Page 18 of Joey

She sighs. “Okay.”

“You’re safe there, Kristin,” I remind her.

“I know.”

“I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Bye, Max.”

ChapterEight

MAX

When I get to the new club downtown half an hour later, Henry and Ash are positioned near the entrance, their eyes trained on Joey. I follow their gaze to where she stands with two other girls and a group of older guys. Way older guys.

“Who the fuck are they?” I ask as I approach.

Henry keeps his eyes on Joey while Ash turns to me. “No idea, Boss. Look like city types. They’ve been talking to the girls for about a half hour now. Bought them a few drinks.”

“Have either of you spoken to Joey?” They’re supposed to keep their distance when she’s out with her friends, but I like them to actually check in with her at least once every few hours.

Henry nods. “I checked in on her about ten minutes ago. She said she was fine and having a good time.”

“Hmm.” I chew on my lip and watch her. One of the guys leans close and whispers something in her ear that makes her laugh. His hand dusts over her hip and my chest tightens. “You two can finish up.”

“You sure, boss?” Ash asks.

“Yeah. I can take it from here.”

“You wanna go grab a bite?” Henry asks his buddy.

Ash agrees and they head out, leaving me to stand alone at the bar and watch my girl. Too busy having fun with her friends and flirting with the guys who are old enough to be her father, she doesn’t look over and notice that her security detail has changed. I glare at the one who keeps touching her—brushing her arm, bumping her hip when he talks to her, resting his hand on her shoulder. He’s at least twenty years older than her, and he’s going to lose that fucking hand if he puts it on her one more time.

“You here alone?” a soft voice says, giggling in my ear. I turn my head and find Monique standing beside me.

“Hey, Mo,” I give her a disinterested nod and return my attention to Joey and the piece of shit who’s practically salivating over her. She smiles at him, and he cups her chin in his hand. Does this jackass actually think he gets to kiss her?

Monique puts her hand on my arm. “You want a drink?”

“Nope. I’m working.”

“Are you Joey’s bodyguard for this evening then?” she whispers, her lips close to my ear.

I shrug her off. “What do you want, Monique? Shouldn’t you be over there with Joey having fun?”

“Nah. Those douchebags she and the girls are talking to are assholes.”

Well, at least we can agree on that. “Who’s that other girl? I’ve never seen her before.”

“That’s Amy,” Monique says with a dramatic sigh. “Lexi invited her out. They went to college together. You want a mint?” She takes a small tin out of her purse.

“Is that your pickup line?” I ask her with a smirk, keeping one eye on Joey and the douchebags.

She laughs, then holds the breath mints in front of my face. The design catches my attention, and I take the tin from her, studying it.Elena’s Erotic Arenais printed on the top of the lid in neon pink.

“What the hell have you been doing at a sex club in Racine?”

She opens her mouth and then closes it again in an incredibly rare display of being lost for words. Her cheeks turn bright red. “I w-wasn’t. My boyfriend lives above the place.” She snatches the tin out of my hand and shoves it back in her purse.