Page 105 of Loyalty

Siena didn’t know if the guy and his group of friends had been standing behind her and John minutes ago, so she took him at his word. “I’m fine, really.”

“If you’re sure …?”

“She’s sure.”

Johnathan’s rough reply coming from her right made Siena stiffen. She couldn’t remember a time when she had ever heard him sound like that.

Angry and cold.

Seemed he had come back from his phone call without her even noticing. She turned to face him, and slipped a hand in with his. Instantly, he pulled her in close, and rested one of his arms around the back of her neck.

The comfort came back.

Just like that.

“Sorry,” the guy said.

John didn’t even reply. He only grunted unintelligibly back.

“You good?” he asked her quietly.

His words murmured into her hair.

“I am now.”

“Good, love.”

John moved them subtly so that her back was facing the group of guys, while at the same time, he could watch them. Never once did his arm release her from the tight hold around the back of her neck and shoulders. Siena didn’t even mind. She tipped her head back to stare up at him. The sharp line of his jaw showed a tic, and his gaze wasn’t on her.

“Everything good—with the call, I mean?”

John didn’t look down. “Yeah, babe. It’s good.”

“Fucking shame, man. Lucked out on that ass. Almost had it.”

The ruckus of laughter from the group of frat boys, not to mention the one guy’s words, had John stiffening.

“I hope you’re not fucking talking about this girl,” he said over her head.

Siena’s heart leaped into her throat. She pressed her hands into his hard stomach to try and get his attention on her, and not on those fools. “Hey, it’s fine, John.”

Nope.

He didn’t even look away from them at all.

“And what if I was?” the guy from earlier asked. “Chill, man, she’s with you.”

“Say something about her again, and see what I’ll do.”

“John,” Siena murmured.

He wasn’t hearing her at all. His blazing gaze was locked on a group of idiots, and yet, his hold on her hadn’t loosened a bit.

“She isn’t worth it, anyway,” the guy said with a laugh.

It kind of sounded like he meant it to be dismissive. A way to back away from John’s threats, and yet still keep some kind of pride with his friends.

Siena knew it was a mistake before he even finished talking.