’m already moving, pushing through the side door that leads backstage.
The room is cramped with the six men now crowding it. My three Alphas are hauling the still-struggling dancers toward the rear exit that leads to the alley.
“You can’t just arrest us! We have rights!” one of the dancers growls.
“You lost those rights when you skipped your court date,” Chris says calmly, grip firm on his guy’s arm.
“This is bullshit!” the lead dancer spits. “Let us go and we’ll finish the show. We won’t even charge the lady. Just let us go!”
“Not happening,” Noel says.
“Hey!” I shout, and all of them turn.
Kane does a double take, his hazel eyes going wide. “Hannah? What are you doing here?”
“This is my event!” I’m trying not to yell, but it’s close. “What are you doing here?”
“Your event! Oh, shit!” Chris’s eyebrows rise. “You didn’t mention it was a bachelorette party with strippers.”
“Horrible timing,” Noel adds, but his voice is matter of fact like this is just mildly inconvenient. “But these guys are our targets for the night.”
