“And I need to know where the eff you got the idea I belong to you! We haven’t even spoken in months!”
“Told you why I was backing off, and I’d come for you when it was safe. Tomorrow was the day. You came to me, though. Made it easy.” He hoped he was managing to speak gently while glaring at the asshole.
“I didn’t come to you!”
“You’re here, aren’t you?” He finally turned to look at her, and noted in the light just how glazed over her eyes were, saw her hand on the edge of the desk for balance. Yeah, they’d been drinking and dancing a while.
“Bethany planned where to go! I had no idea your place was on the list!”
Hmmm. Maybe he wasn’t getting into her sweet pussy tonight. Not as drunk as she was. He wanted her sober the first time. Or maybe just a little buzzed. Not drunk, though. Not for their first time.
He looked back to the asshole. “Right now it’ll be one broken hand. Tell me where you touched my woman and don’t make me work for it, or it’ll be much, much worse.”
“Her tit, man. And I may have brushed against her ass. I’m sorry. Didn’t know she was yours. Won’t happen again, honest to God.”
“Her bein’ mine has put you in a world of hurt, but shouldn’t matter who a woman belongs to. You don’t touch them, anywhere, without them wantin’ you to.”
Duke looked back to Gen, saw the fear in her face and decided he didn’t want her to see him break anyone’s hand. “Okay, Beautiful. Your driver and the prospect will stay here and keep you safe. I just claimed you to the entire bar, and that means you don’t walk out the door without me protecting you. I’d rather your friend waited, too, but that’s up to her. You stay here, let me walk this asshole out to his truck and watch him drive away, and I’ll be right back.”
Duke took mercy on the man and broke his left hand instead of his right. He had the man show him his truck, and Duke started it up for him and told him to drive away. “Hospital’s just a few blocks over. Don’t care what you tell them, but if my name or Rolling Thunder is anywhere in the explanation you’ll be hurtin’ a whole lot worse than you are now.”
He turned to see four of his men standing behind him, backing him up if he needed it, which he hadn’t. “Can one of you tell Brain to save an encrypted copy for my use, but scrub the rest, just in case he goes to the cops?”
“He ain’t goin’ to the cops,” Gonzo said. “Taken to the ground by a tiny woman in heels, held there by two more women, walked through the bar by a prospect, walked out of the bar by you? He’s gonna go to the emergency room and tell them he hit himself with a hammer or some shit.”
“Yeah, we need to scrub it anyway. I’m gonna go get Gen now, maybe take her across the street. Have to see how her mood is.”
Chapter Nine
The office was full of women when he returned. Not what he’d intended, but as he cracked the door he heard the tail end of a conversation where it sounded like Gen was explaining the situation to her posse, so he stood and listened.
“Did you tell him not to bother coming for you once things were safe?” He had no idea who asked it, but it was a soft, female voice.
“No! He didn’t give me a chance! He doesn’t let me talk! You heard how bossy he is!”
Duke pushed in and the room looked at him. Gen stood and said, “I’m going home, now. Thanks for coming to my rescue. Maybe we can talk tomorrow, once I’m sober.”
“How about another plan?” he asked, his voice gentle. “We’re having a get-together across the street. Family friendly — lots of kids, wives, and girlfriends. No drugs, no rough stuff. It’s my family, and I’d like you to meet some of them.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea tonight. I’ve had a lot to drink.”
Duke suddenly realized what she was worried about, and his mouth went into a smile he couldn’t hold back. “I’m certain that little cunt of yours is as beautiful as the rest of you, but I promise you, I’m not going to sink my cock into it for the first time when you’re drunk. You’re gonna be stone cold sober for our first time, my beautiful Gen. I just want to spend time with you, tonight.”
Her face flamed red, she sat down, leaned over, and covered her face with her hands.
“Umm, Mr. Duke? Sir?”
He turned towards the voice and took in Frisco and Isaac’s girlfriend in real life for the first time. So sweet, so shy. He smiled, trying hard not to scare her, too, and said, “Yes, Darlin’?”