Page 54

54

CONNOR

T he club is packed, the music is blasting, and the girls have taken over the dance floor.

Harper, Allie, Tara, Chloe, and even Gram dance in the middle of it, screaming the lyrics to “Man, I Feel Like a Woman” like they’ve been possessed by the spirit of unhinged karaoke.

Meanwhile, Ford, Jake, Cole, Daltyn, and I are posted up at the bar, watching in awe as the women go absolutely feral.

“Should we be concerned?” Jake mutters, taking a sip of his drink. “Gram might break a hip if she keeps swiveling them like that.”

Ford snorts and raises his brows. “You wanna go out there and try to stop her?”

Jake looks petrified before taking a long pull of his drink. “No, thanks. I’m good.”

I laugh, turning my attention back to Allie. As she shakes her ass, an uneasy feeling washes over me. “Are you sure this is a good idea?” I ask Ford.

He shrugs. “I say we leave them alone. They’re living their best lives.”

“That sounds like something Gram would say.”

Ford moans. “Oh, hell. She’s rubbing off on me.”

I level him with a look. “If you ever rent a pink Cadillac for me or Allie, I’m cutting your nuts off.”

He winces, then nods. “That’s fair.”

Cole whistles. “Chloe’s got moves.”

Ford smirks. “Harper’s got weapons.”

I keep my eyes locked on my very drunk wife, who’s swaying her hips and laughing like she doesn’t have a single worry in the world.

My heart clenches.

She’s so damn beautiful.

And mine. All mine.

Then some dead man walking grabs her ass.

For a second, my brain short-circuits. Then my blood boils.

Allie stumbles forward before whirling around with wide eyes. “Excuse me?”

The guy—a sloppy, cocky piece of shit in a half-buttoned shirt—grins like he’s charming. “Come on, sweetheart. Just having a little fun.”

I see red.

I shove my drink at Ford and move.

“Uh-oh,” Ford mutters. “Here we go.”

By the time I reach them, Allie already has a hand on the guy’s chest, shoving him back. “Touch me again, and I’ll break your fingers one by one.”

That’s when I step in, grab him by the collar, and yank him back. “You wanna tell me why the fuck you put your hands on my wife?”

The guy blinks, clearly realizing he made a huge mistake. “Hey, man, relax?—”

I tilt my head, real slow. “Wrong answer.”

I punch him so hard, the force of the hit sends him crashing into a table, drinks flying.

Then, because the universe has a twisted sense of humor, I hear Harper yell, “Excuse you?”

I glance over in time to see Ford snarl at some guy who just dared to hit on his wife.

All hell breaks loose.

Ford tackles the guy to the ground.

Jake yanks another dude off Ford like he’s pulling a weed from a garden.

Cole grabs a guy by the collar who’s moving toward me and mutters, “Bad choice, bro,” before decking him.

I grab the asshole I threw against the table by the front of his shirt and clock him again. He stumbles, barely getting a hit in before I throw him into another table.

Glass shatters. People start screaming.

Shit. Security is definitely getting involved.

In the middle of the chaos, Gram stands on a table, cheering us on like this is the greatest moment of her life. “That’s right, boys! Get ‘em! Show these little shits what happens when they mess with your women!”

Allie is beside her, sipping a stolen cocktail and nodding approvingly. “Good form, babe!”

The fight lasts maybe two minutes before bouncers storm over and start yanking us apart.

I’m breathing hard, fists clenched at my side.

My eyes land on my wife, making sure she’s safe.

She smirks and mouths, “Menace.”

I wink and mouth back, “Mine.”

Ford, bloodied but grinning, wipes a hand across his mouth. “Well, that was fun.”

Jake groans. “Can we go to one place without a brawl?”

Cole cracks his knuckles. “Doubt it.”

“Well, that was interesting.” Tara’s eyes sparkle.

Chloe is admiring Cole. “Very interesting.” She takes a sip of her drink, eyes still locked on him.

Then, just as we think the night is winding down, Harper frowns. “Wait… Where’s Daltyn?”

Silence falls as we scan the club.

Ford swears. “Where the fuck did he go?”

I wrap my fingers around Allie’s hand. “We need to find him.”