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"This isn't living, warden. If you can keep her safe, then keep her safe. Don't keep her locked up under your thumb." Tiffany said calmly.

"I'm literally standing right here. Don't talk about me like I'm not." I bristled. It was becoming tiring to have everyone around me acting like I was so helpless.

"Listen, I–"

"I can take them, Rich," Craig interjected, trading places with Az after he'd taken his shot. A muscle in Rich's jaw tensed, and I suddenly thought he had to have broken teeth from how often he seemed to be that way these days.

"Are you going to keep an eye on both of them if something goes down like last time?"

"I've doubled our security cameras, and Az doubled the number of guards at the club. I don't have any other runs to make tonight. I don't mind."

"See, at least one of you wants to balls up about being Tory's protectionwithoutbeing a warden. You're a good egg. I like this one Tory, let's keep him." Tiff laughed, sidling up next to Craig and rubbing his head gently. "For luck."

I couldn't help but laugh at the look on Craig's face as she walked back to stand by me, cackling. Rich sighed, shaking his head as he moved to stand caddy corner to us by the bar.

"Fine. Craig, we're going to talk about this later. For now, Az goes with you. I have a meeting."

A scraping sound drew my attention as Rich spoke. I looked toward the billiards table in time to see the tail end of Az attempting his shot while staring daggers into Rich's back. The cue ball went sailing across the room, heading straight for me. I stepped back, trying to figure out how to move but not getting anywhere fast enough. Rich's hand shot out and caught the ball in front of my stunned face.

"You're a magnet for trouble, Princess. You go nowhere that's not neutral ground without at least two of us."

The sun was setting as we arrived at Temptat!on a couple of hours later. Craig and Az had a tense set to their shoulders as we pulled up by the entrance. The security at the entry had definitely increased since the last time I'd seen it. Two men stoodby the door, and one walked the front of the club where the line to get in had formed.

"Stay." Az clipped as he and Craig climbed out of Craig's Mercedes.

"What does he think we are? Dogs?" Tiffany said and moved to open the door. Az shut it and glared at her through the window as a man dressed in all black with a bullet-proof vest that read 'security' across the chest strode up and exchanged words.

Craig winked at me where he stood by my door and held up a finger to indicate giving them a minute. I smiled at him and nodded, settling against the seat to wait. After a couple of seconds, the boys opened our doors almost simultaneously. Craig held out his hand to help me out of his sedan.

Craig slid his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close to his side. I blinked, startled for a moment.

"Stay close to me until we get inside, okay?" He said in a low voice.

I nodded, and we fell into step with each other. I wasn't entirely uncomfortable with his arm around me, and he gave me a reassuring squeeze. Despite his easy smile and tone, there was a tense set to his jaw, and he kept his eyes on the crowd as we moved. The waiting line jeered when we approached; the doormen nodded in acknowledgment as they stepped aside.

Inside was a pair of men patting down entrants, checking coats and weapons before allowing them to pass. The casual way they'd tag and store weapons, giving a check ticket like a purse or jacket, was oddly comforting. I should have been more alarmed that it didn't seem as unusual as it should have.

The boys bee-lined us for their private booth, and Craig only released me once we were safely by the dais of their table. I slid into the semi-circular booth next to Craig. Tiffany set her purse down and turned back toward the main dance floor.

"Where do you think you're going?" Az snapped.

"We're in a bar, and we're lacking drinks. Someone has to rectify that. I wouldn't expect you'd know about that, considering it's a little too reminiscent of having fun." She huffed as if she were explaining something so obvious.

Az rolled his eyes and waved down a nearby waitress. "She'll bring whatever you want, but you two are staying put." He said, slipping his wallet out of his pocket and placing a black credit card on the waitress's tray.

"We need a round of Four Roses Select shots for the table." Tiff practically yelled to be heard over the music. "And keep them coming."

The waitress hurried off. I settled into the seat, enjoying the music and being out of the manor for something besides working. Fortunately, we didn't have to wait long before the waitress returned, balancing a tray with eight shots.

"Brought you double to get started! Wave one of us down when you're ready!" She yelled, sitting two shots in front of each of us. Tiffany reached for the ones in front of the guys, but Craig grabbed two back and put them in front of Az.

"We're working, man. I'm not–"

"Have some fun, Az, before you have a coronary." Az gave him a look like he wanted to argue. "Look, the place is crawling with our guys. Both on and off duty. Besides, I've got this."

"Yeah! Don't be such an Az-hole all the time. Maybe a shot will remove the stick jammed up your ass." Tiff yelled, shooting back one of her shots. She slid one of Craig's pilfered shots over to me. "You too, miss! If I'm not holding your hair back in twenty minutes, I'm not doing my job!" She held up her next shot to me in a cheers motion. I grinned, and we clinked our glasses together and took our drink.

About twenty minutes later, a neat little pyramid of shot glasses was stacked in the center of the table, and Tiffany wastalking a mile a minute. I wasn't sure what it was about since I'd tuned her out when she started slurring her words. Craig and Az sat chatting, and for the first time since I'd known the man, he looked relaxed. It was startling how good it looked on him.