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“Whoa, girl, you tell him,” Jase hooted.

“Look on his face, he’s wishing they were somewhere private,” someone else said.

“Yeah, but do ya think he wants to kiss her or spank her?”

“We’re going,” he said quietly, giving her a firm look. “Like it or not, I am in charge of you, Immy. And this place isn’t safe.”

Another loud gasp. Boy, this girl could do drama.

“Not safe? Tell me how it isn’t safe.” She waved a hand around. “No one here would hurt me. Right, guys?”

“Right, Immy,” someone yelled out. He glanced over to find someone cleaning their nails with a huge knife.

“You tell him!” someone else called out.

“Of course this place is safe,” Jase said. “Why would we hurt Immy? She’s our little doll.”

“Aww, thanks, Jase. You’re always so sweet to me. See, Tobias? Everyone here is really lovely. Let’s get a drink.”

As she turned her back on him, Jase scowled at Tobias. He pointed to his own eyes, then at Tobias. And he followed up that threat with a slice of his hand across his throat.

Right. Well. That was crystal clear.

What Jase didn’t realize was that Tobias didn’t scare. He never hesitated to do what needed to be done. And if he had to take Jase out to protect Immy . . . then that’s exactly what he’d do.

Without any regrets.

Jase watched him, then nodded slowly as though he could hear his thoughts. And approved.

Tobias caught up to Immy, who had once again wandered off.

This girl.

He wrapped an arm around her as she went to climb onto a stool. Then, picking her up, he carried her over to a table at the back of the room.

“Hey!” she cried. “What are you doing?”

As soon as he set her down on a chair, she attempted to get back up. Reaching out, he placed a hand on her thigh.

“Stay here or we go home.”

“But I like to sit at the bar.”

“Here or home.”

She turned to stare at him. Obviously, whatever she saw in his face had her settling back into her chair. “Fine. Guess we’re sitting here. Doesn’t have the same ambience, though. And, truthfully, I don’t know how clean these chairs are.”

He shot her an incredulous look. The whole bar was dirty, of course the chairs were as well.

“I didn’t even have a chance to see if my friend, Dev, is here.” She glanced around. “Doesn’t look like it. You know, you’re being very grouchy.”

“Am I?” he gritted out.

“Yes. And bossy.”

“That so?”

“Kind of domineering. Anyone ever tell you that you can be grouchy, bossy, and domineering?”