Page 20 of Salvatore

My eyes widen as I realize what they’re saying. Those men must have slipped me something. I have to get my friends, we have to get out of here. I force myself forward, stumbling through the door.

I’m not expecting Dean and Mark to be waiting for me. They haven’t kept their hands off me all night. If I wasn’t so messed up, I would have known they’d follow me, and been more careful. I edge back, my hand sliding along the wall to keep my balance as they slink forward.

“Hey, sexy,” Dean says. “How you feeling, baby?”

“Stay away from me,” I mumble, inching back. I know I’m headed in the wrong direction and toward the men’s room. I know I should scream and charge forward. But the most I can do is remain standing.

Mark clasps my wrist, pulling me to him. “It’s okay, Aedry. I just want to kiss you.”

I try to stomp on his foot and miss, but somehow manage to break free of his hold. Three other men exit the bathroom, laughing when they see me.

They stop laughing when Salvatore suddenly appears. “Get the fuck away from her,” he rumbles.

His tone is enough to keep me still, but the menace in his stare and the pure fury etched into his features hitch my breath.

Mark is a big guy and he’s not backing down. “Mind your own fucking business.”

He lurches forward, only to whirl back when Sal shatters his nose with a sickening crunch. Blood spurts from his face, splattering the wall.

Dean lunges at him. Sal hits him so hard, he flies into one of the men piling out of the bathroom. The man shoves Dean off him, his face tightening when he sees his shirt soaked with Dean’s blood. Instead of attacking Dean, the man takes his anger out on Sal.

“What the fuck, bitch?”

They’re nose to nose like predators squaring off. I don’t see Sal move. I only see the man spin and fall to his knees when Sal locks his wrist. “Try it,” Sal rumbles when a man in a suit reaches into his waistband.

My shoulder blades slam against the wall when I see the very large gun in Sal’s hand pressed against the man’s skull. I don’t dare move, terror steeling me in place. Unlike me, Sal remains in complete control, his composure as cool as an ice-covered lake.

“Oh, shit,” someone says.

From my periphery, a swarm of bouncers crowd the end of the hall, rushing forward. “He didn’t do anything,” I stammer, my knees practically knocking with how hard I’m trembling. Salvatore has a gun, a mammoth pistol he pulled to defend me. “Those men were trying to hurt me.”

The bouncers ignore me as if I never spoke. Two of them haul the man Sal had subdued to his feet, while the others seize more guns from his friends. They were all armed and ready to kill us. It’s all I can do to remain upright.

The lead bouncer, the one who cursed, stomps to Sal’s side. “How you wanna handle it?” he asks.

Sal whispers something I can’t hear, and motions to Dean and Mark. The bouncer nods once, and he and his crew start leading the men out. Sal pulls me to him, shielding me with his body, until every man who threatened us is led away. “Come on,” he says, slipping his arm around my waist. “I’m getting you out of here.”

I don’t argue, succumbing to his magnetic pull with ease, despite how my mind continues to spin from whatever I took and everything that just happened. Still, I’m not so confused that I don’t see how those gathered react to Salvatore’s presence.

Everyone gives him ample space, despite the densely packed dance floor. It’s not simply because of his lethal stride or the stone-cold glare in his eyes. They’re scared of him. Everyone here is terrified of the man holding me carefully against him.

What remains of my common sense implores me to run and to put as much distance between us as possible. He’s dangerous. Those around us shrinking away and avoiding eye contact as we pass is proof enough. Yet, as he pulls me closer when we round the corner, I don’t attempt to lurch free. If anything, my body melds further against his.

His hold is secure, yet oddly gentle, assuring me I’m safe regardless of those cowering in his presence. “I can’t leave without my friends,” I manage, my voice desperate to compete with the blaring music. “I think those men slipped something in our drinks.”

“Your friends have been taken care of.”

“What?” His hand slips lower to clutch my hip when I hesitate.

“Don’t be afraid,” he murmurs, his eyes meeting mine. “The bouncers are rounding them up. An Uber’s been called to take them home.”

“They’re safe? All of them?”

“They are now. Those pricks who were with you are being searched and bounced. Based on how you’re acting, they gave you some ‘E’ hoping for a good time.”

“Oh, God.” I jerk my head in the direction of the VIP section where my friends are being collected. They appear confused and very wasted, but also annoyed. I don’t want them angry, or to worry about me and start to turn in their direction. “I should go with them.”

Sal’s grip pulls me closer, pressing me against his hip. “No. You’re staying with me.” His determined brown eyes drill into mine. “I’ll be damned if I let you go.”

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