Page 7 of No Limits

“Everything okay, man? Saw what looked like an issue over here and overheard a bit.”

“It is now. Thanks, Brad.”

“I’m bleeding! You fucking asshole! I’m going to sue your ass!” The guy on the ground spits blood and yells in our direction.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.” Lochlyn puts a hand out toward Brad to stop what looks like another attack.

Before stepping away, he turns around and takes my biceps in his hands, pulling me toward him and kissing the top of my head. He ducks so my eyes meet his. “I’ll be right back. Stay with Brad.”

I nod briefly and he walks away, helping the guy off the ground and walking him toward the bar. This is where Lochlyn shines. He’s going to use his charisma, and some money, to talk this guy out of actually suing the band.

“Lochlyn’s a good guy. And he can’t stop talking about you. I’m Brad, by the way.” He extends a hand toward me.

“Shay.” I place my hand in his but keep my eyes on Lochlyn. He’s my center of gravity.

“You’ve got a great man. And he loves you very much.”

“I know he does.”

Lochlyn returns with a smile on his face. “All good. I was able to convince him suing isn’t in his best interest.”

“We appreciate it! Need anything?”

“No, I think we’re good.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Brad leaves with a nod of his head.

“You okay, baby girl?” Lochlyn wraps his arms around me and tugs me against him.

“I am now,” I say into his chest.

“Let’s go home. Yeah?”

I nod against him.

Taking my hand firmly in his, he leads me out of the busy bar and to the car, where he pushes me up against it and tilts my chin up, brushing his lips across mine. “I love you?”

“I love you too. Take me home?”

“Of course, baby girl.”

Once in the car, I let out a shaky breath. That guy freaked me out more than I was willing to admit then…maybe even now.

Lochlyn can tell as soon as he gets in. “Hey, I’d never let anything happen to you.”

“You were gone for a really long time.”

“I’m sorry, baby.” He runs a hand over my head and down my hair. “I didn’t mean for it to be that long.”

“It’s okay. I’ll be okay. Let’s just go home.”

He nods solemnly and starts driving, but the whole hour-long car ride is spent in near silence, and every few minutes, Lochlyn looks over at me to make sure I’m okay.

It’s not that I’m not all right. It’s more that, for the first time ever, I didn’t feel completely safe under Lochlyn’s care. He was nowhere to be found.

“Lochlyn, please stop. I’ll be fine. Maybe it’s just better if I don’t go with you next time. Okay?”

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