Page 9 of Unruly Defender
“Sit down, VP,” Rush barks.
Yates places a hand in the middle of the table and leans into Rush’s space.“You know exactly how I feel about your insane intentions to drag this club down just because you like to powder your nose.You’re not getting my vote.Not now, not ever.And no amount of beer is going to change that fucking fact.”
Yates pushes away from the table and stalks straight to Gracy.
Utter fury flows through my veins when he places his hand on her upper arm and guides her to the back.My heart is slamming against my rib cage, but I need to stay put for a moment.I can’t draw any attention to myself, and I would if I followed them right away.
“He’s never going to be on our side, Pres,” Maxton says to Rush.
“Then we strip him of his rank or make sure he has an unfortunate accident.It won’t be long now, things are already set in motion, it’s only a matter of days,” Rush states, satisfaction evident in his voice.
The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end due to this asshole’s chuckle.They start to sip their beers and fall into small talk.Time to head out back where Gracy went with Yates.A few minutes have passed and I could say the Yates I used to know wouldn’t hurt a woman, but after what I went through, I doubt everyone...even Yates.
Yates and I go way back.We were both prospects around the same time.He’s the VP because I needed someone I could trust when I became the president.We were working side by side together in my father’s company before things went to shit and he continued running it when I was on the inside.My mother said he did very well, that’s the reason I’m reaching out to him first.
And I do have the feeling I can trust him completely.His reaction just now and what he said to Rush also suggests he’s solid.Stalking into the back, I take a turn and check left and right but I don’t see either of them.Panic flows through me.I never should have asked Gracy to help me.What if something happened to her?I’d never forgive myself.Fuck.Ma would be pissed too.
“I said you should stay put,” Gracy’s says, her voice an angry snap coming from further down the hall on my left.
“And I said I’m done playing games.Now, you tell me right this fucking instant what you know or you and I will have a problem.”Yates has Gracy caged between the wall and his body, his hands on each side of her head.
I see red and jog over.I grab him by the shoulder and push him back.“Leave her the fuck alone,” I growl in his face.
Yates is about to go into defense mode, but his eyes narrow and he takes me in as I have my forearm pressed against his neck.
“Pres?”he asks in disbelief.
“VP,” I grunt and step aside.I glance back at Gracy.“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.”She gives me a timid smile.“Are you?”
I have to swallow back a chuckle, but I hear Yates snicker and ask, “Did the little curvy one really ask if you’re okay?Kinda makes me wonder what she’d do if you weren’t...would she kick my ass?”
“Probably,” Gracy mutters.
Both me and Yates now laugh as Gracy puts her tiny fists on her hips and starts to glare at us.
“Calm down,” I tell her, holding both my hands palms up but all it seems to do is throw oil on the fire because now she’s narrowing her eyes at me.
“Come on, we’re taking you home so Yates and I can have a chat,” I suggest.
Gracy leans forward and asks in a low voice, “Are you sure?”
Yates leans in too and adds in a fake whisper, “If he wasn’t, what are you going to do about it?”
I swear I blink and Yates grunts as he doubles over.
“Did you just gut punch my VP?”I ask in awe.
“I wasn’t expecting it, dammit.I didn’t have the damn time to prepare and she knocked the wind right out of me.What the hell are you?Fuckin’ superwoman or something?”
“Nope.I’m just Gracy, his friend.”She turns to me and asks, “How about him?Is he the kind of friend you’d show garters to?”
“What garters?Why is she mentioning garters?”Yates grunts as he’s rubbing his stomach.
“Come on, Gracy, it’s time to take you home.”I lean in next to her ear and whisper, “Yeah he is, but like hell are you ever going to show anyone else but me those garters, understood?”
Gracy snorts, “You’re not the boss of me.”
