Nolan wiped his sweaty hands on his jeans, sitting on the barstool and watching the bar in the mirror behind Quin’s back. He was freaking out, no doubt about it, but this was going to work. It had to work because he needed to be out from under the cloud that hung over his head.
Ryder sat next to him, appearing for all the world like he didn’t want to be there, and he was bored out of his skull. Nolan knew better. He could feel the tension pouring off Ryder in waves. He knew Warrick, Con, and Race were sprinkled around the room too, waiting to kick some asshole ass.
I’m not very good at this, am I?
Nonsense.Ryder chuffed silently.You’re doing great. You’re supposed to be nervous, remember? We’re giving you back.
Right.Which was the most ridiculous thing ever.Why on earth would you give me back now that you have me?
I know! I think, though, that you have me.Ryder’s chuckle was warm and soothed him, and it sort of hit him all of a sudden — Nothing bad was going to happen here.
Nothing.
Ryder picked up his beer.That’s right. Well, something’s going to happen, but it’s not going to be to you, and it’s going to be kind of fun.
Wicked bear.
The bar door opened, and Herschel strutted in with a couple of his friends, all leather and chains and bluster, and Nolan didn’t fight his urge to tense up.
He was supposed to be scared. That would make Herschel more confident.
That’s him,Nolan told Rye.
Excellent. Who are the other two?
Friends of his. Sycophants. They think they’re tough.
Ryder didn’t hide his grin.Do they now? That’s adorable.
Herschel didn’t waste any time, muscled right up to him, growling low. “You thought you’d run away, did you?”
Nolan’s nose wrinkled. Goddess, the stench of ugliness poured off him. “I just wanted you to leave me alone. I told you that.”
“You’re mine, and I’m not giving you up, you little bitch.” Herschel reached for him, and Nolan pulled away, brushing the man’s hand off him. “You listen to me. I will not be embarrassed.”
“You’re sort of pre-embarrassed for your own convenience, aren’t you?” Suddenly Nolan didn’t feel the need to do this, to pretend he was going back. He was tired of running, tired of being worried, and tired of being scared.
He stood, his bear right there below the surface, strong and sure. “Who the fuck do you think you are? Last time I checked, I wasn’t fucking chattel. I can get up and go and do and be whoever the fuck I want to, and you can stick that up your ass, sit on it, and spin.”
Oh, damn. That felt sogood.
After his speech, couple of things happened all at once. Or at least that was how it felt, as if he’d started a chain reaction and things moved around him like crazy.
Herschel went to slap him, Ryder caught the slap in one huge hand, one of the other men with Herschel raised a knife, and the wolf from behind the bar pulled out a sawed-off shotgun and leveled it at Herschel’s head.
It was like a wonderfully choreographed dance that Nolan was seeing in slow motion.
Then everyone in the bar seemed to move as one — like white blood cells recognizing a germ and surrounding and extracting it to protect the body.
“I said no.” He stood there, and he knew he sounded strong as he felt. “I said no!”
His bear came out of him in a wild rush, and his paws came up as he shoved Herschel.
Hard.
Herschel roared as he staggered back, and he had the nerve to try to shift but it was like some sort of movie scene. Giant men who were half bear at that moment just piled on top of him and his friends, taking them all down, removing any weapons they brandished and holding them against the floor. Herschel and his buddies didn’t even have time to get their muzzles out all the way.
Holy shit, Ryder and his brothers could move fast.
