Page 50 of Spades

She may never want to see me again, but damn it, I promised her a ride home. And for all his faults, Maddox Hathaway follows up on his promises.

I stand and walk across the club, swinging open the Green Door to the mirrored staircase. I ascend and knock three times.

Chet opens it, his eyes wide. “I thought I might be seeing you soon, Mr. Hathaway.”

I swallow. “Did Alissa come through here?”

He nods slowly. “Yes. Miss Wonder just passed through. You two didn’t have a spat, did you?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but yes, we did.”

Chet’s grin has been pasted on his face since he saw me, but the edges of it waver slightly—maybe his version of a frown.

He lifts his eyebrows. “In a false quarrel there is no true valor.”

I wrinkle my forehead. “What the hell are you talking about?”

He gazes toward the door. “I don’t think Miss Wonder will have gone far. You should go after her.”

“Right. Thanks, Chet.”

I open the door, look out the alleyway. The coast is clear, but a bone-chilling shriek pierces the air.

“Let go of me!”

Alissa’s voice.

Fuck.

Every muscle in my body coils like a loaded spring. I bolt toward her voice, my pulse hammering in my ears. I round the corner and skid to a stop in the alley behind the building.

Alissa.

She’s trapped in a circle of three men, their matching leather jackets stamped with crude nicknames. Their stances are relaxed, too confident, like they’ve already decided how this ends.

They have no idea what’s coming. The man holding her arm in his grip has the word “Mouse” written on the back of his jacket. To his right is a guy marked “Dodo,” and to his left is “Eaglet.”

What the hell? Were all the good nicknames taken?

But I don’t have time to think about that. I race in front of Alissa and swing my fist down on Mouse’s arm, forcing him to let go. “Leave her alone, asshole.”

Mouse cocks his head, narrowing his eyes. “Nice hat.”

“Fuck off,” I say through gritted teeth.

“You’re dead,” Mouse growls.

Dodo and Eaglet seize my arms, but I jam my foot into Dodo’s crotch. A strangled scream rips from his throat as he doubles over. I wrench my arm free from Eaglet’s grasp and then grabhiswrist, twisting it behind him and then kneeing him in his chest.

Mouse moves in like a shadow, his arms locking around me in a crushing bear hug. I slam my elbow into his side—once, twice, three times—but he doesn’t budge. His grip tightens, a vise squeezing the breath from my lungs. Desperation fuels me. I plant my feet against the brick wall of the building, every muscle coiling as I shove off with everything I have. The momentum sends us lurching backward. Mouse falls on his ass.

I scramble off him, turn around, and punch him.

God, it feels fucking good.

Once. Twice. Three times. Once more.

Blood trickles out of his nose and he closes his eyes. I think he’s out, but I don’t have time to make sure because Dodo is advancing on me, fury in his eyes. He throws a punch, but I block it easily. He lands a second one to my gut, but I ignore it and take advantage of the closeness of our bodies and sweep his legs. He falls to his knees, and I kick him in the chin, knocking him back.

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