Page 32 of Allison

All of this is running over and over in his mind while he slides into the backseat of an SUV with his teammates. The guys are teasing Wallace about his upcoming honeymoon, but Worm isn’t paying attention. He’s too focused on what he wants versus his responsibilities.

“What’s going on?” Mercury questions, settling into the seat beside him. Worm looks over at his friend, shaking his head. “More problems back at home?”

Worm sighs, “No not really. Just have a lot on my mind.” Mercury nods, but doesn’t comment further. Worm is thankful. He isn’t ready to share his attraction to Allison with anyone just yet.

Minutes later, they arrive at the bar to find the women already several drinks in and out on the dance floor. The men find themselves a few tables and settle in.

“When does the stripper arrive?” Virus asks, looking around expectantly.

“There isn’t going to be a stripper, you idiot!” Straw whacks Virus on the back of the head. “We all have a woman to go home to. We aren’t going to do something stupid and end up in the dog house, cut off for a month of Sundays.”

“Speak for yourself, asshole,” Virus complains. “Not all of us have a woman. Isn’t that right, Worm?” Everyone turns his way, awaiting his response. “Or maybe you do?”

“No, we don’t, but that doesn’t mean we need to be man-whores, either.” Worm’s eyes drift over to watch Allison shaking her ass on the dance floor with Emma and Susie Beth. A man Worm has never seen before approaches the dancing women. He dances closer, working himself around to cut Allison off from the others.

Worm is on his feet in an instant but stops himself two steps in. He has no claim on Allison. She can dance with whomever she wants. He starts to turn back when he notices Allison looking around uncomfortably. The man is grinding up on her. She pushes him back shaking her head no, but the guy doesn’t seem to be getting the message. He grabs Allison’s hips, pulling her toward him.

Worm is across the floor in under two seconds. Just when he reaches out to grab the man’s shoulder, the offender flies back. Allison spins landing a kick to his groin, following it up with a palm to his nose. Blood splatters, and the man wails in agony, dropping to his knees. “I said no, asshole!” Allison is breathing heavily, still in a defensive position should the guy attempt to get up.

Admiration for this amazing woman flares in him. Allison turns. Their eyes lock. He isn’t sure how she’s going to take him being there. It’s clear he was coming to her rescue, but she hadn’t needed him. She’d easily defended herself.

Her eyes shimmer with unshed tears. She runs into his arms, burying her head in his chest. He wraps her up tight, turning her away from the asshole, who is still on the floor, crying like a child. “It’s alright, sugar. I’ve got you.”

The man’s friends show up to see what’s going on. Worm is briefly concerned he’ll need to take on the man and his buddies but feels someone at his back. Bull moves up beside him, reaching for Susie Beth, who is staring at the man on the floor like she’s about to beat the shit out of him.

“Easy, tiger,” Bull rumbles, pulling Susie Beth into his arms. Wallace is there, then, pulling Emma toward him, murmuring something to her.

“What the hell is going on?” A large man walks up to the group. He appears to be a bouncer for the bar.

“The dipshit on the floor didn’t want to take no for an answer,” Worm volunteers. “The lady had to get her point across physically since he wasn’t understanding verbally.”

Allison’s attacker is curled up on his side in the middle of the dance floor. One of his buddies bends down, grabbing him under the arms to haul him to his feet. “Dammit, Jacob,” the man grumbles. “I’m sick of you getting into fights when we go out. You can’t hold your liquor. You can’t fight, and you’re shit with the ladies. A fucking girl just beat your ass!”

The friend turns toward Worm and Allison. “I apologize for him. I’m getting him out of here.” Allison lifts her head, giving the man a nod. “Again, I’m sorry. Great job at kicking his ass by the way.” The friend winks, with a grin, before helping his crippled, drunk friend toward the exit.

“Okay, let’s break this up folks!” the bouncer declares. “There’s nothing to see here.” Worm turns, his arm still around Allison’s waist and leads her back to where the rest of their friends are gathered.

“You okay?” His tone is colored with concern. Allison nods, leaning into him. He doesn’t encourage her to sit down, yet. He needs to hold her a little longer, to calm his own racing heart. “You were fucking amazing, sugar. That asshole didn’t know what hit him.”

Allison laughs, nodding. “Thank you for coming to save the day, though.” Intense relief hits him that she isn’t upset with him for wanting to be her protector.

22

ALLISON

Allison is still shaking inside and really hopes she is doing a good job at hiding it. That creep had been all over her like a fucking octopus. She’d told him no, repeatedly, but he just wasn’t getting the message. She’d been so afraid when he’d grabbed her from behind. Allison has been fortunate to never have been attacked, but she remembers vividly Emma’s rape and how she’d looked and been afterward. It has been a big reason she’s worked so hard to uncover the sex trafficking ring.

Allison had had an intense fear of being attacked, like Emma, when she’d returned home to San Diego after seeing Emma all those years ago. Her boyfriend, at the time, hadn’t cared. Instead, he’d done a real number on her, insisting they go out to the seediest of clubs. Never once had he defended her when she’d been hit on by some sleaze ball. He’d even seemed to enjoy seeing other men grope her. Even while knowing what had happened to Emma and how it had made Allison feel.

Russell coming to her defense, even though she hadn’t needed him, has shattered the cage she’s kept her heart hidden in the last few years.

She turns, looking up at him in adoration. “It was nice to have someone there, to know I wasn’t alone if he didn’t stay down.”

“I would have beaten his ass if he’d tried to touch you again,” Russell seethes. Allison’s adoration for him grows at his willingness to defend her. “I’m glad you can protect yourself, but I really wanted to teach that guy a lesson.”

“Me too!” Susie Beth chimes in. “You are a badass, Allison. I want to be you when I grow up!” Everyone gathered around them laughs, knowing the women are basically the same age.

“I seriously doubt you want to be me,” Allison chuckles, trying to keep her tone light. “I’m a workaholic with zero social life. You are much too pretty to be on your own all the time.” Allison’s mouth snaps shut. She hadn’t intended to be that honest about herself.

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