“No, I believe a woman shouldn’t have to rely on a man to make her feel safe. With the right tools and training, she can protect herself just fine. Besides, you have a pretty mean right hook.” He gave her a wink.
Aleksei, on the other hand, needed some training. The kid hadn’t even tried to fight back. Did he expect his size to ward off fights? Those men had almost dragged him off with barely any effort.
“Oh…” Silver’s eyes widened in shock as if she couldn’t believe his answer.
“I think I’m in love,” Aleksei whispered from behind her, bending down so their faces were even.
“Shut up,” Silver hissed at him, driving her elbow into his waist.
The way they acted, one would guess they were family, but Greg couldn’t see a family resemblance. “Let me escort you back inside.”
“Thanks.” Silver led the way back inside and headed straight up to the VIP area. Greg hung back wondering if he was supposed to follow or was already forgotten.
Silver glanced behind her to see he was still standing at the bottom of the stairs. “Come on.”
Yes, he’d made it. Well, he’d made it upstairs. He still had a long way to go from here. There was every possibility they could still send him packing before he even opened his mouth.
Several men turned and looked at them at their entrance. Though their focus was on Silver and Aleksei and not so much on him.
“Aleksei.” One man rushed over to them, pushing people out of his way to approach them. “Are you alright?” The man patted Aleksei down as if he were looking for an injury.
“I’m fine, Boris.” Aleksei brushed the man’s hands away.
“What the hell happened?” Boris asked the question, but he was glaring at Silver. Greg didn’t understand why he was blaming her. She’d been innocent in this. In fact, she’d been the one trying to protect Aleksei.
“We were accosted outside.”
“What the hell were you doing outside without an escort?” Maxim joined their group. His voice cracked like thunder.
“Ah…” Aleksei looked around in a panic.
“He went out for a smoke. I joined him. That’s when those bozos attacked us,” Silver answered for him. The woman was constantly coming to Aleksei’s defense. They had a similar bond like he had with his teammates. They all had each other’s backs, no matter what.
“You know better than to go out alone,” Maxim scolded her.
“I thought it was safe since we were at the club. I didn’t think anyone would be stupid enough to attack us here.”
Greg noticed Maxim’s hands clench into fists and his nostrils flare in anger, whether at her or the situation, he didn’t know. “From now on, escort at all times.”
“Yes, Maxim,” Silver said in a placating tone.
“Did you recognize who did it?”
“No, I didn’t.” Greg wasn’t so sure about that but wasn’t going to say so and get Silver in trouble. He needed people on his side, not to be suspicious.
Everyone turned and looked at him now that the other matter had been addressed. Greg felt like a bug in a jar. “Who is this?” Maxim questioned.
“This gentleman intervened before anything could happen.”
Maxim took a drag of his cigar, puffing out a cloud of smoke. “How fortuitous you were there…”
“Logan. Logan Parker.” Greg had decided to use an alias.
“Maybe he arranged it so he could get closer to us. Play on your sympathy,” Boris suggested.
Greg didn’t think it was possible, but the room seemed to get tenser. Several hands lowered to their waistbands. With one word from Maxim, Greg would be dead. Since Maxim owned the club, no one would raise an alarm if a man was murdered there. His body would just end up dumped in the desert like the others.
“Not going to try and deny it, Logan Parker?” Maxim asked, a challenge in his eyes. “Plead your innocence?”
