The Heir (Gentlemen Rogues 1)

"No, I— Oh God, I just need to find my mate so I can leave."

He studied me closely. "You're not okay."

"No, I'm fine. It's just a little blood."

"It's not fine. He needs to pay for this."

I reached in my back pocket and pulled out the asshole's wallet. “I have his name. I can report him.”

Lock gave me an unusual mile. His gaze still burning hot and intense, he looked desperate to stride over to Adam Paul's still prone body.

I tugged on his shirt, forcing his attention back on me. "I'm okay. I'm okay, all right? Please."

“I’m just going to have a brief chat with him,” he growled.

I tugged him to me. “No. Leave him. He’s not worth it.”

“He put his hands on you. I promise, killing him is worth it.”

“Look, do we want to spend time together or fuck with him?”

With a sigh, he nodded. "Okay, we need to get you cleaned up."

"It can't be that bad." I felt fine, but I did notice the trickle of blood.

"It is. You're bleeding." And then he examined my neck. "You're bleeding from the neck too. Did he do that?"

"He got fancy with a knife.”

“Fucking hell. I’ll kill him."

Fury surged in his eyes when he glanced at the idiot on the ground, and I stopped him again. "I'm fine, Lock, I just… I can't go inside. I need to text Tabs and tell her to meet me."

"Come on, you're coming with me."

I hesitated for a moment, pulling back. "No, I— Tabs, I want to go to her and get cleaned up. Spend the night.”

"I'm going to get you somewhere safe. We're going to clean you up, and then we're going to text Tabs. That's her name?"

I nodded. “Tabatha.”

"Good, then we'll text her and tell her where you are, okay?"

I shifted on my feet. This was not the plan.Then again, getting jumped in an alley outside the club was not the plan, and Tabs was having fun. And all my instincts told me Lock was not like that bloke, so I nodded. "Where are we going?"

"I live not far from here."

"Oh, of course, your place."

He released me briefly to pull out his wallet and then he pulled out his license. "Here you go. Text Tabatha now. Tell her you're with me, yeah? That way she’ll know where you are and you’ll feel a little safer."

I lifted my gaze and studied him. "You really are a good bloke, yeah?"

He shrugged. "Well, that’s debatable, but right now I'm trying to get you taken care of."

"You know I can take care of myself, right?"

He laughed. "Yes, you have rendered me useless in defending you. But please allow me to be of some service. My ego can only takes so much."