“You better shut up before I lose my patience,” I warn him, pointing my finger at his chest. Jack, like the arse he is, only grins brighter at me.
“You’re cute when you try to hide your feelings,” he says, and I shake my head, pushing through the crowd of people to get to the bouncer.
I slip him a hundred-pound bill, and he lets us inside. Being famous does have its perks sometimes. I called the owner earlier today, and he was thrilled to hear I would be coming. I just wanted to ensure I’d be let in, so I could see Chiara isn’t working in a shit hole where men harass her. I swallow hard at the thought.
“Why did you bring me if you’re going to ignore me?” Jack asks, his hand slipping onto my shoulder. He’s quite a bit taller than me, but I’m a lot stronger. And angrier most of the time too.
“Because Chiara will be too happy about seeing you to care about me being here as well,” I explain, and my brother lets out a slight laugh.
“You’re a little shit, aren’t you?” he says, still chuckling at my words.
I’m too focused on making my way through the loud, blaring crowd to pay him too much mind. People bump into me, screaming and singing at the top of their lungs. I notice a lot of them realizing who I am, but I have no patience to take any more photos or pretend like I’m nicer than I actually am. There is a reason why I’m here, and I’m not wasting another minute in this atmosphere if I don’t have to. This is like any other business situation. I will get the job done, then go home to spend time with Benz. Simple as that.
“Oh, I see her,” Jack says at the same moment my eyes spot Chiara.
She’s in a tiny top with her boobs almost spilling out and shorts so tight, her perfect arse is on display for everyone. I would appreciate how fucking gorgeous she looks if I didn’t see seven different guys ogling her body and undressing her with their eyes. Yeah, the protective part inside of me, which has been growing bigger and bigger by the day, isn’t having it. I rush over to her, but her eyes light up at the sight of Jack next to me. A little smile that sends a wave of heat through me slips across her face. She jumps over the bar and jogs up to my brother.
“Jackson Tick!” she says, and he smiles brightly before wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into the air. I’m capable of breathing for the moment he’s hiding her half-naked body from the crowd. “What are you doing here?” she calls out over the music after my brother placed her back on her six-inch heels.Good God, is she trying to break her ankles?
“Leonard brought me,” Jack replies, nodding in my direction. I force more disapproval into my gaze as Chiara’s eyes shift to me. She looks annoyed and slightly pissed at the sight of me.
“Oh, you’re here too?” she asks as if she hadn’t fucking noticed me before. “Does hell not have a decent enough bar scene or why did you come here?” Starling challenges, crossing her arms under her tits and pushing them up so much, I feel the urge to cover her with my jacket. I wish it was only because men are eyeing her, but my body has been responding to that outfit since I first saw her, and I need to give my cock a second to breathe.
“I came here to see how many times you mess up a drink,” I reply, mimicking her by crossing my arms in front of my chest too. Her eyes immediately drift to my forearms, a blush crossing her cheeks.
“I never mess up,stronzo,” she spits back, giving Jack’s arm a quick squeeze. “What can I make you?” she asks my brother, who tells her his order. She nods before starting to walk away, and I follow closely behind her.
“I would also like a drink,” I say as she makes her way behind the bar again.
“And I would like to see you get your ass kicked by a kangaroo, but sometimes we don’t get what we want,” she replies, and I almost flash her the smug smile I feel coming onto my mouth.
“I always get what I want,” I remind her, making her roll her eyes. “What if I tipped you a hundred pounds?” I offer and hold out the piece of paper, knowing full well she would never take the money… except she does. She snatches it from my fingers, shoves it between her breasts and places a beer in front of me. My favourite brand. Bloody hell.
“That’ll be another fifteen pounds,” she says, and I slap the money on the bar. She takes it and slips it into the register, a victorious little grin on her face. I’m baffled. Maybe she isn’t as resigned to taking my money as I thought. That’s good to know. Very good, actually. “Here you go, Jack, on the house,” Starling says as she hands him his scotch, and I glare at her in response. The same smile from before intensifies. At least she’s smiling…
Demon,I mouth as she winks at me. Jack takes a sip of his drink before I do the same with mine. My eyes stay on Chiara as she moves around the bar, flipping bottles and keeping any amusement she felt before off her lips. Men on the sides are cheering her on, causing irritation to grow in my stomach.
“Come on, babe, crack a smile for us!” one creep screams at her, but Chiara keeps moving around and making drinks without paying him any attention. Me, on the other hand, I’m trying my best not to punch out his preppy boy teeth. He looks like he just came from his elite university in that ugly brown polo and pale blue jeans.
“Relax. She can handle herself,” Jack reminds me, grabbing my shoulder and turning my body around. “You need to get laid. You get all cranky when you’re horny,” he says, and I smack his stomach in response.
“I get cranky when my brother’s best friend gets harassed,” I clarify, but Jack shakes his head at me.
“I don’t know what’s going on with you, but these things have never bothered you before. Let it go. Chiara will ask for help if she needs it, which she doesn’t seem to considering she’s stronger and fiercer than both of us.” She is. I know she is, but I also know her better than most.
She won’t quit this job, no matter what is going on here. It seems to pay her well enough that she took it in the first place. This isn’t what she wants to do for a living. Chiara wants to be in art, have her own gallery one day where she can make immersive shows that aren’t as boring as the ones at her current job. This stubborn woman won’t do anything to risk getting fired, which means letting those arseholes say things like ‘crack a smile for us, babe’. God, I want to fucking punch that guy. And a wall. And myself for caring so damn much, but no one else seems to look out for Chiara, not even her best friend. No one gives a single shit about the situation she finds herself in because she’s doing everything to keep her head above water. I can’t stand by and watch her barely swim. I don’t… I don’t want her to drown one day.
“Come on, doll, just one smile,” the same guy repeats, and my jaw clenches in response.
“How much are you going to tip me if I do?” Chiara asks in response, and that creep takes out a bundle of what I’m pretty sure is his daddy’s money.
“This can all be yours for a smile and five minutes in the bathroom with me,” he adds, and I let out a silent growl. Nope. I can’t do it. I can’t watch this unfold.
“How about you shove that up your arse and leave her alone?” I call out to Polo Dude, who turns to me. He’s about to tell me to fuck off when realization dawns on his features.
“Leonard fucking Tick,” he says, taking three strides toward me. “I’m a huge fan, man!”
“Yeah, I don’t give a shit. Leave her alone or you and I are going to have a problem,” I say, noticing Starling leaning closer to hear what I’m telling her “customer”.
