Chapter 12

Gage parked down the street from the place Brylee worked. He broke out in a sweat at the rundown eyesore of the building and the rough-looking men he saw walk into it.

He paid the door fee to get in and then moved to the side right inside the door to let his eyes adjust. Scoping out the room, he took in the type of men that were there and how many before scanning the area for Brylee.

He sucked in a breath when he caught sight of her. She was wearing a short black skirt and a black and white striped sleeveless shirt. The outfit showed way too much skin and made him want to throw her over his shoulders and walk out. Her hair was in a braid again. One day soon, he hoped to see it loose and around her shoulders or, better yet, spread across his pillow.

He felt an overwhelming desire to take off with her. He knew he'd have to mellow out a bit if he didn't want her running from him, but it took all his strength to hold back.

He walked to the bar and ordered but kept his gaze on Brylee. His hands fisted a few times when men went to touch her. If the bouncers hadn't been there to block the men, he would have lost it.

He sat at the end of the bar and drank his beer. His eyes never strayed from the little woman. At no time was he tempted to look to the stage where other women took off all their clothes.

"Hey, man. You might want to peel your eyes off the waitress. She belongs to the boss."

Gage almost choked on his beer. He turned to the bartender and narrowed his eyes. "Really? Since when?"

The guy chuckled. "Since she started here. She just doesn't know it."

"She doesn't know she belongs to some man?" Gage asked in shock.

"Nope. He asked her out a few times, but she's always said no. He thinks it's because he's married, so he's pushing harder for a divorce."

Gage narrowed his eyes. "He's getting a divorce so he can be with the waitress?"

"No, he's been going through it for a while but started pushing to get it done so he could be with her."

Gage stayed quiet for a moment and took a drink of his beer. He wanted to declare Brylee his but knew shit would hit the fan, and he was sorely outnumbered at the moment.

"Got the picture."

"Good. The boss is a real prick. You don't want to mess with him."

Gage nodded and then pretended to look at the stage. He kept his face turned toward the naked women but let his gaze follow Brylee around.

He caught sight of a large man coming out a door that said PRIVATE and walked behind the bar. Then he stopped and talked to the bartender who had warned him.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the bartender point to him. The man, who he assumed was the boss, scowled. The boss man then pulled one of the bouncers aside.

Gage knew right then it would be next to impossible to just walk out with her unless he called in a few friends on the police force. He was more determined than ever to get her out of there that night.

He texted his friend and waited. He tried not to show interest in Brylee but knew he was probably failing when more than one of the bouncers came to stand around him.

Gage relaxed when four uniform officers walked in and headed toward him.

"Hey, bud," one of them said and held a hand out to him. "What kind of trouble are you in now?"

Gage snorted. "Fuck off, Tommy," he said good-naturedly. "I'm here to get my girl out of here."

"So, what's the problem?"

"The boss wants her for himself and has the bouncers on me."

The four cops looked around the room. "Why in the hell is your girl here?"

Gage grinned sheepishly. "She doesn't exactly know she's mine yet."

The four laughed out loud.

"Is there a problem here, officers? I'm Randy, and I own the place."

The men turned to see the boss had walked up to them.

"We don't know yet." Tommy pointed at Gage. "This man says he wants to take his woman out of here and thinks he's going to have a problem."

The boss's complexion turned ruby. "And who might that be?"

"Brylee," Gage said.

"Fuck, no, she's not yours."

Gage and Tommy glanced at each other.

"How about we let the girl tell us who she wants to be with?"

Randy called over one of the bouncers and told him to get Brylee. The six men stood in silence until Brylee walked up to them.

****

Brylee looked at the group, confused until her gaze landed on Gage.

"Gage! What are you doing here?"

Gage smirked at the anger that filled Randy's face. "I'm here to get you."

"But… I don't understand. I work here."

"Yes, and I don't want you to."

Brylee looked at the officers and then her boss then back to Gage. "I have to have a job."

"How about we discuss this later, princess?"

"I…"

"If you walk out that door," Randy warned. "You will no longer have a job here."

Brylee raised stricken eyes to Gage. "I…"

Gage took a step toward her and cupped her cheek. "Everything will be okay. Please trust me."

Brylee studied his expression for a brief moment, exhaled, and handed her boss her tray.

"I mean it, you little cunt…"

Gage pulled Brylee behind him, grabbed ahold of Randy's shirt, and lifted him. "You don't ever talk to her like that," he said through clenched teeth.

Tommy insinuated himself between the men. "Let him go, Gage."

Gage cursed under his breath and released the man. He glanced at Brylee. "Do you have anything you need to get before we go?"

"Yes, I have a few things in my locker."

One of the cops stepped forward. "I'll take her to get them."

****

Brylee walked away, aware the officer followed her closely. She made it to her locker and put in the combination.

"What the fuck, Bry? Did little miss goody-two-shoes break the law?"

Brylee stiffened at her roommate's voice. "No, Brenda." She turned back, pulled her big bag out, and stuffed the few things she had into it.

Brenda walked up and leaned her shoulder against the wall of lockers. Her gaze went from Brylee to the cop, where it roamed up and down and then back to Brylee. "Tell me what's going on. Are you quitting? Or did you finally get fired?"

"Qui

t."

"About time. You didn't fit in here at all. You're way too immature. What about the apartment? You can't walk away from that."

Brylee turned toward her. "I'm not sure."

Brenda straightened and scowled. "Listen, bitch. You can't fucking run out on us."

"Actually, I can. I didn't sign a lease."

The cop pushed Brenda back when she came at Brylee. "Miss, you need to step back."

Brenda trembled in anger, and her gaze narrowed. "I'll be talking to you later."

Brylee exhaled as she watched the girl walk off.

"She's a piece of work, isn't she?"

Brylee smiled up at the cop. "You have no idea."

"Let's get you back before your man comes looking for you."

Brylee opened her mouth to refute the claim Gage was her man but kept it shut. At that moment, she had no idea what was going on.

Gage straightened when she came out of the back and headed toward them. He wrapped an arm around her waist. "Ready?"

She nodded.

"I meant what I said, girl. If you leave, that's it."

Brylee looked toward Randy. The man had sexually harassed her since the first day she worked there. She was actually thrilled to leave the place. He'd always given her the creeps.

"I'm sorry," she said and turned to walk out.