Page 45 of Sins of the Orchid

“Take her,” he ordered.

I glowered at them. “You fucking dare touch me, either one of you, and my brothers will have you killed.”

Renzo raised his hands in surrender, though a small smile played on his lips. “Not touching you.”Jackass!

The other guy was scary. He seemed completely unperturbed with my threat. He probably didn’t know who I was, and I had never seen him before, though that didn’t mean much. Tattoos marked his neck and hands. I couldn’t exactly tell the color of his eyes in the darkness of the club, but I saw he had an eyebrow piercing.

I scowled at him as he took a step towards me. “Inkman, don’t you dare!”

“His name is Gabriel Carrera,” Santi hissed.

“I. Don’t. Care.” He had no right to tell me who I should dance with. He wasn’t even my friend, and I barely saw him anymore.

“Where is Adriano?” Santi’s eyes flickered around. Even though we stood to the side, we already had a small audience.

I shrugged my shoulders. It was better not to say anything than lie to him. Yes, he was being a dick, but when he glared at me like that, he acted like a true don ready to make everyone pay who didn’t bend to his will.

“He’s probably chasing a piece of ass,” Renzo snickered. I glared his way, narrowing my eyes on him. It wasn’t like he was better.

Marco stood up off the floor, wiping the blood off his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Didn’t I fucking tell you both to stick together?” Santi raged. We were getting a bigger audience by the second. “He was all over you. He could have drugged you and fucked you in the first corner. You want that for your first time, huh?”

I swore, right now, I felt like I was steaming. I was so hot and embarrassed. Every inch of my skin burned hot from anger.

“My sex life is none of your business,” I hissed. “And you don’t know when my first time was or will be. Jackass.”

“Fucking wrong,” he snarled, his eyes piercing me. “Everything in my club is my business.”

I rolled my eyes, though it was fake as shit. On the inside, I shook; though whether it was from excitement or worry, I wasn’t sure. Santi would never hurt me, but I wasn’t stupid enough to think he wouldn’t teach me a lesson.

“Where the fuck is Adriano?” he bellowed. “Or should I just kill this fucker for touching you and get it over with? I don’t have all goddamn night!”

My heart drummed against my chest. I had never seen Santi so furious before. A muscle ticked in his jaw, and my heart rate ticked up another notch.

“I-I, you can’t hurt Marco,” I begged, getting myself in front of my dance partner.

Santi scoffed. “Watch me. Nobody is allowed to put their hands on you.”

His anger made no sense, nor did his reasoning.

“He’s gay. I’m not his type,” I stuttered my explanation, confused at Santi’s anger. “He is safe, and I like him.”

I took Marco’s hand and squeezed my assurance, sharing a quick glance with him. He snatched his hand out of mine.

“Probably better you don’t touch me, or this psychopath might start using me as his personal punching bag again.”

“I am so sorry,” I apologized. Even under the dimmed lights, I could see the swelling on his cheek. I turned my head to find Santi looking even more pissed. His jaw was pressed so tight, I was sure he was grinding his teeth. It seemed to me he was making a big deal out of nothing.

“Get out of my club,” he growled at Marco. He didn’t have to tell him twice because bouncers were already behind him, and he just shook his head when I opened my mouth to protest.

“Have fun in Italy,” he said in the way of a goodbye.

I watched his stiff back as he walked away from us escorted by the bouncers. Once he disappeared out of my sight, I whirled around.

“That was unnecessary,” I hissed. “I’m out of here. Your club sucks anyhow.”

I took a step to go around him, and in search of Adriano, when he grabbed my wrist. His hand felt rough, calloused on my skin, and suddenly a cool breath of fear shot through my bloodstream. Maybe I pushed him too far.