“Sorry. I’m sorry,” he whines. “I wasn’t talking about her.”
I frown, loosening my hold a little. “Who were you talking about then? Surely not my eleven-year-old niece?”
“No, no, no, man. The other blonde.”
Eyebrows pulled together, I glance over my shoulder. When I see her, everything in me stills. Riley. She and her friend stand near the couch, backs pressed to the wall, lost in conversation.
Fury floods my veins, and the beast in my chest comes to life. I’m so fucking out of my element after seeing her tonight, but one thing’s for sure—he has no right to look at her.
“She’s a stunner. I didn’t mean any disrespect.”
Owen steps to my side and puts a hand on my shoulder. At the simple gesture, I let go of the jerk. Breath uneven, I try to collect my thoughts. My emotions are all over the place.
“You were disrespectful,” Owen tells him, keeping a calm tone. “Objectifying a girl is bad, no matter how you look at it. Making sexually suggestive comments is worse.”
A short laugh escapes his mouth. “It’s just harmless talk.”
Without a second of hesitation, I draw my hand back and punch him in the face.
Blood gushes from his nose, and he slaps a hand over it, his eyes full of tears.
“She’s my best friend’s sister. I’ve known her for her whole life,” I hiss, twisting his collar tighter. “Think before you say something like that again. About anyone.”
With a sharp exhale, I turn on my heel and stride away. Just outside the dressing room, I stop by Reed’s side.
“Hey, man,” I say. “See that dude over there?” I jab my thumb over my shoulder. “With red hair?”
Our head of security lifts his chin. “Is he causing trouble?”
“Yeah. I don’t want to see him backstage again, at any show.”
“Consider it done.” With a simple nod, he strides toward the asshole.
Head lowered, I step into the dressing room. I drag myself across the space and plop onto the couch like a deflated balloon. Why do I feel so possessive of Riley suddenly? Not letting some dude disrespect her is one thing, but being jealous he noticed her is a line I shouldn’t fucking cross.
And Iwasjealous.
“Hade?” Owen joins me, dropping his head back against the cushion.
“What?”
“I’m not trying to be rude or anything, because what that guy said wasn’t okay.”
I glare at him. “Then what are you trying to do?”
“Riley is a beautiful girl. If she’s going to be hanging out with us, that shit is bound to happen again. So you better make sure the guys know she’s off-limits without beating them up.”
Have I been teleported into my personal hell tonight? How the fuck did I go from only ever seeing Riley as Piper’s sister to being overcome with jealousy when another man notices her?
I clear my throat. “I didn’t expect it. That’s why I reacted like that.”
“Okay,” he says easily. “Should we go?”
Determined to move on from what happened, I stand and head for the closet. “Yeah, let’s get the fuck out of here. I’m tired.”
“Whatever you want, man.”
The cool nightair soothes me as I head toward the black Range Rover with tinted windows the label arranged for me. Piper is already in the back seat with Story. Riley, on the other hand, stands beside the vehicle with her friend.
