Page 139 of Tempting Little Thief

“Fuck you,” he seethes.

I toss his ass and he stumbles, bumping into a waiter, the tray crashing to the floor.

Rocklin gasps, people look, and this dumb fuck’s ego is burning. He comes back, cheeks red with rage, but I meet his one step forward with two of my own.

“I fucking dare you, pretty boy.”

“What the hell is going on here?”

Rocklin jerks and Oliver stands taller, masking his expression.

My eyes are glued to his, muscles tense to the fucking max, rage blistering.

Oliver starts to smile, a perfect pretty-boy smile and he smooths his arms down his jacket. “Just a misunderstanding, sir. All is good now.” His grin is smug, triumphant, as if his savior just stepped up with a golden ticket to the prize that is not up for grabs. “Rocklin and I are about to have that dance she promised me.”

“Fuck if you are.”

Rocklin might have squeaked, can’t say for sure, but I don’t miss the way Oliver’s eyes widen, flicking from me to the shadow at my side. He laughs, and he’s the only fucking one.

That shadow shifts, and suddenly, Rayo Revenaw is in front of me, blocking Oliver from my line of sight, so I lift my gaze to the man my girl never wanted me to meet.

His dark eyes are sharp, expression a mask of indifference, but I see the demand there. He wants me to submit, to step back, to stand down. He wants to know who the fuck I am, why I’m here, and why I’m standing so close to his daughter.

Most of the people in the room are back to their own little worlds, the spilled tray a momentary issue, a sound shock having snagged their attention, and not that I give a shit either way, but we lost it when the pretty boy started laughing.

When I say nothing, Rayo’s eyes narrow and he shifts his stance, chin lifting a bit as he tips his head.

“Oliver,” he speaks slowly. “Why don’t you and Rocklin go on and have that dance.”

“Dad—”

“Go,” he cuts her off.

After two more seconds of hesitation, Rocklin steps around her father, eyes tight and flicking toward me as she moves toward another man.

Oliver reaches out.

Rocklin offers her hand.

I grab her around the fucking wrist, and then Rayo Revenaw is in my face, four guards fanning out around him.

“Get your hand off my daughter before I show you what happens to people who touch things that don’t belong to them.”

“If he puts one hand on her, I’ll be giving a demonstration of my own and I won’t wait until no one’s watching to do it.”

Small gasps fill the air, but the only people who can hear us through the wall his men made are Rocklin and her girls, who slowly shift this way.

The man’s nostrils flare, the dude on his left taking a step forward, but Rayo gives the smallest shake of his head and steps closer.

“Your name, boy. Now.” His tone is low, lethal, and promises pain, but that’s alright.

Dealt with plenty of that in my lifetime.

Bring it on.

He steps closer.

I stand tall.

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