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His hands go up in surrender. “Sorry—” his voice is all muffled fear.

“I didn’t fucking hear you,” Trino growls.

“I’m sorry.”

“C’mon.” He jerks Reggie by the collar and escorts him out of the private area.

All the curtains are open now, wide-owl eyes on us.

“This man fucked around and found out,” Trino says on his way out. “Let that be a lesson to everyone. If the girl says no, it meansno.”

So much for blending in.

I cover my face as the three of us exit.

“Act natural,” Trino says as we exit to a packed bar. He eases up on Reggie’s collar and takes him to another room farther to the left, away from the commotion. I’m following like a little bunny.

I’ve never felt so cared for in my life. To think, last night he was throwing me to the wolves. It was bullshit, or… he didn’t know how he really felt. Don’t get me wrong – I’m still mad at him for saying that stuff, but this is a good start in the right direction. We’re both learning how to navigate the insane road we’ve been thrust on thanks to our fathers.

We enter the private office, the three of us, and I’m learning how to breathe again. You’d think I’d be used to altercations after watching Groundhog get strangled out, or the car chase, or—

“Sit down,” he tells Reggie forcefully.

“I’m going to sue the pants off this club.” Reggie grits his teeth. “I don’t carewhoyou are. The world doesn’t bend to thugs anymore—”

Trino takes a step closer, and the man cowers.

I fold my arms. “We’ll countersue you on grounds of abuse. The establishment will open up a case of solicited prostitution on your end, and I’ll open a personal case of sexual abuse under statute two C, fourteen, two of the New Jersey code. My understanding is the judges are very partial to abused women. We have video evidence as proof if you really want to try us.”

“What the fuck?” Reggie’s eyes widen as he looks back and forth between us. “Are you hiring lawyers as your fucking strippers?”

Trino smirks at that.

“Look, Reggie. You seem like a decent guy who’s just had too much to drink,” I say, placing one hand on Trino’s shoulder to calm the raging bull. “How about we go back to my offer of buying you that drink?”

Reggie lifts his shirt to show a pulsing red mark that’s already turning all sorts of colors.

I wince. “Okay, fine.Twodrinks.”

Trino’s cackling now that I’m out of Reggie’s orbit. He likes how I handle myself; I can tell by the glint in his eye. Better than beating your new customers to a pulp, big guy.Jeez.

One look at my fingers grasping my arms tells me I’m still shaking from him barging in.

“My woman is being nice to you despite your bullshit, yuppie. I’d take your guardian angel up on her offer, before I change my mind.”

Reggie’s gaze falls to the floor.

“You file a police report, I’ll know. You try any bullshit with your yuppie friends, I’ll find out.” Trino walks up to him and puts a hand on his shoulder. “You scanned your license,remember? Reginald Glisper. I don’t know what the fuck kind of name that is, but if I find myself annoyed by you again, I’ll find out.”

Goddamn he’s terrifying.

“We clear?”

Reggie nods bashfully.

“Okay, boys, let’s break it up.” I ease my lawyer tone now that Reggie’s sufficiently mentally beat up, and offer my hand for him to take. I’m looking up at Trino, who gives me a slight nod of approval, then I whisk him out of the office.

“That was unfortunate, Reggie. I feel terrible. But you really shouldn’t have been pushy in there.”