Page 40 of Bulletproof

“I think maybe you’d better change it before I change it for you.”

I scoffed, smirking at him. Better people than him had tried, and whether he knew it or not, the man who loved me was sitting on my left with his knee against mine. When Sam was close to me, I was bulletproof.

“You need to put a muzzle on your bitch,” the guy told Cristo.

“And you need to not disrespect me at my own table.”

I had no idea Cristo’s voice could get so cold, so hard, and so vicious.

Instinctively, I put my hand on his forearm. He covered it with his own.

“Jory has nothing to do with us, and I was going to keep things light and not speak in front of him, but now you’ve gone and threatened him, and to show you I won’t stand for that, I’m going to tell you that our deal is off, Mr. Miller,” he said, glancing at the other man. “I’m going to do business with⁠—”

“Wait,” I said, interrupting him, seeing Mr. Miller’s face and watching all the color drain from the guy who had been insulting me. “Please.”

Cristo turned to me.

“It’s okay. Maybe he feels about Mr. Miller the way I feel about Dane.” I peered over at him. “How can I fault him for loyalty?”

He opened his mouth, but nothing came out; his brows just furrowed as he stared at me.

My focus was back on Cristo. “It’s fine, okay?”

The warmth seeped back into his eyes, the gold spreading until they were once again honey brown. “Fine,” he said as he glared at the man. “Don’t threaten anyone at my table ever again, Dorian—you understand?”

He nodded quickly, and his eyes flicked back to me.

I stared back, and he couldn’t hold my gaze, glancing away after a minute.

“Jory.”

I turned to Cristo, and his smile made me smile back.

“It looks like I have business, so I’ll have Paz take you home.”

“No,” I said, putting my hands in my lap. I moved one before I rose, sliding it up Sam’s thigh, squeezing gently, loving, as always, the hardness of the muscles. On my feet, I realized how close our chairs were and turned sideways, dragging my groin across his arm as I wedged myself free. “I can get home all by myself. No worries.”

Cristo rose and put a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll call you.”

“Sure.” I smiled as he gave me a quick pat before sitting back down.

“Good night.” I smiled and left the table fast.

I pulled on my peacoat and started for the door.

“Jory.”

Turning, I waited while Dorian caught up with me.

“Forgive me.”

I shrugged. “It’s okay.”

“I didn’t realize you and Cristo were just—I thought you were one of his boys.”

“No, we’re just friends.”

He nodded. “Thank you for jumping in.”