The man frowned. “I’mjusttalking.”
“Shejustdeclined,” Emory said coolly.
He finally seemed to realize a whole row of women was not on his side, but for whatever reason, his common sense still hadn’t kicked in. He braced one hand on the bar beside me and leaned closer.
“I think you can speak for yourself.”
I looked at my hand, then at him. “I can, but so can this big ass rock and this pretty ass band on my finger.”
His smile dimmed, like he was getting irritated with his entitled self. I wondered briefly why none of the guys wereintervening, then decided they knew the Miller women could handle this.
“I mean, you look like you drowning your sorrows over that nigga. I can show you something better if you stop being stuck up for no reason.”
Hyacinth sat up straighter, annoyance showing on her pretty face. “Nah, she stuck up for several very valid reasons, one of them being her giant, homicidal husband. What part of 'Death' do you find confusing, sir?”
The man laughed. “A’ight.”
But he still didn’t budge.
And then a deep voice behind him said, “Move.”
Every hair on my body stood up. The man turned slowly. Targen stood there in his dark suit looking just like what Hyacinth had called him—Death… if Death was fine as fuck. Damn, what did Magic put in that tequila? I shook my head and looked at my husband. His face was hard, eyes cold as fuck. He was beautiful when he was furious. I was so fascinated by him that I barely noticed the bartenders leaving their station and everyone who wasn't a Miller backing away from the bar top. I couldn't really focus on two things right now, hell. Mikhail was behind Targen, unreadable as always. And just off to the side, Juvie looked equally amused and unconcerned, which was not what I needed from his crazy ass at all.
“Hi, hubby!” I sang, lifting my shot glass.
That damn Magic. I fucked with her the long way. Targen looked at me, stone-faced as he peeled the shot glass from my hand and swallowed my tequila. I frowned, about to argue, but the man straightened up and had the nerve to look like he was pissed. This could not be good.
“Chill, my nigga. We were just talking,” Mr. Veneers said.
I giggled at that name. I was so clever sometimes.
“No. You were bothering my wife after she told you no,” Targen said calmly.
The man blinked. “Wife?”
I closed my eyes briefly. This fool was not about to pretend we didn't tell him that.
Targen’s hand settled on the back of my barstool, not touching me, but close enough that I felt caged in by him. I shivered… but it was a good shiver.
“Seems to me like you need to check yo' girl cuz she out here not saying shit about that,” Mr. Veneers lied.
I gasped, shocked and appalled at his audacity.Shocked and appalled. I'd always wanted to use that phrase in the right context. The writer in me was proud. Itwaskind of overused though.
Juvie popped up then, all long limbs and bad timing. “Okay, my guy, I'ma help you out. This yo' exit music. Don’t make it a funeral march.”
I laughed. I really did, right there in the middle of what could turn into a disaster for this lying, big-teethed bastard. I was tipsy and tired and emotional, so I laughed.
Targen’s eyes cut to me for one second, and he shook his head. But one side of his mouth tilted up. Then he went right back cold as he looked at the man again.
“Fuck that. Nigga tryna check me when he should be checking his lying ass bitch?—”
And that was that. I heard Real say, “Ahh, fuck.”
For a moment, I thought Mr. Veneers levitated. Then, I realized my very big, very angry husband had picked him up.
“Shit,” Hyacinth cursed and yanked me off the stool but not before I saw Targen hurl the man—I mean, he really just threw him—behind the bar. I heard the crash of glass and closed my eyes as some flew over the bar top. I watched Targen's feet round the bar. I knew I shouldn't, but I couldn't help it. I pulled myselfup and peeked over. Mr. Veneers was moaning and writhing in pain. Targen squatted next to him. He lifted one of the shards of glass. Yep, this was about to get bad... and I was riveted.
“No one insults my wife,” he said quietly.
