Page 83

CONAN

“ C onan,” Finn warns.

I see red.

“He’s got his fucking hands on her,” I growl.

Rowan slides me a whiskey. I swallow it in one gulp. It does nothing to calm my rage.

“Don’t be a dick. She’s not fucking him on stage, is she? It’s just a dance. Calm the fuck down or I’ll tranquilize your ass.”

Great.

Each song that goes by is like torture. This really must be my punishment.

This is hell on earth.

Seeing another man’s hands on my girl. And I have no right to say anything. Because she isn’t mine. Not anymore.

Pushing myself up, all eyes are on me.

“I’m going to the toilet. Do I need a babysitter?” I hiss.

“Yes. Rowan. Go with him,” Declan orders.

Poor choice. Rowan will cause havoc with me, not stop me.

I clock the guy that was dancing with Hallie also heading to the same destination as me. Perfect.

I quicken my step, and he holds the door open for me. As it closes, I grab him by the scruff of the neck and lift him off the floor.

“What the hell, man!” he stutters.

“Keep your fucking hands off my girl,” I spit.

He shakes his head. God, this is pathetic. She can do better.

I drop him and he backs away, straight into the wall.

“I—I didn’t know she had a boyfriend!” He throws his hands up.

I feel Rowan’s eyes on me, so I shoot him a look to shut the hell up.

I know I’m not her boyfriend. That ain’t the point.

I step closer and shove my finger into his chest.

“If you so much as brush your hand on her one more time, I will cut it off. Got it?”

He nods frantically.

“I won’t. I’ll get my friends and go. Sorry.”

I step out of his way as he scrambles to the door. Wiping my mouth, I turn to Rowan.

“So, umm. You know that asshole is gonna tell Hallie what you’ve just done, right? And you’re going to look like the bad guy here.”

I suck in a breath.

“Fuck. I hate it when you’re right. Suggestions, young wise one?”

He shrugs. “Be the bad guy.”

I arch a brow.

“She kinda fell for you before like that. Minus the whole chase shit, yeah. But she likes you as you. You know? So maybe try a new tactic? Girls like possessive.”

“Jesus. You have a point.”

Hallie did like me for the brute I am. Maybe it’s time to show her just how much I want her.

“Worth a shot.”

I head out of the bathroom and rest my back on the bar, my eyes locking onto her.

Now it’s just her and Lily dancing.

And then she spots me.

Her laughter falls. Her eyes turn to slits. And she stomps over.

“Yeah. I’ll wait back over with the guys for this,” Rowan tells me and leaves.

Great.

Here we go.

Operation Possessive may not have gone to plan.