I refused to give him what he’d so cowardly come for.
My breath escaped on a loud roar of laughter that stunned everyone, including the senior citizens club that had congregated around us.
Davenport’s eyes narrowed in confusion, but my laughter only grew louder.
I repeated his words, shaking my head in humor. “Control your bitch.”
“Uhh…” Liv said as I finally dragged my eyes away from Davenport.
Smiling, I said, “He’s right, you know.”
Her mouth got tight.
“Let him stay. I’m out of here.” Chuckling to myself, I repeated under my breath, “Control your bitch.”
Three words had never been truer.
As my body relaxed, Slate and Till cautiously released me.
“Show’s over!” Leo announced and then started barking orders to at least five of his men, who went to work clearing the disappointed crowd. “Time to leave,” Leo ordered, pressing a heavy hand into Davenport’s chest. “And, next time you call someone a bitch, the Page brothers are going to be the least of your worries. Got it?” He shoved hard, causing Davenport to stumble back a step, his gaze still locked on me.
“That’s it, Page? You just gonna walk away? I should have known you’d be a fucking *!” he prodded.
I laughed again as I draped my arm around Liv’s waist. “You ready to go?”
“What the hell was that?” she asked, regarding me warily.
My expression turned hard as I looked down at her. “You stay out of shit like that from now on,” I scolded her loudly. “I don’t need you making things worse.”
Her mouth fell open. “Are you kidding me?”
“I’m serious. That shit happens again, you stay the fuck out of it. Do not step between me and another man. Ever.”
“You were about to lose it!” she snarled—even that was sexy.
I leaned into her face and lowered my voice. “I cannot worry about you jumping in on something and possibly getting caught in the middle. Now, keep your mouth closed. And back away.”
Her eyes flickered with understanding. “Quarry,” she warned, but she did it taking two giant steps away.
“Good girl,” I whispered, knowing I’d pay for it later.
Spinning on a foot, I charged forward ready to give Davenport exactly what I wanted him to take from our little pow-wow.
Till and Slate were off to the side, chatting with Flint. Leo was still struggling to get Davenport out the back door.
“Yo, Leo!” I called as all the eyes in the room lifted to mine.
It was too late.
My adrenaline finally found a way out.
With a hard right Leo barely dodged, my fist landed on Garrett Davenport’s chin, snapping his head to the side and sending him stumbling to the ground.
I dove for another punch, but Till caught my arms before I made contact.
“Only bitch that needs controlling is you!” I roared.
He jumped to his feet and lunged in my direction as security scrambled between us.
“Grow a sack and sign the fucking contracts! You want me? Make it happen.” I pounded my chest as he fought the herd of men dividing us.
He’d come wanting to fight. He’d left with yet another sample.
The rest would be delivered in the ring.
My body slacked in Till’s grasp.
I calmly watched as Leo’s men dragged him, kicking and swinging, out of the back door.
“Jesus Christ,” Slate growled, raking a frustrated hand through his hair.
“Dumb fuck,” I mumbled as the door slammed shut.
Till let me go, but not before slapping me hard on the back of the head. “Him? What is wrong with you? This shit is gonna be all over the news tomorrow.”
I shook my hand out, inspecting it to make sure I hadn’t injured anything. “Maybe. But I bet Flint receives those signed contracts first thing in the morning.”
Cutting my eyes across the room, I found Liv standing right where I’d left her. Her expression was unreadable, but her stiff posture looked positively pissed. Great. A lecture about keeping my shit together was on the horizon.
“I think it’s best for everyone if I take off. Text me if a shitstorm starts to brew over this.”
Till’s eyes swung to Liv. “Christ. You’re in trouble.”
I chuckled. “Yep.”
“Well, at least she can’t withhold sex.” He cupped me on the shoulder then shoved me in her direction. “Give him hell!” he yelled to her, but her hard stare never left mine.
Shit.
When I reached her, I shoved my hands in my pockets and rocked onto my toes. “You know this is all because you made me wear the suit.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“My body was being suffocated. Eventually, it cut off the blood flow to my brain.” I shrugged, and her nostrils flared. “I can’t be held responsible for any of that. If anything, I deserve an apology from you.” I quirked a teasing smile.
When she didn’t reply, I sighed.
“Can you at least bitch at me in the car?”
Liv fumed while we waited just inside the building for our driver to pull around our car.
Whatever. She’d get over it. I was freaking stoked.