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“Because,” he said, pausing to snuff out his cigarette in the ashtray next to him, “something he said to me the other day just clicked in my mind.”
“What did he say?” Ian and Jade asked simultaneously.
Tyler stood silently for a moment, hands on his hips, before he finally broke the silence. “He said, ‘This is no place for your wife if you don’t want her to end up like others,’ and at the time I thought he just meant her not wanting to be downstairs among the dancers and he was just making a comment.” He looked toward the sky and took a deep breath as if he were trying to fight back tears, then brought his eyes back to ours. “Then Nico told me he didn’t trust James because he’d been acting too nosy, but Nico doesn’t like many people, so I didn’t read into it either. He suspected something was up with him.”
Ian’s phone suddenly buzzed in his pocket, breaking the tension. He pulled it out and checked the screen. “Speaking of Nico, they’re ready for us.”
Tyler took a step toward the back door but was stopped by my outstretched hand. He looked at me with rage in his eyes. “Can you separate emotion and business tonight?”
Without hesitation, he shook his head. “Nope,” he replied with determination. “But I don’t need to. He’s going to die.”
He disappeared into the house, followed by Jenna, then Ian, leaving me alone with Jade. She got ready to follow, but I curled my fingers around her wrist, pulling her back into me. Placing my hands on her hips, I leaned forward close to her lips, but she placed her palms on my chest and turned her head.
“Baby,” I sighed, “come on.”
Taking a step back out of my embrace, she snorted. “Do you want me to just be a fucking puppet dancer?”
“No?” I flickered my gaze. “Of course not.”
“Then don’t treat me like I can’t handle myself.”
“I didn’t, I?—”
“I don’t need a knight in shining armor,” she folded her arms, “I need a partner in crime.”
Despite our argument, I couldn’t help but smile at how feisty she was. It was one of the many things I loved about her. But deep down, I knew she was right. She didn’t need me to always play the role of protector. She could handle herself.
But that didn’t change the fact that I loved her and would always do anything to keep her safe. Even if it meant standing by her side and letting her fight her own battles. I’d step in if needed.
19
SEX BEFORE VIOLENCE
JADE
I took a step toward the house, but Luke’s grip on my wrist pulled me back into his protective embrace. His warm breath tickled my ear as he whispered, “You know the other rule.”
Pinning my bottom lip between my teeth, I smiled, nodding, but I was still kinda mad at him.
Without warning, he bent over and swiftly picked me up, throwing me over his broad shoulder. He carried me effortlessly toward the outdoor sitting area, the muscles in his back flexing with each step.
The back door opened, and he paused, twisting toward Ian, who was glaring at us from the doorway. “What the hell are you doing?” His voice was rushed with annoyance.
“We’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“We need to go,” Ian growled.
I rolled my eyes as Luke responded before I could. “Isn’t he chained to a chair or something?”
“Yeah,” Ian huffed in exasperation, already knowing where he was going with it.
“Then we’ll be in, in a few,” Luke added.
Instead, he turned back toward the kitchen, calling back over his shoulder, “Don’t get cum on my couch,” before slamming the door.
Thankfully, Ian understood that before and after any risky activity, Luke had to have sex because he was the same way. And it wasn’t a desire, it was a necessity for Luke to function properly. It always had been since I’d known him. He didn’t care about the location or the audience. All he needed was me, even if it was just a quickie.
As he lowered me back onto the couch, I playfully protested, “I’m still upset with you for thinking I’m some helpless damsel in distress.”
