“And what? You came to warnme?”
Matt leaned back against the bar. “Yeah. We take care of ourown.”
“Your own? I’m not even part of thepack.”
“You could be, if you drop out before Saturday,” Liamsaid.
“Like I’d ever trust yourword.”
“Ouch.” Lucas slapped a hand over hisheart.
“Look, thanks for the warning, but I’mfine.”
Liam and Cole hopped off their barstools and walked over tome.
“Youwillbe fine.” The smell of cold cigarettes clung to Cole’s sunburned skin. “If you come back withus.”
“Ican’t.”
Liam frowned. “Is he forcing you to behere?”
“No one’s forcing me to do anything, but I can’tleave.”
I tried to step around him to go to the bathroom, but Liam clamped his hand around my bicep. “Whycan’t youleave?”
“Sorry. Did I say can’t? I meant I don’t wantto.”
“You can’t hang out with a guy like AidanMichaels.”
I shrugged Liam off. “No one tells me what I can or can’tdo.”
He glowered down atme.
“The dude is sixty and only dates whores and call-girls,” Colesaid.
“Maybe that’s why she’s here,” Lucasdrawled.
Liam’s eyeswidened.
“I’m not a whore,” Isnapped.
Lucas raised a cocky grin. “Which leaves call-girl.”
“He’s paying you to be here?” Liam’s voice was dark, as though the shadows crowding his face had creeped down histhroat.
“Just leave me alone. All of you. And stop fucking pretending like you have my best interest at heart. None of youdo.”
I started toward the bathroom, but Liam grabbed my arm.Again.“Do you needmoney?”
“That’s none of yourconcern.”
“You’re a Boulder wolf, so it is our concern,” Mattsaid.
“I’m not a Boulder wolf,” I bitback.
“Is there a problem, miss?” the bartender finallyasked.
“I’m fine,” I gritted out. Then, to Liam and the other three, I said, “You…all of you…you all better be gone when I come backout.”
