Page 76 of Gabriel's Salvation

“Stacey, huh?” I say with a slight smirk. “How about you come and keep my lap warm for a bit?”

I hear a frustrated growl leave Marko’s ugly mouth. “I found her first,” he groans.

“And now I want her, so share!” I snap through gritted teeth.

Marko releases her just as Declan arrives with the drinks. Riley makes her way over to me and sits on my lap. I loop my arm around her tightly but can feel her shaking under my touch.

Declan hands her the beer bottle. The sweet smell of soda hits my nose and it now makes sense what he was saying earlier about soda in a bottle.

“She’ll have a whiskey, and make it a double,” I say, taking the bottle out of her hands and handing it back to him. Declan just looks at me and nods.

Riley continues to shake under my arm, so when no one is looking I lean over and whisper, “You’re safe baby; just don’t fucking move.”

Declan comes back and hands her the double whiskey, which she gulps. “Slow down baby” I say, again, only loud enough for her to hear. She leans forward and places her drink on the table, but as soon as she does I pick it up and place it back in her hand. She looks at me with a smile, like she understands what I'm trying to say.

“So, you still fucking around with that Kelly chick?” Marko asks and I feel Riley stiffen in my lap.

“Nah. She's used goods. I'm done with her, she's all yours man,” I say, nonchalantly. Do I feel guilty feeding Kelly to the wolves? Sure. But is it worth it to keep these savages away from Riley? You bet your ass it is.

I notice the way both Michael and Deeno keep staring at Riley’s bare legs, so looping my arm around them I twist her body so that they are now sprawled over me and the arm of the chair. Deeno looks up like a petulant child, frustrated that I've taken away his favorite toy. But as soon as his eyes catch mine glaring back at him, he turns his gaze away in fear.

While I’d like to think I'm not as depraved and dangerous as the rest of these fuckers, especially when it comes to women, they all know I wouldn't think twice about going toe to toe with any of them. I've been in this business since I was a kid, and I've seen more shit and done more shit than almost all of them combined.

The guys continue to talk shit with each other and since they are no longer paying attention to us, I use the hand that's hidden from them to softly stroke Riley’s side, hoping to calm and soothe her.

“I'm going to the toilet,” I announce as I lift Riley to her feet.

“I'll watch your lady, while you take a piss,” Marko smirks.

“Not that sort of bathroom break, if you know what I mean,” I reply with an exaggerated wink and I pull her closer against me.

I lead her inside, past the bathroom, the one I can see by the look on her face fills her with as much disgust as it now does me. I guide her to the end of the bar. “Stay here with Declan. You're safe here,” I say as I turn and leave.

“Wait, don't leave me,” she says.

“Stay here. I'll be right back,” I say as I look over her, to Declan, who nods in agreement.

“What happened to the hottie?” the guys ask when I walk out alone.

“Taking her back to mine to test her out properly,” I laugh as I down my drink. “See you tomorrow old man,” I joke as I pat John on the shoulder and leave.

As soon as I walk back inside I grab Riley, who is now sitting on a stool behind the bar, and leave.

“You sure know how to live on the wild side,” I say as I carefully place my helmet on her head.

“Well, they're your friends,” she snaps back.

“Listen here,” I say, stopping to ensure she's looking directly at me. “Those animals are not my friends. They are the scum of the earth, and you need to stay far, far away from them.” I lift the helmet off her head to make sure she can hear me clearly.

“Well they sure seemed to like YOU,” she replies.

“Those animals don't like anyone, not even each other. They’d fuck each other over in a heartbeat.”

“Oh,” she replies. “But then why…”

“They fear me; they don't like me. There's a huge difference.” I say as I put the helmet back on her head. then climb in front of her.

I grab her hands and wrap them around my waist. She settles them underneath my shirt instead of on top. Her fingers feel amazing as they graze the skin of my abs.

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