“That.” I jerk my chin. “And `cause she’s mine and a real man can deal with shitty music for a few hours if it means putting in time with his woman.”

Riley drags her teeth along her bottom lip. Her chest starts working harder, moving stricter with her breaths.

I should stop now. The way she’s looking at me . . .

I should stop.

I don’t.

“Saw you dancing and thought you were here alone,” I add, smirking. “Already hate that motherfucker for what he gets to touch every night. I thought I was going to have to kill him.”

Riley stares up at me. She doesn’t blink. Doesn’t breathe.

“Babe,” I probe.

“You shouldn’t say that,” she says, face serious.

Her hand squeezes tighter. She’s anxious now, maybe. Or pissed. I don’t know.

I decide to ease her mind if it’s nerves getting to her.

“I wouldn’t really kill him.” My smirk grows into a smile. “Mess him up though.”

“No. Not that.” She shakes her head. “The other thing. What he gets to touch. You shouldn’t say that.”

“It’s true.”

“Even so. We’re friends. You shouldn’t say it.”

I bend to get closer. “You might wanna take your hand off me if we’re friends, darlin’,” I warn.

Riley’s eyes flicker wider. She yanks her hand back in a way it’s like she forgot she even had it there, her movement driven by panic, but before she can lower her arm to her side, I’m grabbing onto her wrist and keeping it between us.

“What are you doing?” she asks.

I step closer, keeping my hold.

Her resistance is weak.

“You wouldn’t be dragging me anywhere,” I inform her, need vibrating in my throat so bad I can fucking taste it.

I run the risk of her hearing that need, but it’s funny.

I just don’t care.

Riley blinks. Her lips part.

And that resistance she’s putting up goes from weak to non-existent.

“CJ,” she murmurs under the sound of the music.

“Not anywhere, darlin’. Are you hearing me?”

I don’t know why this is so important. I don’t know why I need to make sure this sticks with her, but I do.

Hesitation keeps her still for a beat, or those damn nerves, I don’t know, but she eventually nods.

“I’m hearing you,” Riley mutters.

Good. It’s sticking.

“We’re just hitting a bump,” she adds with a quick voice, suddenly looking uneasy. “It happens to everyone. We’ll be better soon. I know we will.”

My brow pulls tight.

They’ll be better soon?

“What the fuck’s that mean?” I ask her, not liking the way she’s sounding or looking right now.

Riley opens her mouth to respond, but then her eyes dart away and focus over my shoulder. I watch them widen and fill with alarm.

“Hey. What the fuck is this?” a voice bellows at my back a second before a hand is shoving at my arm, trying to turn me.

My frame goes rigid. Unmovable and alive with awareness.

I turn when I want to turn, and it’s right then to get a look at the dumb motherfucker trying to start something with me.

“Might wanna back off, friend,” I warn, watching the guy step closer and recognizing his reaction. He’s sizing me up.

I do the same.

He’s tall, but I’m taller. Got some muscle to him but nothing I’m worried about. And his eyes are fixated on Riley in a way we can go ahead and skip the introductions.

My jaw clenches.

“Why are you touching my girl? Get your hands off her,” the guy bites out.

Riley spins to face him, pulling her arm away that I was still holding, and wraps her hand around his bicep. “It’s okay. He knows Reed,” she says. Her other hand flattens on his chest. “Calm down, okay?”

“Listen to her,” I suggest, glaring when he looks at me again.

He sniffs, then narrows his eyes, which are jumping between mine like he’s chasing something.

“Fuck you. Why were you touching her?” he hisses through his teeth. “Huh? Why were you touching her, asshole?” He steps closer, bringing Riley with him since she’s still holding on.

I don’t move.

“Richard! Stop!” Riley yanks him back. “Calm down! What’s wrong with you? I said he knows Reed. He’s a friend.”

“Yeah?” Richard turns his head, bends lower, and gets in her face. “He a piece of shit like Reed too? A worthless little bitch, like Reed?”

“Back off. I’m not gonna say it again,” I warn, gaining his attention. He straightens up.

My voice draws some eyes from the crowd around us. I can feel them on me.

Richard bares his teeth. “Or what?” he asks, moving closer. “Huh? Or what? What are you gonna do?”

“He’s a cop!” Riley yells, pulling his arm. “He’s going to arrest you. Stop it!”

Richard stops, body going rigid and eyes swelling. The color drains from his face as he stares at me.

I figure he’s just reacting to the threat of being arrested so I don’t think much of his panic. Instead, I decide to fill him in on one of the issues I got with him right now.

“I know you got beef with Reed, but on top of him being her brother, something that should keep you from running your mouth the way you’re doing out of respect for her, he’s also a good friend of mine. You already stepped out of line with me once. Calm your shit.”