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Cole turned back to her. “Not in this neighborhood.”
Angel looked nervously at the door.
Cole smiled. “Never been in a strip club?”
She shook her head.
He hooked a hand around the back of her neck and pulled her to him for a kiss. “Come on, you’ll be fine, darlin’.”
She looked up into his eyes. He smiled down at her and gave her a wink. Then he caught her hand, turned, and headed toward the door. There was a guy collecting money. He turned when he saw them walking up.
“Hey, Cole. How are you?”
“Not bad, Bobby. Is Ronnie here?”
“Yeah. I’ll tell him you’re here.”
“Thanks, man.”
Bobby held the door for them, and they walked in like they owned the place, Angel noticed. She followed Cole over to the bar. There was one guy sitting at the other end. Most of the customers were at tables.
Cole slid between two barstools and leaned on the bar.
Angel stood behind one of the barstools and looked around. There was a girl up on stage dancing. Crash moved to Angel’s other side and slid in between two stools. She watched as a cute blonde girl, who was apparently tending bar, came toward them.
“Hey, Cole. What can I get you?” she asked.
“Just need to see Ronnie. You don’t usually tend bar, Heather,” Cole observed.
“Ronnie just caught one of the bartenders stealing. He’s out back dealing with him, if you know what I mean.”
“He need any help with that?” Cole offered, ducking his head to light a cigarette. Angel noticed Cole didn’t seem to care about any no smoking ordinances.
“I think he’s got it covered. He should be with you in just a minute.”
“No problem, darlin’.”
Heather slid three bottles of beer on the bar. “Compliments of the house.”
“Thanks, darlin’.” Cole smiled. Turning, he handed one to Angel.
They waited about fifteen minutes and were on their second beer when Crash tapped Cole on the arm and nodded toward the door. “Trouble just walked in.”
Cole jerked his head around to look over his shoulder. “Fuck.”
Angel turned to look and saw the eight Devil Kings that they’d left at the party, walking through the door. She noticed the older man, the one Cole had said was their leader, and behind him was the one that Cajun had warned her to stay clear of.
“Here comes Ronnie.” Crash nodded toward the end of the bar.
Cole swiveled his head around and saw Ronnie walking toward them behind the bar. “Good. Maybe we can get the hell out of here.”
Angel watched the man walk up.
“Hey, Cole. Sorry. I had some shit to take care of.” He slid an envelope across the bar. Cole picked it up and tucked it into the inside pocket of his vest.
“You get that worked out?” Cole asked.
“Yeah.”
Cole nodded. “Good.”
Angel saw a big hand slide up his back and tighten around the back of his neck for a moment before falling away. They both turned sharply to look. It was the leader of the Devil Kings.
Cole turned to face him. “Big Ed.”
“Cole.”
Angel looked nervously over her shoulder. They were surrounded. The one called Big Ed was a huge man with a beard and big meaty hands. Angel thought Bear would have been a more suitable name.
“Party over already?” Cole asked, his voice carefully controlled.
“Naw. Just thought we’d check out Mack’s investment.”
Cole nodded. He rested an elbow on the bar and leaned back on it, taking a drag on his cigarette.
Big Ed’s gaze drifted over to Angel. His eyes traveled slowly over her body. “This some new talent? Bet she could really wrap around that stripper pole.”
“She’s with Cole,” Crash informed him.
Big Ed’s eyes cut to Crash, and then back to Angel. “Is she now?”
Before she knew what was happening, Big Ed reached and flipped the back of her shirt up, looking at her lower back.
Cole instantly straightened from the bar.
“I don’t see no stamp on her.” Big Ed stared at Cole.
Cole stared him down.
“Which is it? She’s either yours or she’s up for grabs,” Bid Ed challenged.
Cole knew what that meant, even if Angel didn’t fully understand what was happening here. Bid Ed was making a point, and he was using Angel to do it. Either Cole claimed her as his or Big Ed was going to take her. And do God knows what with her. Cole stepped in between Angel and Big Ed. “Just haven’t gotten that taken care of yet.”
Big Ed gave him an evil smile and called his bluff. “Well, hell, boy. No time like the present. It’ll be my treat.” He pulled a couple of large bills from his pocket and held them up between two fingers. “Escort them down to Stumpy’s, Taz. Make sure it gets done right.”
