Mafia Captive - Julia Sykes Page 0,4

over my face as he imposed himself in my personal space. I took an instinctive step back and bumped into the barstool behind me. I stumbled, and he caught my upper arms to prevent me from falling.

“Thanks,” I mumbled, embarrassed. I tried to shift away again, but he didn’t let me go.

“I think you owe me a kiss,” he announced, leaning in so his hot breath fanned over my lips. He smelled like beer and cigarettes. My stomach twisted.

“I don’t think so,” I countered, trying to sound firmly assertive. Instead, the refusal came out a little breathlessly. Even though I’d kissed him before, I was distinctly uncomfortable with his nearness and his persistent grip on my arms.

“Don’t be a cocktease. You know you want it.”

My stomach churned as my anxiety soured into fear. This wasn’t simply arrogant flirting. When we’d kissed in a drunken frenzy, his hands had been rough and groping, but I hadn’t exactly been at my best, either. I’d dismissed his pawing as sloppy intoxication.

I wasn’t sure if he was drunk right now, but there was no excuse for calling me a cocktease. My skin crawled where he maintained his firm grip on my upper arms.

“You’re wrong,” I insisted, barely managing to force more than a whispered denial up my constricted throat. “I don’t want this. I want you to let me go.” I tried to twist out of his hold, but he didn’t release me. Instead, he leaned closer.

“Take your hands off her.” The menace in the low, masculine growl made me shudder.

I looked past Stu with wide eyes, searching for my savior. Joseph’s flame-blue gaze burned into the boy who’d trapped me. My mouth went dry, but his fury wasn’t directed at me.

Stu finally let me go so he could face off against Joseph. I quickly put distance between us, my back hitting the wall after a few steps. Stu placed his body in front of mine, blocking me off in a clearly territorial demonstration.

“Get away from her.” Joseph’s voice was a low, fierce rumble. He had several inches of height on Stu, even though the preppy boy was a little over six feet tall. Joseph’s impressive muscles rippled with barely restrained violence.

Stu was either drunk enough or stupid enough that he didn’t back down.

“Fuck off,” he sneered.

Joseph moved with lightning speed, and his fists curled in the front of Stu’s shirt. He jerked the boy away from me and slammed him back against the wall, forcing several feet of distance between us.

“Leave,” he ordered coldly. “You’re banned. If I ever see you in here again—and if I ever see you anywhere near Ashlyn—you’ll answer to me.”

He held Stu in his burning stare a few seconds longer, impressing his will on the smaller man. When he finally released him, Stu shoved at his rock-solid chest in a show of petulance. Joseph barely swayed back an inch, standing his ground. His eyes narrowed on Stu, and the creep shot one last glare in my direction before sulking off toward the exit.

“You okay?”

I jolted when Joseph addressed me. His low, soothing tone was in sharp contrast to the menace that had imbued his voice when he’d threatened Stu.

“Um, yeah.” I realized I was trembling. I tried to still my shaking fingers. I wasn’t hurt, but the encounter had been unnerving.

“I’m going to take you home.” It wasn’t a question, but I found myself nodding in response. I didn’t want to leave without an escort in case Stu decided to wait for me outside.

The bar had gone quiet around us as all the focus shifted toward the altercation between Stu and Joseph. Dozens of eyes pricked at my skin like needles, and I was suddenly desperate to return to the safe solitude of my apartment.

“Come on. I’ve got you.” Joseph reached out his hand, giving me the option to initiate physical contact. After Stu had inserted himself in my personal space, I appreciated that Joseph allowed me to choose whether or not I wanted him to touch me.

I wasn’t at all afraid of him. How could I be, when he’d just swooped in and saved me like my own personal knight in shining armor? Although his assertion that he’d take me home had been firm, he was waiting for my consent.

I placed my hand in his, and a sense of safety rolled over me, easing the knots in my stomach. His long fingers closed around mine in a gentle grip. I breathed out a relieved sigh and gratefully