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That gets my attention. I push up from the table and look down at Maddie. Sure as shit, this asshole has managed to move himself next to Coop and the girls.
Fuck this.
* * *
Maddie
Chloe and I scream as Jack Madden, Six Day War’s lead guitarist and Carys’s former roommate, pulls her up on stage to perform a song she helped write, while Cooper looks on with pride beaming in his eyes.
“She’s incredible,” I tell him as Carys lights up the stage.
Cooper never takes his eyes off his wife. “She really is.”
Chloe grabs my hand and pulls me toward her to dance when we’re jostled by a group of guys next to us. “Oh my gosh... sorry,” I tell them as she spins me into the group.
A gorgeous man with dark hair and darker eyes catches me with a big hand on my hip and a predatory smile on his face. I back away automatically, and his grin grows. “Now, where’re you going, pretty girl? The fun’s just getting started.”
Cooper moves between us and them protectively. “Sorry, guys. No fun tonight. They’re with me.” The group of men close ranks as Cooper moves us behind him.
The guy I bumped into straightens to his full height, and I see him differently.
He may be tall and handsome, but he’s got a presence I know well.
It’s hard to miss a fighter when you’re surrounded by them all the time. And this guy reeks of it. “How about you let the ladies speak for themselves? They seemed to be having a good time until you got involved.” The stranger attempts to move around Coop but stops when a familiar hand pulls me back.
Hudson moves in next to Cooper, attempting to block my view as the crowd surrounding us begins to take notice of what’s happening, not that I’m even sure of what’s going on.
“Back the fuck up, Spider.” Hudson’s hands ball into fists at his sides, and my own fight-or-flight instinct kicks in. This man cannot get into a fight tonight. He can’t... He can’t get hurt. He can’t get in trouble. He can’t give them any reason to take away his title fight next week.
With my heart about to beat out of my chest, I move around Hud and place myself between him and whoever this guy is.
I place my hand on Hudson’s pecs and look up at him. His eyes flare with rage. Only now, it’s directed atme. “Move, Madison.”
He doesn’t lift his hands to me.
Always respecting my boundaries.
But he’s pissed. And I’m the new target.
“Listen to your bitch, King. She knows you’re not so big outside the cage. Knows you can’t beat me. I mean, I can see why you’d let her have your balls with an ass like that.”
My head whips around in time to see this disgusting man take a step forward, and his eyes look me over from head to toe. “When you’re ready to ride a real man, you come see Spider, baby. I’ll show you what you’re missing.”
Hudson takes a step forward, and I grab his hand and pull him away.
Completely aware that he’s letting me do this.
“Maybe I should start calling her to get you to fight me, King. Is that it? That how I can finally get that title? Looks like she’s the one calling the shots. You go have your fight next week. Beat another chump. Like it’s hard.”
Hud stops, and everyone around us takes a step back, feeling the anger radiating from this normally controlled man. “I’ll fight you anywhere.” He takes a step closer. “Anytime. Anyplace. But I don’t fight for free. You’ve got to earn it. Now fuck off and get the hell outta my brother’s bar.” It’s like the entire dance floor has decided to completely ignore the world-famous band on the stage and watch these two fighters instead.
When he turns back to me, his fingers lace with mine, and I don’t dare pull away. An eerie calmness covers the unchecked fury in his dark-blue eyes. “Come on,” are the only two words uttered before Becket meets us at the door with Hudson’s coat and my purse in his hands.
“You okay?” Becks looks between the two of us, and I’m not sure if he’s asking me or Hud.
Hudson opens the bar door and guides me through it before answering his brother through clenched teeth. “I’m good. We’re leaving.”
He drapes his coat over my shoulders while we stand silently, waiting for the valet to come back with the car. “Hudson—”
