Cole's Mistake (Haven, Texas 8)

Keira still shook and Julian gave her a concerned look. “You all right, kitten?”

“Yes . . . I . . . I want to go.”

Julian nodded and kept hold of her hand as he turned to grab his bag. He snatched up the paddle and Hitachi wand, not bothering to clean it and threw it in his bag. Keira stuck close to him.

“Anna,” Joel called out and a curvy redhead stepped forward.

“Yes, Master Saxon?”

“Get Keira a blanket, please.”

“Oh, it’s okay, I’m . . .” she trailed off as Saxon gave her a firm look.

“She needs aftercare even though your scene was so rudely interrupted,” Saxon told him.

Julian gave him a short nod. He wanted to snap that he didn’t need advice on caring for his wife, but he knew that this brother wasn’t the one deserving his anger.

Anna brought the blanket and handed it to him. He let go of Keira’s hand to wrap it around her shoulders then drew her close to his side, his arm protectively holding her anchored to his side.

“Bruce, accompany my brother out. Make certain he doesn’t create any more problems. Oh, and Cole, turn up here again, and I’ll call the police.”

Cole’s hands clenched into fists. “Don’t go after what’s mine again and I won’t have to.”

Keira let out a soft gasp, but Julian just ignored them as he led her across the club. She turned her face into his chest. He could feel her trying to make herself smaller and he hated it. Hated that Cole had the power to make her feel ashamed of who she was.

Just like her father had.

Damn him. And damn himself for not protecting her better.

“It’s okay, kitten, we’re nearly out of here. Then I’ll take you home and run you a nice bath, all right? You can relax.”

Except that wasn’t going to happen and they both knew it. They’d both be thinking about this too much to relax. Keira had already been wound up before coming to the club tonight. He’d been determined to help her unwind. Submitting to him helped her let go of her other worries and fears.

Now that was ruined.

Fuck. Cole. Saxon.

He reached the door leading outside and one of the bouncers opened it. “I’ll escort you to your car.”

“Thanks,” Julian told him.

“Wait. Julian. Keira. Stay right there.”

The demand in Cole’s voice was almost impossible to ignore. But Julian kept steering Keira towards their beat-up Ford. She remained stiff and tense in his arm but moved without protest.

“Fuck! Will you get the fuck out of my way?” Cole snarled.

Julian heard something that sounded like a grunt of pain and turned to find Bruce had Cole pinned against an SUV.

Keira gasped, taking a step forward.

He grabbed her hand. “Kitten, stay back.”

“Get off me, you asshole,” Cole snapped.

“Boss wants you gone,” Bruce replied calmly.

“He’s not my boss.” Cole shoved at the bouncer, but he was a huge guy, at least half a foot taller and probably fifty pounds heavier than Cole. “Get the fuck off me before I have you arrested for assault.”