I started and hurried towards the side entrance, slipping past him while he followed me in and shut the door behind us. The solid thud of the latch snapping into place echoed down the deserted corridor before he spoke again.
"I'll see what I can do," he said, pressing his lips together in a lopsided and very brief smile.
I breathed out, about to thank him when music quickly flooded into the narrow space as a group of men entered the corridor, leaving the door to the club to slam shut behind them. There were four of them, laughing and joking loudly as they moved towards us. Barely fitting in the space of the narrow corridor, which meant I had no chance of trying to slip by unnoticed.
Dean's voice came low and serious to my ear. Much closer than I expected. "Don’t go yet.”
I looked back at him, but his eyes remained locked on the group.
I nodded slowly and moved closer to the wall, pressing my back up against it while peeling paint fell around my feet in flakes.
The tall man leading the group wore a smug smile and kept brushing a hand over his buzz-cut blonde hair. There was a slight bounce in his step too, even when he slowed to a stop in front of us.
"Look who we have here," he said cockily with an Irish accent. His grin made his acne-scarred skin crinkle across his cheeks.
The other three men sniggered. One winked at me. I tensed, but not at the wink. It was the leading man’s accent, like the guy who spiked my drink, except this man looked completely different. Older. Taller.
With all six of us taking up the narrow space of the corridor, it was beginning to feel extremely claustrophobic.
“Looks like we missed the fight already, lads,” the leader said, algae-green eyes glinting with intent as he stepped closer to Dean and casually tugged at the drawstring on his hoodie.
If Dean was bothered by the subtle intrusion, he didn’t show it. He barely moved. Jaw set, and eyes trained on the man.
“How’s the ribcage?” the Irishman asked.
Looking down his nose at the men, Dean tilted his head back and casually slid his hands into the pockets of his black shorts. “Keep movin’, Murphy.”
Murphy faked a pout. "Aw, don't be like that. I just came to see the competition. You're looking better than the last time we caught up."
Dean raised a brow. "Isn't that how recovery works?"
Of all times to use sarcasm.
Murphy forced a chuckle and tapped Dean on the bicep. Dean’s jaw tightened.
"I'm looking forward to our next match, Romeo," he mocked. When he dropped his hand again, his eyes flicked to me.
I swallowed and pressed myself into the wall, anticipating what he was about to say as he opened his mouth, but Dean stepped in front of me, partially blocking me from view with his broad shoulders.
Murphy laughed. "Relax, Dean. I just wanted to say hello to your pretty little friend.” He peered around Dean's shoulder and smirked at me anyway. "How you doin’, lass—"
"Keep moving," Dean repeated, his tone sharper.
A sly smile slowly slid to Murphy’s face as he looked between Dean and me, piecing something together in his head before he raised his hands, exposed his palms, and backed away. “Alright, alright. We’re leavin’. I enjoyed our little chat though. Let's do it again, yeah?”
Dean said nothing.
“Come on, lads.” The men continued their way to the basement, but not before Murphy’s gaze had lingered. On me, and then Dean. His mouth twitched knowingly and it made my skin crawl. It wasn’t until they walked through the last door that Dean pulled his attention off them.
“When you finish your shift tonight, stay inside while you wait for your ride home, alright?” he said firmly, eyes never leaving mine.
I nodded quickly.
His response was somewhere between a mutter and a breath. “Good—”
The door to the club opened again before a pair of long, shapely legs descended the steps. As Roxy entered the corridor, her expression slipped from one of irritation to a venomous smile as she sauntered towards us. Slowing to a stop and folding her arms across her chest, her eyes swept over Dean and rolled to me.
“And here I thought she might’ve fallen into the dumpster.” She rolled her tongue between her top lip and teeth, bringing her sultry eyes back to Dean as she pouted. “Am I interrupting something?”
