by Peyton Banks
“Someone is being nosy,” she teased, piling the glasses on the tray she’d set down on the empty table beside it. She didn’t want to share the intimate details of what had passed between her and Dallas.
“I want to know all the details on what happened in the storage room,” Kay demanded. She began helping Candi by wiping the table down.
“He asked me out,” she admitted.
Kay paused with her eyes growing wide.
“What did you say?” Kay’s voice ended on a shriek.
“Keep your voice down,” Candi snapped. She looked around the bar and didn’t see any sign of Dallas at the moment. He and some of the security team must be doing rounds to check out the other areas of the bar. She turned back to her friend who had a shit-eating grin on her face. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“I knew it. I tried to tell you that you two had the hots for each other,” Kay bragged. She finished wiping the table off and rearranged the condiments on it. “You giving him coffee every time he worked. You knew what you were doing.”
“Whatever. I was being nice.” Candi sniffed.
“Are you sure you’re ready for a relationship?” Kay asked.
Candi paused, unsure of how to respond. She’d thought long and hard about it. Dallas was a great guy. She felt safe with him. She couldn’t stop thinking of their short time in the diner. He’d been relaxed, smiling, and she had to go and ruin it by being spooked by the sight of Moody.
If she was ever to take a chance with a man again, Dallas would be that guy.
“Well, hell. If that’s what it takes to get a man, then let me see who needs coffee tomorrow,” Kay joked.
Candi rolled her eyes. She grabbed the tray of dirty glasses and headed toward the kitchen with Kay in tow. She turned around and pushed the door open with her back. She stuck her tongue out at Kay before walking into the kitchen.
“So what are the details? When are you going? Where is he taking you?” Kay asked, following behind Candi.
“I don’t know. He said he’ll give me a ride tonight when I get of work and we’ll hash out the details.” Candi set the dirty glasses down with the other ones, near where the washers would grab them. Usually Candi pitched in and washed glasses, but not tonight. They had much to do out in the bar to straighten up from the large crowd that had just left.
“Wait a minute.” Kay stepped in front of the door, preventing Candi from going back out into the restaurant. “So, he’s taking you home tonight.” She wagged her eyebrows.
Candi rolled her eyes. She thought back to their kiss, and her core clenched. She would have to admit that it had been a while since she was with a man. The cobwebs that had collected down there may scare Dallas away.
“It’s just a ride. You’re reading way too far into this, Kay. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you needed to get laid more than I do.” She laughed and brushed past her friend and went back out into the bar. She looked around and froze.
Moody was standing at the bar with a few of his goons. She swallowed hard and met his gaze.
No use in running now.
How he knew where she worked, she didn’t know.
“Oh, shit. They put someone in my area,” Kay muttered, rushing over to the table with a couple sitting at it.
Lamont can’t hurt me.
He’s locked away.
Moody reached for the shot that was placed in front of him and knocked it back before sitting the glass back down on the counter.
She pulled in a deep breath and decided to confront Moody and see what the hell he wanted. She couldn’t spend the rest of her life in fear of Lamont and any of his associates. Her feet carried her over to him. She slowed as she got close.
“Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in,” he said.
His dark eyes bored into her. She didn’t like the look, but there was nothing she could do.
“What are you doing here, Moody?” she asked. She prayed her voice remained strong and didn’t reveal the fear that was hiding beneath her false brave front.
“I’m here like everyone else. To enjoy a nice drink or two before heading home.” A sinister smile spread on his face. He glanced over at the men with him who let loose a chuckle.
“Cut the bull. What do you want?” she demanded. She kept her voice low, not wanting any of the bartenders to hear their conversation.
Moody’s face grew hard. His dark eyes narrowed on her. He wiped a hand along his jaw and nodded. “Fine. You haven’t been taking any of your husband’s—”
“Ex-husband. He’s my ex-husband,” she corrected.
Moody pushed off his chair and moved closer to her. Her heart raced, but she refused to back down. If she didn’t stand up for herself now, then not only would Moody win, but Lamont would as well.
“Yeah, my man told me he didn’t appreciate getting those papers in the mail. He didn’t consent to no divorce.”
“He didn’t have to.” She’d had it easy. With Lamont in prison, the judge immediately granted her freedom. It had been the best day of her life. “What’s between Lamont and me is none of your business.”
“That’s true, but because of you, he’s locked up.” Moody’s gaze grew fierce.
His two friends glared at her, and it left her feeling uneasy at the same time as pissed off at Lamont.
How dare he!
Because of her?
Her body trembled from rage. It was not her fault that he’d chosen to use his fist on her. Nothing she’d done had ever warranted her husband to hit her.
“No, he’s in prison because of his actions,” she growled. She would not be made to be the victim any longer.
Moody chuckled. “I told him that I saw you at that diner with that white dude. He wasn’t too happy with that.”
“Again, none of either of your business.” She tried to keep her voice down. She didn’t need any of her coworkers knowing the private details of her life.
“Is there a problem?” a hard, deep baritone voice asked.
A presence appeared behind Candi, and she knew without turning who it was.
Dallas.
7
“So who is he? Your guard dog?” the man snarled at Candi.
Dallas focused on the man and took quick inventory of him and the two men with him. He was a gangster. Of that, Dallas was sure, just as the ones with him were.
The one thug to the man’s right had a scar on his right cheek that was deep and ran the length of his face. The other man had long, dark dreadlocks and a deadly glare in his eye.
Dallas gaze moved back to the main guy. This was the man who had spooked Candi.
That put him at the top of Dallas’s shit list.
Dallas also didn’t like the way he was eyeing her, and the tone of voice he used when speaking to Candi. It was filled with hatred, and for that, Dallas was ready to kick his ass.
“Don’t worry about who I am. Just know that I’m the man about to put you out of here,” Dallas growled. He gently took Candi’s elbow and moved her behind him.
The men with him stood from their seats.
Dallas wasn’t intimated in the least.
He was trained in the deadliest of hand-to-hand combat, and most gangsters or thugs were not true fighters. They tended to rely on their guns.
Dallas held back a snort.
Most of them couldn’t even use a knife properly.
Now that was what Dallas preferred.
Using a knife was personal.
Invading one’s space.
“You and Candi were looking mighty cozy in the diner,” the man taunted.
His men moved next to him.
The tension in the air was palpable.
Each patron sitting at the bar was openly watching the exchange.
Dallas knew without a doubt Tanner and the others were closing in on the situation.
“Just leave, Moody. I told you what I do is my business,” Candi spoke up from behind Dallas.
“The lady just
asked you to leave. Now if I have to tell you, I won’t be as nice.” Dallas stepped forward. He could feel the beast inside him growing. It had been a while since his fist had plowed into someone’s face, and right now, Moody’s would be perfect.
“Back off, white boy. I haven’t done nothing. Me and Candi were having a friendly conversation until you butted in,” Moody snarled. He returned Dallas’s glare with one of his own. “So back up off me and let me talk to my man’s wife.”
Wife.
An invisible fist landed a punch to Dallas’s stomach.
What the fuck?
“Ex-wife,” Candi snapped from behind him.
He blew out the air that had been trapped in his lungs.
“Out,” Dallas snapped, no longer wanting to play this game.
“Man, fuck you.” Moody shoved Dallas back.
Candi’s startled cry rang out behind him.
A red haze came over Dallas.
A growl escaped him. Moody swung on him, but Dallas was able to swiftly move to the side.
He instantly swung a left hook that connected with Moody’s smug face.
He celebrated at the feeling of his fist meeting the gangster’s nose.
Screams pierced the air as the other men converged on Dallas.
He grinned.
A rush of adrenaline slid through his veins as his training kicked in.
Once a Marine, always a Marine.
He blocked a punch from Scarface and returned with a right, connecting with the man’s jaw, sending him hurtling onto the table behind him.
Dreadlock got one good hit to Dallas’s back. Dallas spun around, throwing two punches. One connected with Dread’s abdomen and the second one with Dread’s chin. He flew back and crashed onto the floor.
Just as he knew, the three of them were no match for him. Dallas was much quicker.
His attention snapped back to Moody who pushed off the bar with a shout.
“Fucker!” Moody brandished a knife from the back of his jeans.
Now we’re talking.
Moody rushed toward Dallas.
He caught the arm with the knife and in three quick moves had the knife in his hand and Moody lying on the floor with a broken arm. He rolled to his side, moaning and holding his arm to his chest.
“What the fuck, Dallas,” Tanner shouted, arriving to his side. His eyes narrowed on the men sprawled on the floor, moaning. “Why do you always get to have all the fun?”
“I actually liked the show.” Van chuckled, coming up on the other side of Dallas. “It was like watching an artist create a live-action painting.”
“Call this in,” Dallas ordered, ignoring the jokes. His adrenaline was rushing through him, and he was strung tight. “Here’s the knife that one just tried to use on me.”
The cops would need to come round these men up. Van pulled a clear bag from his back pocket that allowed him to drop it in there. He took it to hold on to for when the cops arrived.
“We got it from here,” Tanner said as Liam arrived with zip ties.
They would secure the men until the police showed up. Tanner and the others would move the men to the holding room in the back of the club so that the other patrols wouldn’t be disturbed any longer.
He turned around, searching for Candi. He prayed she hadn’t got hurt in the scuffle.
His gaze landed on her. She was standing off to the side with the manager, Adam.
Her eyes were wide, and even across the room, he could see the fear in them.
“You son of a bitch,” Moody cursed, struggling against Tanner’s grip. His furious eyes swung from Dallas and focused on Candi. “This isn’t over, Candi! Not by a long shot! You will—”
Dallas stalked to him and grabbed the man by his shirt.
“Watch what you say, asshole,” he snarled. Dallas’s rage was barely contained. Just for a brief second, he almost forgot he was a man behind a badge. He had to push down his anger or he’d be no better than the thug before him.
“Or what? You can’t protect her forever,” Moody spat. A cynical laugh spilled from his lips. “Wait until her husband hears what happened. He’ll make her pay.”
Dallas had to reel in the beast that wanted to punch the man in the face until he could no longer speak. He curled his free hand into a fist as he beat down the rage that boiled up inside him.
“Let’s go, asshole, before I let Dallas at you again,” Tanner threatened, dragging the man toward the back.
Moody let out a loud heckle. He wrestled against Tanner. “I’ll be out of jail by morning. Mark my words, Candi. You’ll pay!”
Liam and Van had the other two with them and guided them behind Tanner.
Dallas turned and weaved his way through the throng of tables to get to Candi.
“I need to speak to you,” he announced. He wasn’t going to ask. Since there was an altercation involving her, she would need to be available for the police.
“Sure,” she said, brushing her hands over her apron.
“Take all the time you need,” Adam said.
He cupped her elbow and pulled her along. He took her back to the security office where they could talk in private.
Kicking the door shut behind him, he let her go.
“Have a seat, Candi.”
She moved to the chair and sat, her eyes cast down. Her hands were collapsed together on her lap.
He bit back a growl, not liking the look of defeat on her face. He moved to her, tossing the bagged knife on the desk. Kneeling down before her, he rested a hand on her bouncing leg.
Her gaze flickered to his.
“Tell me who that was.”
Candi blew out a deep breath and closed her eyes. The memory of Dallas taking on the three men would be forever ingrained in her mind. He’d barely even broken a sweat. He’d acted so fast, even she had trouble keeping up with his actions.
She opened her eyes, afraid to meet his gaze. He tipped her chin up and forced her to look him in the eye.
There was no anger. No sneer. No cursing.
Just patience and curiosity.
Her heart rate slowed.
She knew Dallas was a cop and had been in the service, but someone who moved the way he did, he had to have been more in the Marines.
He was just as dangerous as Moody and Lamont.
Maybe even more so.
“It’s okay. You’re safe. Tell me who that was,” Dallas murmured. He reached out and took her hand into his much larger one.
It enclosed around hers, and his gentle touch comforted her. Just minutes before, those hands had dealt crushing blows to three men.
“His name is Moody Perlino.”
Dallas’s eyebrow shot up.
She shook her head and gave a short, nervous laugh. “I don’t know his real name. He’s an associate of my ex-husband.”
Lamont was in prison, and he was still ruining her life. Whatever she had imagined she could potentially have with Dallas was gone. He wouldn’t want to become involved with a woman with baggage like hers.
Maybe she should leave Vegas.
Somewhere far away from Nevada.
She’d always wanted to travel.
Maybe that was what she should do. Travel around the country and get away from Lamont’s reach.
He couldn’t hurt her if he didn’t know where she was.
“I take it your ex is in prison?” Dallas asked.
Candi nodded, too embarrassed to speak. She didn’t want to go into the entire story of why. She knew what would come next.
Pity.
That was all anyone ever offered her when they discovered she’d escaped an abusive relationship. Everyone had the same look, said the same thing, and offered an ear for her to speak to if she needed it.
She’d heard it all before.
She didn’t need anyone’s pity. She was a survivor. She would make it.
Just like she’d done before, she’d figure something out.
“After the police come and get
your statement, I’ll take you home.”
“I can’t leave. I haven’t even done half my shift—”
“I’ll talk to Adam. This is a special circumstance. You were threatened, and if I hadn’t interrupted, I’m sure he would have laid a hand on you.”
Candi paused and locked gazes with Dallas. Her own husband had used his hands and fist on her. He was supposed to be the one who was to love and cherish her.
Those vows had been a joke.
“Okay.” She gave in. If Dallas felt it was in her best interest for her to leave early tonight, then she’d do it.
Dallas gave a satisfied nod. He stood to his full height and held his hand out for her. She took it and stood from the chair.
“I don’t like that he’d made threats to you—”
“Lamont is in prison. There’s nothing he can do to me.”
“I don’t trust men like them. Moody made threats against you. This is not your husband making idle threats from behind a jail bars, Moody did. He’s not in prison.”
Candi swallowed hard at this announcement.
“I’m sure he was just upset and embarrassed—”
“Don’t make excuses for men like that. Threats should be taken seriously.”
A knock sounded at the door. Dallas stood from his kneeling position and walked over to it. He pulled it open, and then came a low murmuring of voices.
Candi sat up straighter in her chair, watching Dallas widen the gap fully and wave a uniform policeman into the room.
“Hello, Ms. Jennings. My name is Officer Sholl,” the cop announced. He held out a hand to her. She took it in a firm shake. “I just want to ask you a few questions about the altercation.”
“Okay, but do you mind if Dallas stays,” she asked. If she was going to have to be grilled, she wanted someone she knew she could trust by her side.
8
“You’re not staying here,” Dallas announced, following Candi into her apartment.
“What?” She turned her wide eyes to him.
There was no way in hell he would let her stay here. With the threats that Moody had spouted off, Dallas had to take them seriously.