Page 54 of Liberate Us

Jackie frowned, sticking a smoke between his lips. “Careful,Red.” He lit it up, taking a deep inhale. “Aaron isn’t around to protect youanymore,” he said, letting the smoke out through his nose.

“He may not be but I am.” Sammy stepped up beside me.

Jackie chuckled. “And what are you going to do exactly, Sam?”

When Sam took a step toward him, I moved in front of him.“Nothing. He’s not going to do anything.” I looked up at him. “Isn’t thatright?”

Sammy’s jaw clenched.

The guys behind me, laughed. That sound sent every nerve in mybody on edge. I glared at them, wishing Tiny would make an appearance. Butknowing that I would have to go through these guys first to actually get tohim, we had to play nice.

“Guess we know who calls the shots now, don’t we?” Jackie askedfrom behind me.

Sammy smirked, kissed my forehead, and stepped around me.

I knew before even having to look, what Sammy was about to do.As I turned, his fist landed against Jackie’s jaw. The impact caught him offguard, forcing him back a couple of steps. He rubbed his jaw, his eyesnarrowing into slits before he charged for Sam.

Sammy only chuckled and sidestepped to the right. “You know, forsomeone who likes to think they’re in control, you really aren’t. You’re aworthless piece of shit for the things you say about Amber and probably everyother woman you’ve been with.”

Before Jackie could close in on Sammy, I rushed between them.“Stop.” I lifted my hand. “I don’t want any trouble. I just want to see Tiny.That’s it.”

Jackie glared down at me. “You’re lucky he’s here, Princess.”

“You don’t scare me.” I looked around him at the two other guyswho did shit all and only just stood there. “None of you do. You are notAaron.” I took a step back, a sense of relief washing over me as the darkshadow that belonged to Sam, loomed over me.

“Where’s your president?” Sammy asked, hooking his fingers intothe ass pocket of my jeans.

“He’s around,” another deep voice said.

I peered around Jackie, finding Kellan Rose or Tiny, comingtoward us. He had become bigger than the last time I saw him. He filled out ablack long-sleeved shirt that was tucked into dark blue jeans, his torso wideand strong. Every part of him that wasn’t covered by clothing, was lined withtattoos, including his bald head. Minus his face, there was some form of ink onhis skin.

Before any of the guys could stop me, especially Sammy, I wentto walk away from them when his grip on my pocket stopped me. I looked up athim, raising an eyebrow. “Let me go.”

Sam peered over my head, looked back down at me, and winked.

That wink meant more than his words ever could. He tugged on mypocket, pulling me back against him and wrapping his other hand around mythroat. Before I could shove away from him, because I didn’t want to cause ascene, his mouth landed down hard on mine. The impact made me gasp, giving Samthe only invitation he needed as he dipped his tongue into my mouth. Thatgentle touch pulled a moan from the back of my throat. A moan that should havebeen for his ears only, but I was learning quickly that he liked causing theselittle noises to leave me. Especially in front of a guy I used to sleep with.

Sam bit my bottom lip, swiped his tongue along the spot to sooththe pain, and lifted his head. “Okay, now you can go,” he said, releasing mealtogether.

I shivered, walked away from him, and made my way toward Tiny.

“Did you really have to do that?” Tiny asked him as bodiesshifted around us.

“Just stating facts, my man.” Sam pulled a pack of smokes out ofhis leather cut and lit one up before holding the pack out to Jackie. “Wantone?”

Jackie scowled and stomped away with the other two guysfollowing behind him.

“You still causing trouble, babe?” Tiny asked, his voice low soonly I could hear him.

“It wasn’t intentional,” I murmured, staring up at the only guyI trusted in this club. And one I definitely hadn’t slept with. While Aaronspent most nights with other women, Tiny would let me cry on his shoulder, takecare of me while I got drunk, or bring me to his gym and help me work it out.He never once hit on me and I often wondered why when the other guys did. Theynever cared that I was taken.

“It never is.” Tiny held out his arms. “Now, give me a hugbefore your man cuts off my face and wears it as a mask.”

I grimaced. “Well, that’s an image.” I closed the distancebetween us and wrapped my arms around his hard middle. “And he’s not my man.”But I did like the sound of that though.

“Sure.” Tiny returned the embrace, curling his big body aroundmine. “From where I’m standing and with how he’s looking at you and how he’slooking at me for touching you, he’s definitely your man, Red.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter.” I pulled away from him. “I need totalk to you about Will.”

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