Page 88 of Under Their Protection

“It’s okay. I understand why you are hesitant. I know you still blame yourself for the shooting so I am sure it is a lot tohandle,” I say sweetly.

“That is likely the most traumatic thing that I have personally witnessed so it was a lot for me to process,” Theo admits.

“It’s the most traumatic thing that’s ever happened to me. I will be the first to admit that going in this club is about to trigger the fuck out of me, but I am realizing that sometimes we just have to work through that shit rather than avoiding it,” I say.

“Is that your way of telling me to get over it?” Theo asks with a smile.

“Will that work or do I need to call you a submissive again?” I ask. “I can always ramp it up and call myself fat or something.”

“You are such a brat,” he says with a smirk before kissing me deeply. I loop my arms around his neck and he pulls me off of the car to stand.

We all go inside and sign in at the front. Since the shooting, Emma has required everyone to sign in prior to going onto the floor to avoid people going undetected. The club was shut for a week to clean. Emma was afraid that the incident would cause people to not come in but it did the exact opposite shockingly.

I haven’t been here since the shooting so I am nervous, to say the least. I hesitate before stepping past security when Quinn comes around the corner and sees me.

“Anika!” he says happily as he wraps me in a giant teddy bear hug and lifts me off the ground. I giggle at how easily he just scooped me up.

“Hi, Quinn,” I say sweetly as he sets me down.

“How are you? It’s so good to see you, sweetie,” he says witha smile.

“I’m way better than the last time I was here,” I laugh.

“I wish I hadn’t left early that day. I would have happily snapped that little fucker in half for you,” he says seriously.

“I know you would have,” I laugh. “Theo took care of him perfectly.” I nudge Theo and he smiles at me.

“Right between the eyes, from what I heard. Good for you, man. I’m glad you were there. He easily could have shot her again if you hadn’t been there,” Quinn says, unaware that he is saying all the right things right now. “Anika, I hear you tried to basically sacrifice yourself.”

“Yeah, Anika,” Max grins at me.

“I did, but it kind of worked out for me. I got as many people away as I could, I kept him from shooting anyone in the head, and I survived,” I say.

“Well… You get a pass. You do that shit again and I’ll punish you myself, understood?” Quinn says seriously, making Rowan, Max, and Theo laugh.

“Very much understood,” I say as I go to my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “You scare me, so I will heed your advice and start using them as human shields.”

“Why do I scare you?” Quinn asks. I give him a deadpan expression and he laughs.

“I saw yours and Mia’s scene,” I say. “I know better.”

“Poor Mia,” Max laughs.

“Well… Behave and you won't have anything to worry about,” he laughs.

“I think I found something to threaten you with,” Max grins.

“I think I am suddenly cured of my attitude problem,” I say.

“Somehow, I doubt that,” Theo laughs.

“So we shouldn’t tell him you called yourself ugly today?” Rowan asks.

“Oh you did, did you?” Quinn asks, stepping closer to me.

“Me? Never,” I laugh and back away.

“You’re not lying, are you? I don’t like being lied to,” he says in a tone that sends shivers down my spine.

---