An injection of chaos.
A dose of unruliness.
Almost everyone got to their feet, and a slew of people rushed to get out on the dance floor in front of the stage where they could completely let go.
This was when we started raking in the dough. When inhibitions were freed. When the chains of everyday life were loosed.
It got crazy busy for the servers and bartenders, too, which had me cringing all over again when Leann motioned for Eden to take the table herself so she could help some other customers.
The girl was clearly ready to stand on her own, but shit, not like this.
Eden nodded and moved for the table.
Nerves rushed. Neck tingling and hands twitching.
Wanted to go charging that way. Send another server over in lieu of her. Maybe get their order myself.
Stupid.
If the girl worked here, she needed to hold her own. I was the one who’d given her the chance and she was the one who wanted to take it.
But I didn’t think she had the first clue about the vileness that often came crawling through these doors. And I felt it strong.
A wave of that vulnerability came rushing out ahead of her as she strode for the table, all mixed up with that steely determination as she pasted on one of those smiles.
That was the problem…I wasn’t the only beast who took note. Wasn’t the only one who sensed her goodness.
Could feel the greed light up at the table.
A flashfire.
I had to swallow down the shock of protectiveness that nearly busted straight out of my body when the slimy, blond motherfucker sat back in his chair and smirked up in her direction. One with the greasy curls and tweaker grin.
Already could see it playing out in his demeanor—the dickbag loved taking what wasn’t his.
That overwhelming urge to gather her up and run her to safety took on a new form and shape.
My heart a thunder. A screaming boom.
She leaned in so she could hear whatever he said.
His tongue licked out an inch from her ear.
Fucker salivating at the mouth.
Girl had no clue he’d scented her like fresh, raw meat.
I didn’t realize I’d been holding my breath until she stepped away from them and moved back to the bar. The air that had been locked in my aching lungs wheezed out.
But it didn’t do much to take off the edge, though, considering the cunt chased her with his eyes as she went.
Jud laughed, but it wasn’t amused. He took a gulp from his beer. “Watch yourself, brother.”
But no—I wasn’t close to watching myself. I was watching her. The way she talked with the bartender and then organized their drinks on her tray once he’d made them. Then she was back to floating through the raving mass.
Beauty and light in the midst of bleakness.
An angel in the darkness.
She started to pass out their order, beers for the two dark-haired guys on either side, before she leaned farther over the tabletop so she could slide the blond prick his drink. Sick bastard took it as an invitation to hook his finger in the neck of her tank and pull it down to get a better look at those tits, like he had the right to touch what wasn’t his.
A growl rumbled in my chest, my knee bouncing a million miles a minute as rage jumped into my bloodstream.
She jerked back. Horrified shock curled her gorgeous face in revulsion. She moved to put space between them, but the piece of shit just grabbed her by the wrist, twisting it to the side like he thought she was the one who was out of bounds.
And that was it.
All I could take.
I was on my feet in a flash.
I flew across the room in a blaze of fury.
Not that I wouldn’t have kicked this fucker to the curb if he touched any of my girls this way. But it being Eden? Had every intention of ripping out his throat.
Before he knew I was coming, I had him by the back of the neck and was hauling him up.
Eden screamed as the scumbag’s chair toppled over and smashed against the floor. Fucker writhed and kicked and struggled to get free.
Jud was right behind me. He grabbed the brown-haired prick who squealed like a bitch, Kult right there in a breath taking down the other.
Asshole thrashed and flailed in the chokehold I had him in as I dragged him back and started wrangling him through the crowd. The band kept playing as I hauled him through the crush and toward the door.
Hands fisted in the back of his shirt, I threw him out.
Literally.
Tossed the skeeze to the pavement in front of everyone waiting in line just to prove a point.
He rolled a couple of feet before he came to a stop facedown. Fury on his face when he looked up, he licked the tiny droplet of blood from the cut at the side of his lip that he’d gotten somewhere along the way.