Kennedy greeted me with a devilish smile. “Kane, baby. Wanna get out of here?”

My hesitation surprised even me. Pops was gone and Joe was sitting at the bar. Some of the other Sharks had joined him. I’d been in the back room with Julie for a while. Why in the hell had I left?

“Maybe later, babe.”

Her face filled with disappointment. I knew it was probably ridiculous. What was the difference between one woman and another? I knew what she had to offer. Yeah she fucked like a wildcat, but I’d done that. Something happened in that storeroom just now. Something I hadn’t had time to process.

The way she sounded. The way her innocent eyes lit with fire when I touched her. She was already addictive and I’d only known the girl an hour. The crazy thing was I wanted to sit at a table in the corner by myself and talk to Julie the rest of the night.

Kennedy pouted. “Babe, I just got into town. Don't be like that. Have I failed you yet?”

She gave me one of her seductive smiles, adjusting her breasts. One thing was for sure—she had great breasts. Perfect breasts.

I wanted Julie all to myself with no distractions. Kennedy liked to be the center of attention.

That’s how it had always been with her. I’d known Kennedy since college. She was one of the exceptions to my rule. But she was also the only woman who seemed ok with fucking, without attachment. She was a rare find, but there was never more between us. There never would be.

But I wasn’t up for her tonight. I had a taste of something new. I had a new thirst. Only a sip of a new honey and I wanted complete satisfaction. Julie’s eyes. Her innocence. Her body. It all stirred something in my chest, and my cock if I was being honest.

And maybe it was more than that. But I wasn’t going to talk to Kennedy about that shit. She might be my fuck buddy, but she was still a woman. A woman with long claws who liked to sink them into me when she got the chance.

“What is wrong with you? You’re acting weird. You’re never like this after a game,” she huffed.

I didn’t need her psychoanalysis of my emotional state. I knew exactly what I needed. I looked around for Julie. I hadn’t seen her since I walked out of the storeroom but I had Kennedy to thank for that.

I felt the familiar squeeze on my thigh, inching toward my cock. It was still hard and throbbing.

“Well hello, baby,” she sighed.

I pushed her off my leg. “Knock it off, Kennedy.”

“You’re playing hard to get tonight? I can role play if you want.” Her fingers walked over my bicep as if they were a pair of legs.

“I assure you I’m not.”

“You’re as hard as a rock. Let’s get out of here and fuck.”

I’d had enough. Before I could snap at her I saw the flash of blond hair from the corner of my eye. I turned and heard Julie’s voice in an unnatural octave.

There was a big burly biker towering over her. I didn’t like what I saw.

“Look I told you, Steve. I'm not interested.”

“Aww … come on babe,” he said grabbing her ass.

She cried out, swatting at his hulking hand. His fingers latched onto her waist.

“No. Get off me.”

“Hard to get? Is that your game?”

“I said no.” She glared at him. “Stop it!”

I lost it. It sent me over the edge. Her pleas. His relentless stupidity. I jumped from the table, knocking the stool over in the process.

Within a second I was face to face with the bastard.

“Steve is it? Why don't you leave her the fuck alone?” My eyes raged with anger.

“Why don't you mind your own damn business? This is between me and the blonde.”

“It’s fine, Hawk, I’ve got it,” Julie eked out as Steve reached around and grabbed her ass again.

Fury filled me. I’d be damned if I was going to stand here and let him continue to touch her after she has already told him to stop. I lost all composure. I seized him and turned him to face me. I reared back to punch him. Before I could throw the first punch, Joe gripped my arm, holding me back just as the biker’s fist sailed toward my face. The impact pushed Joe and me backward.

I saw red. I was numb. I felt the cold sweat break out across my skin. It was like the nightmare all over again.

There was only way this would end.

Everything around me faded as the fuel of injustice powered through me. All I could focus on was Steve and his filthy hands all over Julie. Her telling him over and over to stop. I hit him once that I know of and then probably again, but I couldn’t remember.

“Dude. Stop. The cops have been called,” Joe pleaded.

At that moment the blackness swallowed me whole.