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This time, to emphasize my command, I lean back and let my suit jacket fall open, revealing the gun holstered under my arm.
His eyes widen as he starts shaking his head. “There’s been a misunderstanding,” he shouts, his voice cracking.
I let go of Chloe’s knee and reach into my jacket. “You have one second to down that glass of wine unless you want a bullet in your head.”
Chloe shifts beside me. I ignore her and watch with sick pleasure as Bradley picks up the glass with a shaking hand and starts to down it. When he’s about halfway done, he starts to lower it.
I lean across the table and use my fingertips to lift the base, making him drink the whole thing. “All of it.”
His eyes bulge, and his entire body trembles as he sets the empty glass down.
“How long before it’s going to hit you, Bradley?” I ask.
He rolls his lips and looks away.
“What are you talking about?” Chloe tugs on my jacket again.
Her voice is shaky and unsure but sweet as sugar. She’s scared, and I hate it. I have the urge to pull her onto my lap so I can comfort her, but as quickly as the thought comes, I shove it away. She’s Kieran’s sister, which means she’s off-limits.
I turn to her and take hold of her hand. She’s trembling, so I give her a gentle squeeze. “Your date here drugged your wine when you were in the bathroom.”
She gasps and covers her mouth as my words sink in. Tears fill her eyes, and that urge to hold her returns. I ignore it for the moment. There’s other business to attend to right now.
“So how long, Bradley? What was it? GHB? Ketamine?”
He swallows thickly, his eyes darting around the bar as if there’s anyone here to save him. Too bad for him.
“Chloe, I didn’t mean to,” he says shakily.
She stares across the table at him, her eyes damp. Her trembling fingers are cold against mine. I want to hold her and promise that everything will be okay. That no one will ever harm her again. I want to protect her in a way I haven’t felt in a very long time. Fuck. What is wrong with me?
“Is this guy your boyfriend?”
“No. I had never met him before tonight,” she answers quietly, her gaze lowered to the table.
I clear my throat and force my focus to the asshole in front of me. “Being a slimy politician doesn’t get you enough pussy, so you have to drug women? Or do you have a tiny dick, and you know you can’t please anyone, so you have to incapacitate them? That way they don’t go running for the hills when they see you naked?”
I’m pretty sure he used GHB since he’s already starting to lean in his chair. It won’t be long before he’s out. I lift my chin to Knox and Angel who come over and stand behind Bradley with their arms crossed over their chests. He’s already too high to notice them.
“Can you guys drop him off at our north warehouse for me? I’ll owe you one.”
Angel’s nearly black eyes twinkle, and he smiles. “Nah. This one’s on the house. We’re happy to take out the trash. Mind if we work him over a little? I’m feeling a bit of rage coming to the surface right now.”
I grin. “Have fun. Just keep him alive.”
Bradley is limp in the chair now, his head rolling to the side. Knox and Angel yank him up as if he weighs nothing and cart him out of the place.
As soon as they disappear, I turn to Chloe. Tears track down her cheeks. She’s shaking so hard, I’m afraid to touch her. I don’t want to make it worse.
“I can’t…I can’t…” She’s breathing too fast, and if she doesn’t slow down, she’s going to start hyperventilating.
Unable to stop myself, I reach over and lift her into my lap. “Easy, baby. Come on, I need you to take slow breaths. Chloe, listen to my voice and focus on me.”
Her eyes are blank, but she obeys and looks up at me. She’s still panicking. I cup her face in both my hands.
“Touch my face, Chloe. Tell me how it feels.”
She’s sobbing now, but she does what I say and runs her fingers over my chin. Her phone keeps ringing every couple of minutes, but I ignore it, keeping my focus on her.
