Page 101 of Tangled Lies

I was still holding her, but yeah.

“It’s called foreplay, boys. But also, thank you.”

“There’s something we don’t hear ever,” Talon said.

Ronan reached for Margaux, and I let him drag her to the driver's seat.

“Thanks for what, little bird?” he asked.

It was curious. Thanks for the shirt? Thanks for taking her somewhere violent that she still hadn’t seen?

“Thank you for keeping me. Now, boys, go show me what you are made of.”

Jett and Talon pushed open the doors before we could agree. Tonight was going to be interesting.

CHAPTER 25

MARGAUX

Casinos had nothing on this place, even the seedy ones that Reina had only taken me to once. Loud music played while people cheered.

I couldn’t see over hordes of people blocking the view.

“There’s a roped-off area that serves as a ring. It’s basic, but it’s also illegal gambling,” Knox said.

The four of them weren’t letting me out of their sight. Two next to me and two right behind me. The shirt Knox gave me was huge and worked well as a dress. Still not what most of the women here were wearing, but I didn’t stand out nearly as much. It was black like most of the stuff they wore. Talon’s tie was red though, and I liked the contrast. It made for a decent belt. If only my uncle could see me now.

“You do not get out of our sight. You understand?” Jett said. I looked at him and realized that if he were the one being serious, then the odds were that I should probably listen. I liked the way Jett and Ronan grabbed my hands in theirs.

“I’ll be right back.” Knox walked away. I really liked the way his back muscles flexed as he pushed through the crowd.

“Where is Knox going?”

I lost him in the sea of people.

“To put us on the list. The fights just started, but what everyone is cheering about are the ring girls. They give the gamblers time to place bets as the fighters get announced,” Ronan was practically shouting to be heard over the crazy.

“Drinks?” Jett asked.

I stayed next to Ronan and Talon, keeping the wall safely in place while waiting for Jett and Knox to come back.

“I want to see the girls,” I finally said, trying to make myself taller and realizing it didn’t matter when I already had heels on that added a couple of inches and I still couldn’t see.

Ronan’s hands reached under my arms and set me on his shoulder.

“Ronan, put me down. I don’t want to hurt you.” I sounded concerned, but it made me laugh.

His hand wrapped around my thighs.

“You wanted to see.”

Right. I did. I looked over the crowd of what I realized was mostly men now. Some of them I would question whether they qualified as men or boys. Once I got over the crowd, that’s when I saw the girls and my jaw dropped. Reina had really tried to broaden my horizons, but this? Not much was left to the imagination.

“Why does she even need a bathing suit? Is that what that even is?”

I could feel Ronan chuckling under me and thought that had to be the first time he’d ever reacted to anything I’d said. Other than possessive cavemen. I liked it though. I took them however they came, but to be happy? When I looked down and saw a real genuine smile on Ronan’s face? I realized I liked that a whole lot.

“Put me down. I can’t unsee that.”