What?
Dash’s mouth opened to argue, but given the situation, he clamped his lips closed. Rage boiled within, though. Emerson Walker was going to learn of his displeasure soon enough.
“Good thing you showed up when you did,” the doorman said. “Otherwise, he would’ve walked away limping.”
Dash charged forward. “I’d have liked to see y?—”
Before Dash could finish his sentence, Emerson pushed him back. “Trust me. He’s scrappier than he looks. The fight might’ve gone a little different than you imagined.”
The doorman gave Dash another once over, at first skeptical. Once his gaze fixed on Dash’s, a little uncertainty seemed to creep into his eyes.“Doubt that.”
“Maybe we should test that theory,” Dash spat, his voice sounding calmer than he felt.
Emerson grabbed his arm and urged him forward. “Come on, D. Let’s go inside before you ruineveryone’snight.” He turned to the doorman.“Knottyfun.”
Knotty—not naughty?
For fuck’s sake.Dash shook his head. So close, yet so far away.
“He must’ve misheard me,” Emerson said, never taking his eyes off Dash. He turned to smile at the doorman. “Sorry about that.”
“It’s all good,” the doorman said, seeming relieved.
Dash didn’t appreciate being manhandled. He clenched his jaw and let Emerson lead him through the opened door, the urge to put his fist through somebody’s face screaming in his veins.
Once inside, there was another door. Another big, burly alpha guard gave Dash the once over, his gaze landing whereEmerson had his hand. Muted dance music filled the space, but not the thumping bass he’d been expecting.
The second doorman nodded at Emerson and said,“Sup,”before opening the second metal door. What sounded like live music poured through it, the lights brighter than Dash had anticipated. A long hallway appeared in front of him, the upper part of the walls covered in champagne-colored fabric elegantly draped to form folded repeating patterns with ornate wooden panels below it, painted black. Near the end, men huddled together talking along the sides of it, making it near impossible to see what the rest of the place looked like.
After the door closed behind them, Dash yanked his arm from Emerson’s grip. “I believe I told you that you were unwelcome. Just so we’re clear, that extends to touching me, too.”
“Some gratitude,” Emerson said, lifting a brow.
“And what was that bullshit about no one touching me?”
Emerson’s jaw clenched, a tick forming on the side.
“I don’t know what kind of dominant head trip you’re on, but don’t try pulling that shit on me,” Dash snapped.
“Head trip?I just saved your ass outside.”
“I didn’t need you. I could’ve held my own,” Dash snapped.
“Oh, I don’t doubt that you could’ve,” Emerson said. “But Lester wasn’t alone. You didn’t know what was going on inside and if there was any danger behind the door.”
He lifted a finger, pointed upwards.
Dash noticed two video cameras. One aimed at the door, and another directed at them.
“They’re all over the place here. Several more are outside,” Emerson said. “As soon as you fought Lester, others would’ve come out to put an end to it. I can see you’ve got a fight in you, but I doubt it’s enough to take down several massive alphas atonce. Even if you had, the club would’ve gone on lockdown. You wouldn’t have gotten in.”
Dash narrowed his eyes, wanting to argue—but he had nothing. Emersonhadsaved his ass.
“I think the words you’re looking for are ‘thank’ and ‘you’,” Emerson said.
Dash cringed before tossing out an angry, “Thank you.”
Emerson smiled down at him, looking too smug for Dash’s liking. “You need to work on your proficiency in the art of apology.”
