Better Than Chance(14)

“Zip up now. We’re going outside for some fresh air. Don’t say one word! You hear?”

I know my voice was quavering with anger. How dare that prick take advantage? And what the hell was wrong with Aaron? It wasn’t like him not to defend himself. This guy was not his type. Once again I had a strong feeling something was up. I turned toward the muscleman. He didn’t have a hope of escaping my wrath in the tight confines of the crowd.

“Stay the fuck away from him. I see you anywhere near him and I will knock that smug shit-eatin’ grin right off your ugly face.”

The guy was probably six feet tall and outweighed Aaron by a good sixty pounds. I may not have possessed his musculature, but I was definitely taller than him and knew how to use my height to my advantage. He looked like he was going to protest, but he must have seen something in my expression that made him reconsider. He held his hands up in mock surrender and flipped me the bird. It took everything I had not to make good on my threat and go after him, but Aaron needed tending to. I made sure he was decent before I pulled him with me toward the side exit and into the cool spring evening. It was misty and wet outside, a stark and welcoming contrast to the close confines of the packed club.

“Are you okay?”

I was more than a little concerned about my friend. As far as I knew, he’d only had a couple drinks. That was nowhere near enough to incapacitate him. He looked positively loopy. I felt a sudden horrible chill as I realized there was a strong possibility that someone, possibly the muscleman who was literally undressing him on the dance floor, had slipped something into his drink. Oh fuck. I swiped my hands through my hair, forgetting about the copious amounts of gel I’d applied earlier. What was I supposed to do? Take him to the hospital? Take him home? I eyed him carefully. Aaron’s pupils were dilated, and he was unsteady on his feet.

“Aaron?”

He looked up at me quizzically, opened his mouth as if to speak, but closed it in a fish-like manner and just shrugged. He blinked his eyes rapidly and then closed them dramatically as if all energy had simply left him. He walked the short distance to the brick wall of the dance club and leaned heavily as though he desperately needed its assistance to stand upright.

I looked up and down the alleyway. There were a few stragglers passing by, but all the action was on the main street a good fifty yards away. The side exit door reopened, and I looked up hoping to find a friendly face, but it was the muscle-bound dickhead who was surely responsible for Aaron’s current condition, making his way down the short set of stairs. He stopped short when he saw us and smiled menacingly. Oh shit. I hadn’t been in a situation like this in quite a while. I didn’t want to get into anything, but I would respond if necessary. I had three older brothers and had learned how to fight early. A fresh wave of adrenaline pulsed through my veins as my muscles tensed in preparation to spring, my hands curling into tight fists. I kept my eyes on him as he stalked toward me. He gave me an evil grin, then roughly brushed my elbow and made his way around me toward where Aaron leaned heavily against the brick wall.

“There you are, sweet boy. Come back and play with me.”

Aaron looked up and smiled wanly before closing his eyes again and leaning his head back against the bricks.

“What did you give him, you fucker?” I rounded on the muscleman and pulled at his thick tattooed arm forcing him to look my way.

He growled at me in warning like a feral dog and then set his hands on the brick wall, trapping Aaron’s head between his arms.

“Come on, pretty boy. Come dance with me.” His voice was low and husky. Aaron’s eyes fluttered open as though he was trying to focus, but he was too out of it. He closed them and sighed deeply.

“Get away from him!”

I was screaming like a banshee, and some passersby from the main street were beginning to notice the racket. I saw a large figure approaching in my peripheral vision, but I had to keep my eyes on Aaron’s creepy seducer. This guy wasn’t going to be easy to take down. I was taller, but he definitely had brawn on his side.

“Fuck off. This one’s mine.”

“No he is not! Get the fuck away from him!”

“And who’s gonna make me?” He turned, giving me a sinister look.

“I am” came a familiar voice behind me. “Back up, buddy. You heard him.”

“What are you…?”

Peter Morgan gave me a look that clearly told me to shut the fuck up. Surprise didn’t begin to cover how I felt seeing him standing in the misty alley, his large silhouette resplendent in the lamplight. He looked like a superhero minus the cape. What the hell was he doing in this part of town? How did he…? Questions would have to wait. I wasn’t turning down any assistance just then, even his. I kept my eye on Aaron, figuring I could concentrate on him if I had Peter’s help with the muscleman.