Page 106 of Hard Rock Heat

"And what makes you think I'm going to let you leave with that phone?" his dadscoffed.

Damon jerked his head to the side. "Because ofthem."

As if peeling themselves out of the woodwork, two security guards appeared beside Gareth. His eyes bugged out as they each took one of his arms and pulled them behind hisback.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" hescreeched.

"Taking you to the police," Damon saidcalmly.

Gareth twisted back and forth, struggling to get out of the security guard's holds, but they held on tight, with sternexpressions.

"You better let them take you away quietly," Damon said. "I'm pretty sure security guards carrytasers."

Gareth's eyes went murderous. "You goddamn—" He lurched forward, trying to lunge at Damon, but the guards simply yanked himback.

"I've got you on tape admitting to blackmail," Damon said. "I don't care how many buddies you have down at the police station. Extortion is a serious crime. Once a jury hears this, you're goingaway."

Damon looked smug, almost as satisfied with himself as he was after giving me multipleorgasms.

I suppressed a relieved laugh and turned to hisdad.

"Have fun in jail," I said with a cheerywave.

Gareth sneered. "You littlebitch."

"Call my girlfriend a bitch again and Iwillend you." Damon's eyes turned dark and deadly serious, his voice was firm,unwavering.

Gareth glared. He spit on the ground in front of us, rage on hisface.

"We're done here," Damon said. With a nod of his head, the security guards ushered his fatheraway.

We ignored his swearing and screeching as he was dragged down thehall.

The tight grip of anxiety around my chest finallyeased.

Damon hadn't been threatening to beat his father up. He'd come up with a different plan. A smarterplan.

I clung to one of Damon's arms. He flashed me a grin, relieved and not a bitshaky.

"I honestly didn't know if the security guards would get here in time," he confessed. "I had a feeling our dad might show his face again, especially at such a high profile event. I figured I needed aplan."

I threw my arms around Damon's neck, pressing myself againsthim.

"I'm proud of you," I said, voice muffled into hischest.

Damon buried his face in my hair. "Because I used my head and not my fists?" heteased.

"That you didn't just go off half-cocked. That you thought thingsthrough."

"Well, Ididstill threaten to end him for insulting my girlfriend." Damon pulled back, staring at me intently. "I meant what Isaid."

My heart pounded rapidly, as I stared into his eyes, sincere, but also oddly abashed. Damon blew out a breath and ran a hand over hisface.

"I told you before," he said, "but I have no idea what the fuck I'mdoing."

I took his hands in mine, warm, large palms engulfingme.

"You're doing great so far," I said, repeating my previous words tohim.