Page 62 of Ruthless Protector

He hadn’t tried to make plans, or make this into something it wasn’t, and I was grateful, I was. This was what I wanted. It saved me from some awkward conversation. I stood, pulling away. His hand dropped, and I turned and walked out.

* * *

Steph rushed past me, face flushed.

“Steph?”

She ignored me, which was so not like her, and rushed into the staff bathroom, slamming the door.

I tapped on it. “Steph, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, I just…I need a minute.”

I stood there for a few seconds, wanting to push, but knowing Steph, like me, didn’t talk about her situation, preferring to keep it to herself. I understood that. I wouldn’t push, but I wanted her to know I was here for her. “If you…need to talk, you know where I am.”

Silence.

I grabbed my bag and headed back to the floor to find Raul, since I was finished for the day. Dread slithered through me. Well, after my meeting with Trent.

Raul was at the bar, talking to Tomas. Or more, Raul was talking and Tomas was staring toward the back of the club, where Steph was currently hiding in one of the bathrooms. I needed more evening shifts. Fay said she could look after Tils if I needed to, and as much as I hated abusing her kindness, I needed the money too badly to turn down her offer. Starting over somewhere else wasn’t going to be cheap.

But I decided now wasn’t a great time to interrupt. I’d call Raul when I got home. I didn’t want to go over there and give Tomas a reason to mention the card game he’d seen me at. I didn’t want him bringing up that whole humiliating nightmare to Raul.

Ducking my head, I headed for the exit…

Someone grabbed my arm before I could reach it, and I swung around. Trent stood there, a smirk on his face that made my skin crawl. I yanked my arm out of his hold so hard and fast, I almost fell on my ass.

“You’re getting better,” he said, giving me a onceover. “Shame about your face, you never were as pretty as Rebecca. You must’ve hated that, being the ugly sister.”

One of the bouncers started toward us, and I lifted a hand, smiling, and waved him away. “What are you doing here?”

He got in my face. “You know why I’m here, I want my damn money. Time’s up.”

Fuck. I never thought he’d come to the club.

“I don’t have it all.”

His eyes started to twitch. “How much do you have?”

“Fourteen hundred.”

He paced away and back, getting in my face again. “It’s not enough.”

I stepped back, putting space between us, before the bouncer came back. “Well, it’s all I have.”

His eyes twitched again. “Give it to me.”

I took it from my purse and quickly handed it over. He shoved it in his pocket.

“Everything okay?” Raul asked, walking toward us.

“Yep,” I said.

Trent dipped his chin at Raul and quickly left without a backward glance.

I noticed Tomas was still there, by the bar, his dark gaze now on me.

I forced a smile. “Everything’s fine.”