Cuffed For Love

“What?” Cece says when she approaches. “Did you find your skip?”

The two exchange a grin at Cece’s use of the lingo.

“No.” I scan the crowd, my eyes falling on a big burly guy wearing a black leather vest. I narrow my eyes. That looks like a member of the Fewture, a one-percenter motorcycle club whose insignia is the Nazi swastika. Club Tango is not a hangout for motorcycle gangs. It’s for college kids and millennials trying to hook up with college kids. Hairs on the back of my neck start to prickle as an uneasy premonition settles on my shoulders. The skip doesn’t look like the Club Tango crowd either. My gut says I need to get Joy out of here. I wrap my arm around her shoulders. “I don’t see her. She must have left. Let’s go.”

“Oh no. She’s right over there.” Joy points at the burly motorcycle guy. “Right by the guy with the long beard. Don’t you see?”

I do see, and that’s the problem.TwelveJoyI point at the woman he’s looking for. “Maybe I should be a bounty hunter.” I tease. Dane’s eyes are focused on where the woman is, but he’s not looking at her. He’s looking at who she’s with.

As fun as it was to find the woman, I can’t wait until we can leave this place. Cece and I look like we don’t belong here. We’re in long-sleeve shirts, jeans, and sneakers. Not that it’s stopping men from checking us out. Bars have never really been my scene.

My skin crawls when one looks me up and down. He actually does it twice. “I thought you couldn't smoke in bars anymore.” Cece lets out a cough. I’m not too sure anyone around here cares about rules.

It’s not long before I start to notice the women who have their attention focused on Dane. He stands taller than anyone else here. There is no missing him. I glare at one of them, pushing myself more into my man. He’s mine now, and I don’t share.

I look away from the girl who has her eyes on Dane back to the skip. How does this even go down? The woman looks like she has been ridden hard and put back wet. I don’t like the fact that Dane will have to touch her in any way. But in the name of justice I guess I’ll allow it. Though I’m not sure this is in the name of justice. I pull out my phone and hit record.

“You might want to go back to the car,” Dane says. “This is going to get rough.”

“Saying that only makes us want to stay longer,” Cece chimes in. I nod in agreement. Plus I wasn't going anywhere. All of the women's eyes are on my man, and they are half naked. I bet he gets hit on all the time. Here I am making him chase me. Does he want me so much because he sees me as a challenge?

“I don’t love this, but I know there is no winning an argument with the two of you. Just stand back.” Dane’s words bring back the problem at hand. We snake through the room of people until we get to a man who is wearing a leather looking coat with an ugly patch on the back. Then I realize it’s a vest, not a coat. We sidestep him so we can fully see the woman. She looks drunk. Her eyes are glassed over, and she seems unsteady on her feet.

“Vicky Anderson, I’ve got to take you in.”

“Fuck you!” she slurs. I look over to Cece and see she’s recording this too.

“You’re not taking her anywhere. Only place she’s going tonight is my bed. You can come get her when I’m done with her.”

I gasp. That is the grossest, meanest thing I think I’ve ever heard someone say out loud.

“No can do. I’m taking her tonight,” Dane says, actually sounding bored.

“Do you know who the fuck I am?” The man takes a step closer to Dane.

“Yeah. You’re the fuckhead standing in my way of picking up my skip. Either give me the forty thousand for the skip or move your dumb ass out of my way.”

Now I’m gaping at Dane. His tone is still lazy like he’s not scared of the guy in the weird vest thing.

Dane is taller than him and built. The vest guy looks solid and like someone who would carry a weapon. I’m not sure one hit would take him down.

“What did you say to me, boy?” he fires back.

“Not your boy. Are you not understanding the words coming out of my mouth? Do I need to speak slower for you?” The guy takes a swing at Dane. I start to scream but Dane ducks and the man misses him. Dane doesn't miss him, though. He hits him twice in the stomach and finishes him off with a blow to his jaw. The man hits the ground, groaning in pain.