Sweet and Vicious(Margarelli Brothers 1)

“At least finish your drink,” one of the vultures surrounding her called out. She hesitated and then turned back. I almost didn’t see what happened next. It didn’t even register at first.

With a shit eating grin plastered on his smug face, one of the pieces of shit at the bar put something in her drink. Just a few drops. Zane didn’t see it. He was looking at me. I watched in absolute fucking horror as she accepted the glass and took a sip.

I was close enough to hear what the guy said next.

“Have some more. It’s good for you, honey.”

Her gorgeous lips wrapped around the straw again and pulled. They wanted to take this girl somewhere and hurt her. Take what wasn’t theirs to take. Take what was mine.

I saw red. And then the room exploded.

“What the fuck?” guy number one said stupidly as I knocked the drink out of the girl’s hand and elbowed his lip, all in one move. It wasn’t a question. I answered him anyway.

“Nobody drugs girls in my joint,” I snarled as I punched his face. Then I punched his friend. Then I dropped my knee into the first guy’s chest and yanked his arm so hard I heard something snap.

Zane jumped over the bar and started throwing punches. I almost smiled. For a second, I thought he was going to pull me off the piece of shit lying on the floor.

But no, he was kicking the shit out of the douche canoes who had helped him. The thought of . . . of all four of these guys touching her . . . touching any girl when she was knocked out, but especially, dear God, this girl . . . fuck, it made my blood run cold.

She was wifey material. I’d known it in a heartbeat. Not that any girl should experience what they had in mind. But especially not her.

My knuckles were starting to split, so I stood and used my feet to kick his ribs. I didn’t want my blood mingling with the piece of garbage on the floor.

“We’re closed,” I hissed to Zane as the door’s bell jingled. Then I saw her. The beauty. Her eyes were hazy, unfocused. I reached out to her as she started to tilt over. I caught her, shocked at the jolt that went through me at the contact. Without thinking, I crushed her against my chest, then scooped her up into my arms.

She was so small . . . delicate . . . and yet delightfully soft and curvy. And they had thought they had the right to touch her. Never. As long as I had breath in my body, that would never, ever happen, I vowed.

That intense feeling of protectiveness washed over me again.

She blinked up at me, and I saw that her eyes were a dark green. Huge and innocent, with a thick fringe of lashes. They fluttered shut and I cursed. That was it. She was out like a light.

Zane was ushering everyone out, except for the pieces of filth on the floor. All four of them were moaning. The one who had spiked her drink was barely conscious.

“What do we do with them?” Zane asked after he locked the door.

“I need to know what they gave her. And I need to know they will never, ever do it again.”

“Call the guys?”

Zane worked for me. He knew who I was. He knew what I could do.

I nodded.

“Call Tiny. Tell him to put a permanent hurt on these fuckers.”

“What about the girl?”

I frowned, staring down at her. I was now 100% responsible for the pretty young thing in my arms. Yesterday, I would have told you this was the last fucking thing I needed. But right now, I was just thankful I’d been here to stop it.

“I’ll take care of her. Bottle of water?”

He jumped over the bar and grabbed one, slipping it into my hand where I held the girl. Without a word, I carried her into my private office. I hardly ever used it, but I had an office at all my places of business, even the ones I shared with Vince. And they all had couches in case I needed to sleep off a bender.

I gently laid her down and stared at her, wondering what the hell I was going to do with her. I had no idea who she was or where she lived. I reached out and brushed my knuckles over her cheek. Her skin as so soft, it nearly made me forget myself. Forget that I was the kind of man who didn’t take advantage of innocent girls. I ran my thumb over her bottom lip, wishing she were awake so I could kiss her.

Then I shook it off and reached for her purse.

The blonde was long gone, having left with her guy before the excitement started.