Page 97 of Unexpected Hero

“Looking for something?” She leans across the counter, smacking her lips around a lollipop.

“Not exactly,” I respond in a clipped tone, finally meeting her eyes.

She licks her lips and arches her brow. “Someone, perhaps?”

I shrug, unsure how to respond.

She giggles and flashes a knowing grin at me, followed by a wink. “Your girl’s in the back with Dante.”

My shoulders stiffen, eyes bulging. “What’s she doing in there?”

Her head flops back, and her annoying laugh rattles around the room. “She’s not in that back room. Dante was giving her a tour and shit.” She claps, her laughter increasing. “Thanks for confirming that she is, in fact, your girl. Aw, man. You should see your face.”

Stepping closer, I narrow my eyes at her, my lip curling up in warning. She recognizes the shift in me in an instant.

She casts her eyes to the floor, assuming a submissive stance. “Sorry, sir.”

I don’t add anything else because she got my meaning loud and clear with one look. She’s a good sub, even if she is too bratty for my taste.

Passing by the desk, I open the room to the main floor and scan the room. A blond on my right catches my attention, but she doesn’t have Lettie’s curves.

A familiar voice comes from over my right shoulder as I advance into the room. “Hey, handsome.”

I nod in her direction, grinding my teeth. “Hi, Vanessa.”

Not paying her any attention, I resume searching for Lettie. Uneasiness settles in my chest.

Vanessa doesn’t take the hint, moving closer instead. Her fingertip trails up and down my forearm. “We haven’t played in a while. Do you have your ropes with you?”

“No,” I lie. They’re in my locker, but I won’t be taking them out tonight for her or anyone. “If you’ll excuse me. I’m looking for someone.”

“Take care, Jimmy.”

She knows better than to call me that. But I ignore it since she’s only trying to bait me. Someone needs to knock her down a peg.

I fucking hate brats.

Striding away, I work my way through the room, asking a few of the regulars if they’ve seen someone matching Lettie’s description. Every single man I question responds in the affirmative. And I hate the way their faces light up at her mention. Clearly, no one is immune to her beauty.

My fist twitches when a member named Jesse bites his knuckle jokingly and mock growls. “Get in line, James. Everyone wants a shot at that one.”

Disrespectful son of a bitch.

Not usually. But he is right now. And I can’t stand for that.

On instinct, I grip his shoulder, squeezing at the pressure point near his collarbone. His eyes widen, and he hisses in pain while trying to shrug out of my grip. Not happening.

“Listen up, Jesse, and listen good. She’s. Not. Available. You got it?”

He puts his hands up, palms facing out. “No problem.”

Feeling a touch guilty, I lessen my hold. “If anyone else mentions her, let them know she’s taken. Got it?”

He tries again to shrug out of my grip. “Yeah. I got it. I didn’t know she was spoken for, or I never would have made that comment.”

I should believe him. Jesse’s a good guy. He’s been a member here for a few years and is always good to his subs. We never get complaints about him. I’ve vetted him thoroughly.

But I can’t seem to follow my own advice when it comes to Lettie.

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