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Thankfully, most of the men had gone back to their games, but I caught the odd look as I walked by. Not that these men would be up to date with the latest gossip websites that seem to follow my dating life, but after giving Cassidy my hoodie, all I had on was my track pants and a wifebeater.
Both arms completely covered in tattoos.
Both completely on show.
Including the words Exiled and Eight written across the outside of my forearms.
“You Danny?” I questioned loudly when I got to the table he was playing at. He was crouched over his pool stick, tongue hanging out the side of his mouth, lining up a shot I already knew he was never going to make. “Just letting you know Aspen’s leaving, and it would be a good idea for you to not get in contact with her again.”
He let out a breathy chuckle but didn’t bother to pull away from his shot.
I wasn’t even sure if he really heard me.
Or if he actually thought I was serious.
But I was going to make sure.
I leaned over and grabbed the white ball he was aiming for, plucking it off the table just as he took his shot, his pool cue instead collecting the green ball behind it and sending it bouncing off the end of the table.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Danny spat, rushing forward. Another guy with a gray beard and a leather jacket grabbed him and hauled him back, though my fist was curled at my side, ready to swing the second he got within range.
“There a problem here?” the older man asked, placing his body between the two of us while other guys around them seemed to inch closer.
I tossed the ball back onto the table, trying not to laugh at this kid as he huffed and puffed behind his buddy like the big bad wolf, pretending like he wanted to fucking fight me. “Only if baby boy there wants to make one,” I answered with a shrug, folding my arms across my chest. I thought Danny looked young before I came over here, but it was obvious now that he was barely twenty-one.
Young and fucking stupid.
Mr. Beard’s eyes dropped to my tatts.
I knew the club name was on full display, a subtle way of asking this guy whether he really wanted to make an issue right here right now.
“Where you from?” he questioned when his gaze returned to mine.
“Vegas.”
He pressed his lips together and nodded. “And what are you doing in this part of town?”
I looked over my shoulder just as Cassidy and Aspen stepped out of the bathrooms, their arms linked together, pausing at the exit to wait for me. I turned back to the man. “Picking up something that’s mine and letting the kid know he’s to keep away from it.” Danny jerked forward, but the guy slammed his arm back, almost sending the boy flying. He looked back over his shoulder, hitting Danny with a look I couldn’t see but that made him take a couple of steps back, his shoulders slumping.
I cleared my throat. “We done here?”
The man turned back to me and simply nodded. “Have a nice night.” I started to turn away before he added, “And tell Huntsman, Journey says hi.”
I paused, my brow pinched as I fought to remember just where I’d heard that name before, but when I turned to ask if he knew my dad, he was already back in the corner of the hall in a heated discussion with Danny.
I figured I’d pushed my luck enough tonight, and it was better if I just got the fuck out of there and got these girls home. If there was one thing I learned from my dad when it came to women, it was they were to be protected. It wasn’t about us being the men and them being weaker, but more about showing them the respect they deserved.
Especially when they make you feel things.
Like the need to let them in closer when you’ve spent most of your life trying to keep them out.
How the hell did this shit happen?
“And don’t you dare come near my friend again,” Cassidy screamed just before the door swung closed behind us. I shook my head, ushering the two girls into the back seat of the car.
“They’re terrified, I bet.”
Cassidy paused, her foot against the car door so I couldn’t shut it and her smile bright as day. “They should be.”
