She watched him walk over toward the Devil Kings. He moved to the biggest guy and blocked his path.
“Christ. What’s goin’ through his bluidy brain?” Kilt Boy asked Crash.
“I think he’s lookin’ for trouble,” Rusty replied.
“Aye. Well, I think he just found it.”
“Cole wouldn’t start a fight,” Angel insisted.
Kilt Boy turned to her with raised eyebrows, and then turned back to Crash. “The wee lass hasn’t fookin’ known the mon verra long, has she?”
“Come on, boys. I’m pretty sure he’s gonna need backup,” Crash said.
“Aye, let’s make it a fair fight.” Kilt Boy threw his beer bottle into an oil drum. The glass shattered with a crash.
“Hey, Cajun. Stay with her.” Crash nodded toward Angel.
“Yeah. Sure, ‘dat.” He turned to Angel. “How ya doin’, sugar?”
Angel watched as the other four walked over to where Cole was talking to one of the Devil Kings. They formed a semi-circle behind him.
Mack noticed and walked over. He said something that diffused the situation.
Angel watched as Cole glared at Mack, but stepped back. Mack shook the big man’s hand, turned, and led him to a table. But she didn’t miss the look the big guy slid Cole as he walked by him.
Half the Devil Kings followed Mack and the big man to the picnic table. The other half headed to the bar just a few feet from where she was standing with Cajun.
“Just stay next to me, sugar,” Cajun whispered to her.
Angel kept her eyes on the bar as they ordered their drinks. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed one of them turned back from the bar with a beer in his hand, and his eyes swept up and down over her body. She couldn’t stop herself from looking over at him. He was a good-looking guy with brown hair and a close-cut beard. His eyes were a bright blue and stood out against his dark skin.
He smiled at her, and she quickly looked away.
Cajun must have caught it, because he grabbed her by the upper arm and walked her forcefully down to the other end of the bar.
She pulled her arm free. “I don’t understand why you have to drag me around like that.”
“Mais, yeah. I bet there’s lots here you don’ understand, Cher,” Cajun drawled, leaning over her. “But let me set you straight on one. You need to steer clear of dat bunch. Him especially.”
Angel looked back down the bar.
“Dat one, he’s one bad crazy son, him. You hear me, sugar?”
The man was still watching her. He winked at her when she looked at him. She glanced quickly away and nodded at Cajun. She looked toward the table where Mack was sitting across from the big man.
Cole was standing at the end of the table. Mack said something to him. Angel could see him look from Mack to the big man and then nod. He turned and headed back toward the bar. Crash was right behind him. Angel noticed the big man’s eyes followed Cole as he walked away. She didn’t like the look in his eyes.
***
Mack leaned in close to Big Ed. “Sorry, he’s got a damn broad got him all turned around.”
Big Ed looked back at Cole as he walked away. “Run her ass off.”
“It’s not that simple. She did the club a favor. A big one.”
“Maybe I could help you out with that.”
Mack looked at him, and then grinned. “Yeah. Maybe you could.”
Big Ed returned his wicked grin.
***
Angel saw Cole glancing around looking for her and Cajun. He spotted them where they stood down at the other end of the bar and headed over to them.
“Everything okay?” Cole asked Cajun.
“Yeah. Just don’ like da look dat crazy son givin’ her. Smilin’ at her like da croc dat seen his next meal,” Cajun explained, nodding toward the guy at the end of the bar.
Cole followed his eyes.
Angel could see their eyes connect. There was no love lost between the two.
Cole looked back at Angel. “Well, we’re leaving anyway.”
“Where are we going?” she asked.
Crash waggled his eyebrows at her. “Downtown, baby, where the big boys rock.”
Cole grabbed her hand and pulled her along.
Crash followed them.
Angel couldn’t help but glance over at the man at the end of the bar. When she did, she found his eyes on her, tracking her movements all the way to the exit.
Cole and Crash got on their bikes, and Angel got on behind Cole. They fired the engines and pulled out, the bikes roaring down the highway. They drove across town, finally turning into the parking lot of what looked like a nightclub.
Angel glanced up at the neon sign that read, Sonny’s Gentleman’s Club.
Cole pulled up to the front door and parked.
Crash pulled in next to him.
They dismounted.
“What are we doing here?” Angel asked.
Cole turned to her as he was pulling his helmet off. “Mack sent us over to make a pickup.”
“Pickup?”
“The less you know, the better, baby doll. Come on.” Cole reached for her hand.
“Can I wait out here?” Angel asked, pulling back.