Page 69 of Savage Reign

I couldn’t even get satisfaction from that because the other woman had taken it upon herself to sit down inmyseat and run her pointed fingernail down Maverick’s chest. My gaze turned as red as the polish on her nails, and I quickly walked over to them. I tapped her shoulder just as Maverick said, “You better leave now before you annoy me enough to ban you.”

She ignored my finger tap and let out a high-pitched giggle, as if he had been joking. Maverick’s eyes moved up and met mine, softening marginally, just as I tapped on the woman’s shoulder again, harder this time.

“What?” she asked, turning around to glare at me.

“You're in my seat.”

She flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Well, perhaps you should have guarded it better.”

“Is this bitch serious?” Killian asked, his eyes on Silas. I didn’t look away from the woman. She clearly heard what Killian said because her expression faltered.

I opened my mouth to tell her to leave again, but Maverick beat me to it.

“She doesn’t need to guard what clearly belongs to her already. I’ve asked politely once. Now you don’t get another chance.” Maverick signaled to someone behind me. Silas gently directed me out of the way as two huge men stopped by.

“They are banned for life,” Killian said just as the men escorted the women out.

“Yes, sir,” one of the men answered. I barely looked their way when they walked past me.

Silas pulled me down onto his lap and pressed his lips against my cheek. “Are you okay, angel?”

I didn’t answer him. I just looked down at my lap. Fucking hell, but I was stronger than this, wasn’t I? There had been a point in my life when I could have handled this situation, any situation, and not felt like I was breaking apart. So why was I feeling so…vulnerableright now?

“Angel, look at me,” Silas softly commanded. I turned my face to him, trying to imitate Maverick and look as if I wasn’t feeling anything.

I didn't know how much I succeeded because he was frowning.

I looked away from him and out to the restaurant. We were garnering some attention from the nearby patrons. I was sure it didn’t help that I was sitting on Silas’ lap. I got off him and took a step back when it looked like he was going to grab me.

“I don’t want to eat here,” I said softly.

“Baby, don’t let other people ruin our night,” Silas said, standing up. I noticed more people looking our way. One man in particular caught my attention. I didn’t know why that was. He was at the table furthest away from us. He was also by himself. Perhaps it wasbecausehe was by himself when everyone here was with at least one other person.

And the man was staring intently atmeand no one else. It was like there was something he wanted to say to me. I took half a step back before I thought about it and turned back to the brothers. Both Maverick and Silas were looking at me, but Killian had his gaze directed toward the man. His expression thundered, and he stood up. I flinched at the sudden movement.

“Killian,” Silas said, a warning in his voice.

Killian shook his head. “We’re leaving.”

Silas looked like he wanted to say something to that, but Maverick stopped him with a small noise in the back of his throat, his eyes already on the man.

Finally, Silas turned to the man—the same expression on Killian’s face was now mirrored on his own. They knew the man, I realized.

Silas looked at me, his eyes softening somewhat. “Alright, baby. Let's go somewhere else to eat.”

His voice was so soft I could feel my lips trembling. He frowned a little at me before wrapping his arm around my shoulders and hauling me into his arms. We walked out of there just as Gila came by with the food.

“We’ll take care of this,” Maverick said smoothly. “Why don’t you take Mila to the car?”

But Silas was already leading me out. I didn’t look around at anyone else in the restaurant. I burrowed closer to his side, my cheek touching the fabric of his shirt as Silas tightened his arms around me.

18

KILLIAN

My fists clenchedas Maverick spoke quietly with our waitress. He was probably tipping her out and telling her to practice some discretion.

We didn’t give a fuck what people thought, but people were nasty as fucking shits, and if some of their nasty words or rumors got to Mila and hurt her… yeah, I would fucking burn the world down.

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