Page 27 of Avenging Azalea (California Made Men #2)

Our girl’s night was quickly going sideways. And who the heck named their kid Chet? That made me think of cereal.

Chet looked at me, and I shook my head.

“Margarita,” he yelled before lifting his arm into the air to summon a group of guys over near the bar.

Oh crap.

Large groups like this made me nervous. I wanted to grab Steph’s hand and drag her away, but she was all too happy to smile and flirt with more than one of them.

I covered my drink and stepped around to the other side of the standing table.

It was packed in here tonight, and that always put me on edge. Too many places and people to watch.

One of the guys moved to stand next to me.

“Hey, what’s your name? I’m Jeff,” he said, and I bit my lip, trying not to laugh. There was a trend going around with two dogs, and the second one was named Jeff. I always laughed when they hit my feed.

“Fawn,” I said, pulling my drink in like a miniature shield.

He reached out and tucked my hair behind my ear.

“Such a beautiful name. It matches the rest of you.”

Ick, ick, ick…please just go away.

“Thanks, but I’m not interested.”

Steph laughed as Chet picked her up and carried her to the dance floor, leaving me alone with Jeff and the two other guys who had stayed behind. I sucked in a deep breath as they shifted closer, and my eyes darted around the room, looking for bouncers. A hand caressed my back, and I tensed.

“Easy, we’re just looking to have a little fun,” one of the new guys said, but when I tried to back up, he wouldn’t let me.

“Don’t touch me,” I ordered, glaring at him. New guy looked like he was going to argue but removed his hand.

“Come on, guys, at least her friend looks like fun,” Jeff said, and they walked away.

Not that I wanted them to stay, but just like that, I’d been downgraded because I didn’t want to be groped or fucked in a club. That was as far as their thinking went. This was why I hated these places.

Our night out with the football players to take pictures for social media had been a completely different experience.

The team had been respectful. Bars like this were filled with predators of all kinds.

You could see it in their eyes if you paid attention.

I knew exactly what vile men, like these obnoxious guys, expected from me.

Staying by the table, I sipped my drink and kept my eyes on Steph in case she needed me.

Five minutes turned into ten and then twenty.

I found myself looking around to see if I knew anyone else in this club.

Not that I expected it to happen. This place was not our normal haunt, but Steph had heard amazing reviews, and the music was banging. Other than that…I wasn’t impressed.

Finishing off my mocktail, I pushed it away. Much to my dismay, Steph had procured fake IDs for us last year. I didn’t touch any alcohol, but she wanted to get into the ‘better’ clubs.

Sighing, I lifted my eyes to the dance floor but didn’t see Steph right away.

My panic increased as I scanned the crowd.

Stepping away from the table, I marched into the middle of the dance floor and looked for her silver dress.

She wasn’t here. Standing on my toes, I checked the VIP area and the lounge… nothing.

Eyes darting around, I caught sight of the guy who had touched my back. He looked over his shoulder before disappearing under the sign that led to the men’s washroom. I began weaving my way through the throng while every instinct I had screamed at me to hurry.

“Excuse me. Sorry,” I said, pushing people as I went. Bursting through the crowd, I kept my head on a swivel as I marched toward the glowing sign. I gripped my small clutch tighter.

Fear trickled down my spine when I saw four of the six guys standing outside the bathroom. As soon as they spotted me, they smiled and moved to block the entrance.

“Get out of my way,” I growled.

“If you want to jump the line to fun, just say so,” Jeff said.

There was no hesitation as I brought my knee up into his crotch, and my fist connected with his jaw.

He crumpled to the ground, groaning. I had Titus to thank for the self-defense classes.

Dropping my clutch so it hung from my wrist, I swung it as hard as I could at the guy standing behind Jeff.

He hadn’t been paying attention, and it caught him right in the face.

His head slammed into the wall when I got him under the jaw, all while I screamed bloody murder.

The two remaining stepped back, their eyes wide.

“Get out of here!”

I faked a lunge toward them, and they held up their hands, practically jumping over their buddies to run.

Two bouncers were jogging our way as I pushed on the men’s bathroom door, but it wouldn’t move.

I slammed my body against it. The fear for Steph and what was happening in there sent my mind spiraling.

“Kick these two out of here,” the first bouncer ordered, pointing at the two stunned guys just getting up.

I continued beating at the door and cursing.

“Out of the way,” the bouncer said as he lifted his boot and kicked out. The door slammed open, and he ran inside with me right behind him.

Chet and his buddy had been too busy fighting with Steph to notice us.

She was struggling against both of them when the bouncer grabbed the other guy and threw him out into the hall like a bag of garbage.

Chet looked up, and his eyes went wide when I screamed and swung my unassuming weapon at his Adam’s Apple.

He doubled over, clutching his throat and gasping for breath.

“Nice shot,” the bouncer said before grabbing Chet.

I held onto Steph as she sank to the disgusting floor, dragging us both down. Her head lolled to the side, and I noticed the stoned look in her eyes. I softly smacked her face.

“Steph? Steph?”

“Fwwaan,” she slurred.

“Is she okay?”

“They drugged her. She only had one alcoholic drink.”

“Here, let me take her. My name is Oliver,” the bouncer said.

He gently picked Steph up, cradling her in his arms. I followed him out of the bathroom and down the hall to a small office. Oliver walked in and laid Steph on a couch. It was only when I sat beside her and grabbed her hand that I realized mine was shaking.

“Do you want me to call an ambulance,” Oliver asked.

I shook my head. “No, I have someone I can call.”

“Okay, I’ll go grab some bottles of water. What name should I give the guys in the front?”

“Titus Mikhailov,” I said, and Oliver’s eyes popped out of his head.

“She’s a Mikhailov?”

“No, I am.” It wasn’t true, but I said it with conviction. “Can you leave a bouncer outside the door?”

“Yes…I’m so sorry this happened,” Oliver said before swearing under his breath and leaving.

“Dat wizzz smexy,” Steph mumbled, her lip pulling up at the corner.

“Don’t start with me, woman. You scared the shit out of me. You know better.”

Grumbling, I pulled my cell out of my clutch to call Titus.

Steph pawed at me, slurring incoherently. I wanted to hug her and smack her at the same time. Titus was already protective. I couldn’t imagine what he was going to be like after this.