Page 6 of Wild Card

At that point, I figure I’ve done what I can without coming off like a total asshole. Not that everyone around doesn’t think of me as one, anyway.

That approach is not how I’ll be handling the little omega currently being led off the dance floor between the two fuckers with a death wish.

“I need you to close up,” I growl at Jacky.

“Yeah, I saw that coming,” she mutters. “I want a raise.”

I nod, but my eyes don’t leave Lennox as I stomp across the room.

“Wanna get out of here?” one of the men asks.

“I promise, we’ll take real good care of you,” the guy flashing half the room her ass says.

I’m not here to control or cock-block anyone. Or I normally wouldn’t be, but she’s had a little too much to drink for me to feel comfortable letting her walk out the door, unless it’s with someone I trust.

Maybe I should ask Jacky to get her back to the bed-and-breakfast?

No, it’ll be safer if I’m by Lennox’s side.

My massive, six-foot-seven frame comes to a stop in front of the clusterfuck of bad decisions in the making. “They’re right. It’s time for you to go.”

“We’re solidly down to share with each other, but that wasn’t an open invitation,” the first guy says with a condescending laugh that makes my fists clench.

The urge to remove his head from his shoulders is strong.

“I’m sorry,” Lennox says, squinting up at me with glassy hazel eyes. “Did I forget to pay?”

I eye the omega from head to toe.

She’s in heels and a short-sleeve wrap dress. It’s tight, hugs her curves in all the right places, and doesn’t do a goddamn thing to protect her from the frigid New England weather.

There’s no way she’s not cold as hell.

She. Needs. A. Fucking. Keeper.

“You paid,” I acknowledge. “Now it’s time for you to get back to where you’re staying.”

“What the hell, Bear?” one of the guys growls.

Okay, so he knows me.

I still don’t recognize either of them by name, but if they keep trying my patience, they’ll never set foot in my establishment again.

I wave a hand at Hank, one of the bouncers. He and I used to work security together before I was forced to take over.

We’re no longer letting people in, so his job has switched to making sure everyone leaves without a fight.

Hank nods and starts walking in our direction.

“You two can head out,” I say to dismiss the men. “I need a word with Lennox.”

Her eyes widen, and she raises a hand, pointing to her own chest like she’s verifying I’m talking about her.

It would be cute normally, but now, all I can wonder is if she’s too wasted to remember her own name.

I should have had Jacky stop serving the guys too. The last drink and a half made their way to Lennox through them because I was sidetracked handling other customers.

Her long hair falls around her shoulders as she moves back a step, like maybe she’s thinking about bolting.

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