A Dirty Business (Kings of New York #1)(87)

Kelly’s eyebrows were pulled in, the ends of her mouth turned down.

Molly’s eyes were big, bulging out, and she looked ready to start walking our way. Justin had a hand on her arm, his other arm blocking Kelly too.

Muttering a curse, Ashton let out a savage growl and was heading right for them.

I was right behind him.

The two guys moved forward, looking like they were going to meet Ashton, but seeing me next to him, they eased back a step.

Ashton let out a small laugh before turning his gaze to Justin, then to his hand on Molly’s arm. “Hands off. Now.”

Justin released her, his eyebrows shooting up.

Molly jerked to the side a few steps, her other hand coming up to rub where Justin had been holding her, but she didn’t look in pain. Her own eyebrows were bunched together, her gaze jumping from Ashton, to Justin, to Ashton, to me, and back to Ashton. One of the guys I’d noticed moving in with Ashton earlier stepped up to her, touching her other arm lightly. He bent down, saying something to her, and with a small nod and another look toward Ashton, who was watching the whole thing, she headed off with the guy.

What the hell was that?

But Kelly had moved forward. “What’s going on? Jess, where’d you go?”

“She—” Ashton started, but a hand was on my arm, from the other side, but this time, I recognized that hand.

I glanced up, seeing Trace’s gaze skim over me. He had the same hard look on his face that Ashton did, and he eased me back behind him. “Go with my men.”

“But—”

“Please.” He indicated the same guy who had pulled Molly from the group. She was handed off to a different guy, and this guy was coming back for me.

Suit guy. I pegged him as security, noting the bulge on his side from the holstered gun.

I made my choice. I moved forward. “No, Trace.”

“Jess.” His jaw clenched.

“No. Not while Kelly is here.”

He touched my arm, pulling me back away again. Kelly’s head stretched at an angle, trying to see us, but Ashton and the security guy stepped in, fully blocking her.

Trace’s hand moved to my waist, and he stepped in, the front of his body grazing mine. “Please. So I don’t worry about you.”

“I’m armed.”

“I’m aware, but I am trying to save you from making a decision you might not want to make.”

Ashton’s warning. I had to choose. It registered then what Trace was doing. He was still trying to hide me from the other guys, but he didn’t understand. The decision was done.

I touched his chest. “She’s my best friend. She’s my only sister. I’m not leaving.”

His eyes were a whole storm, and he clipped his head. “Fine, but you’re mine. I won’t pretend otherwise.”

I nodded, my whole body suddenly feeling heavy. “I get it. I do.”

I was choosing him. Be damned or not, I couldn’t hide anymore.

Let the cards fall where they fall.





CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE


TRACE


Penn and Crispin Worthing.

Both major dickheads.

Ashton saw me coming, so he stepped back. I moved forward, taking point. “Gentlemen.”

Crispin was the leader of the two, and he stepped forward, cracking his knuckles slowly. “West. This ain’t your club.”

“No, but unlike your family, my family has an understanding with the owners.”

They shared a look at that information.

Justin stepped ahead, one arm held out toward his cousins and the other toward me. “We’re just here having fun. That’s all.”

I ignored him, staring at Crispin. “Leave, Worthing. Now.”

He started to tilt his chin up, but then his eyes went to the side of me.

I knew Jess was there, felt her. They were taking her in, but they were also noting my other men who had come with me. I’d added to my detail by another fifteen guys.

“You are here alone.”

He bounced his chin up. “How do you know that?”

All bravado. A typical fucking Worthing—I was starting to notice their trademarks. They were hotheads, led by a hothead uncle who’d come over from Sicily thinking he could make a name for his family here and not respecting that the territories had been drawn up decades ago.

“Leave, Worthing, and we won’t kill you tonight.”

I felt Jess’s instant tension.

She chose. I’d asked her to leave, but she’d made her choice. She was at my side.

Crispin smirked. “You got a copper next to you, unless she’s on your take.”

I didn’t comment, stepping forward. “Leave while you can walk.” At my order, my men moved forward. This time, Crispin stepped back. I could feel his reluctance, but he growled as he hit his cousin on the arm and jerked his head toward the exit door.

When they started to reach for Justin, Ashton stepped up. “He stays.”

“Excuse us?” Penn started forward, but Crispin blocked him.

Ashton pointed at Justin. “Him, we won’t kill. You two, we will. Leave while you can.”

I heard Jess groaning behind me and reached back, touching her arm. She quieted, but as soon as those two left, she was around me in a second. Kelly began sobbing. Justin looked torn, not sure whether to care for his woman or to head us off. Jess took the decision out of his hands, enveloping her old roommate in her arms and leading her away. I watched, seeing my men directing them out of here.