Ignoring the conversation around me, I looked at my phone, texting my partner to see how he was holding up with Hudson tonight.
“I’m sorry. I just serve drinks.” The soft voice was muffled by the music, and Mike responded back, letting me know that at least Hudson had picked up dinner. Dinner made me think of Tempest and how I hadn’t seen her in a month. I missed her.
“Not tonight, you don’t.” Julio was being an ass, and the guys were chuckling, egging him on.
“I said I only serve the drinks.” The girl, whose face I didn’t see when I looked up, was pulling herself out of Julio’s grasp.
I didn’t want to step in, but he was being inappropriate, and I couldn’t stand for that.
“It’s my party and I want you to dance. Vamos, niña.” He patted his lap, and I shook my head, willing the girl to leave with her now empty drink tray. Julio under the influence was nothing but trouble, and a pain in my ass.
“No.”
“Julio, the girl said no. Déjala en paz.”
Julio had better leave the girl alone. His drunk ass was testing my patience, friend or not.
“Mierda, voy a agarrar su coño si quiero.”
The fact that he thought he could just grab a girl’s pussy in a club or anywhere and get away with it was disgusting. That was definitely not happening. I slipped my phone in my pocket, ready to drag his ass out of the club and toss him in the car.
“Joey, he’s drunk. Come on.” Manny was trying to get me to leave, but I wasn’t leaving a helpless woman in this room with Julio, especially not after she said no.
Shaking my brother off, I looked into scared blue eyes I hadn’t seen in a month and my rage exploded.
“We’re leaving.” I pushed my brother away and grabbed Tempest by the arm, taking in her ridiculous outfit. Black heels, fishnet stockings, black bootie shorts that covered nothing, and a black bra under a barely there black tank top. It was criminal for her to be out like this and the ingrained machismo I fought internally wanted to go all caveman, but I knew better than that and I wasn’t going to sink down to Julio’s level.
“Please, let me go.”
“Cariño…” I guided her out of the VIP room and outside of the club to the street, forgetting she had no jacket. Snowflakes fell from the sky, covering the garish outfit, almost washing it away. Crystals peppered her red hair and stuck to her eyelashes and nose.
“Joey, I have to g-go b-ack in-inside.” Tempest shivered, and I wrapped my arms around her.
“No, cariño. You’re not going back in there until you tell me what’s going on.”
“It’s freezing out here.” She’s was right. I couldn’t keep her out here demanding answers.
“Hey, asshole, hands off the girl.” A bouncer from the club followed us, and I was in no mood for a fight, justified or not it would get my ass in hot water at work.
“Go back inside.” I pulled out my badge and flashed it, letting the gold glint in the moonlight.
“Hey, hey, it’s all good.” The guy threw his hands up in the air, retreating, and my anger intensified thinking that this bouncer would just take me at my badge and leave Tempest unprotected.
Whatever, I had no plans to let her return here if I could help it. I was so pissed in the moment that I pulled her along the sidewalk until we got to the rented SUV. I pulled out the keys getting it started, cranking up the heat. My brother and his dumbass friends could call a taxi.
“Tempest. Talk to me.” I drove the car abiding every speed limit and traffic law, giving her some space and me time to sort my thoughts. Her arms wrapped around her middle protectively.
“What do you want me to say? I’m mortified you saw me in there and now I’m probably going to lose my job.”
All things considered, I wouldn’t mind if she lost her job there because I wouldn’t have to worry about idiots trying to hurt her.
“Why are you working there? Actually, why haven’t I seen you at the diner?” Maybe she was struggling. Maybe there was something else I didn’t know about.
“Chuck lets me work the breakfast and lunch shifts.”
“Because the tips are better?”
If looks could have killed, Tempest would have butchered me. I didn’t mean to be sarcastic, but seriously, this girl had me tied in knots.