Her skin glowed under the strobe lights, and her black skirt shifted every time she moved like it was made to mesmerize men. Knowing she didn’t have anything on under it, and that it was the only damn barrier between her and every other man that wanted her in the club, had my neck tighter than it had been in years.
“You ready now, little dancer?” I sneered.
She knew she should have never danced with him or even let him have his hands on her.
She squinted her eyes at me and unknowingly swayed to the music. When she replied, her voice was laced with alcohol and a loss of inhibition. “What should I be ready for, Jax?”
I shook my head. “Do you think I normally waste my time on issuing commands that don’t get followed? When I said we were leaving, I thought it was clear that I didn’t want to wait for you to socialize for half an hour.”
She glanced at Isabel. “Isn’t it obvious to you that I’m not going home with you? I haven’t looked your way or talked to you for thirty minutes.”
“That’s never fucking obvious anymore, Whitfield. From now on, the expectation is that we'll always leave together.” I realized too late that my voice boomed out louder than I had intended it to.
My brother and Rome showed up at her side almost immediately. Katie and Vick weren’t far behind as she crossed her arms like a petulant child.
She’d created a family, an army, some sort of cavalry that would have been intimidating to everyone else. Probably formidable, and almost impenetrable in most circumstances.
They just didn’t know they were dealing with a nuclear bomb of a force so strong not even I could overcome it.
One minute she stood with them and in the next, she flowed like a siren up to my chair to lean over me. I caught a hint of alcohol with the sweet smell of cinnamon I always longed for.
“This may be casual but it is not a relationship of convenience.” She practically spit the last word and as she said it, her eyes were so frustrated that even I, the man who loved seeing her lose control, wanted to soothe her back to calm.
Both our eyes held one another’s until hers snapped to Isabel’s as if to lay the culprit of her anger out on the table.
Isabel didn’t back down. She protected her image and mine at all costs.
“This night is over, Whitfield.” I let my steely gaze run over each and every one of her soldiers behind her.
Vick took a step back immediately, but the others stood their ground.
I pushed off from my chair to stand, and Aubrey stumbled back. The alcohol caused her to wobble a little more than she had intended it to.
Katie righted her immediately.
“If you’re night is over, go home.” Aubrey shrugged like her statement wouldn’t feel like sandpaper on an open wound for me.
I was sick of the bullshit and drunk or not, she damn well knew it. “Don’t make me carry you out of here.”
“I’d love to see you try.” She lifted her chin, so emboldened by the alcohol in her veins that she didn’t realize it would only take my one arm wrapped around her to carry her out.
When I took a step forward, Rome started to move but Jay moved faster. Stone-faced, he stood toe to toe with me.
“Don’t make me go through you, little brother.”
Isabel grabbed my bicep. “Hey, not here.”
Jay didn’t say a word and he didn’t move.
Aubrey leaned to the side to peer around Jay. Her eyes seemed to focus for a minute and they widened at the scene. She stepped around to Jay’s side and whispered, “Maybe I should just go. No one needs a scene.”
“Jay,” I tried to use my most consoling voice. “You know this is unavoidable. I’ll take care of her.”
His jaw worked and his muscles flexed. It pained me to see this struggle he had just because I might be interested in his best friend.
Aubrey patted his arm while glaring at me. “We’ll call you when we get home.”
Still holding his ground, he commanded, “Breakfast with me tomorrow morning. I’m not taking no for an answer.”