Definitely panic in her voice. He wanted to kill the bastard who’d struck her. Savage leaned against the bar right over two barstools. Savage was a man no one in their right mind ever called out. No one. Not even some drunk with an entire club behind them. He’d lay waste to most of them, and those he left alive, the rest of his brothers would send to hell.
A few times already, because Savage didn’t say much, a couple of young drunks who didn’t know his reputation yet and were well past self-preservation thought they could make a name for themselves. Before they got a word out, friends of the two apologized to Savage and dragged them off.
Savage straightened like a lazy panther, his cool blue eyes raking the bar as he turned toward Ice. “This your woman, Ice?”
“She’s mine,” Ice confirmed. “Name’s Soleil.”
Savage looked her over. She moved closer to Ice and he tightened his hold even more, tucking her under his shoulder protectively. He wanted to grin at Savage. The man knew how to intimidate.
“What the fuck happened to her?” Savage demanded.
“Some asshole hit her,” Ice said. He tipped her face up to him, using his thumb and finger. “That suit I saw you with on the street. He do this to you?” His thumb slid gently over the bruises.
Soleil looked mesmerized by him. He couldn’t help himself, he very gently brushed kisses over the bruises.
“You want us to take him out for you?”
Her long, thick lashes fluttered, drawing his attention. Ice wanted to kiss them as well.
“You mean like, kill him?” Her voice was very soft. No more than a whisper, but Savage heard her, and he shot Ice a quick glance. If he was amused by her innocent question, it didn’t show, but Ice knew him well enough to know he thought Soleil’s lack of street smarts was funny.
“Yeah, baby, like kill him. I don’t much like that he put his hands on you. Who the hell is he?” They’d find the bastard and end his days of hitting women. He’d suffer before he died if Savage or Ice got to him first.
“He was my fiancé,” she admitted. “He wanted to get married here and I said no way. He wouldn’t sign a prenup. Everyone has them these days, right?”
Ice helped her onto the stool and glanced at the bartender to make certain he was paying attention. Keeping a hand on her shoulder, he slid onto the bar stool beside her. Savage stayed at her back and Maestro took the bar stool next to Ice.
“You were going to marry that asshole?” Ice persisted.
“No. He sort of railroaded me. I was in a bad place, and the next thing I knew, he was there running everything. I’m not even sure how it happened. Thank God I woke up.” She took the glass the bartender pushed into her hand and started fishing around for her money.
“I’ve got this,” Ice said. “He’ll put it on my tab. You were saying this asshole tried to force you to marry him?” He leaned in close and soothingly rubbed along her arm. She wore a short denim jacket, but she would feel his touch beneath the material.
She looked surprised that he was paying. Clearly, she was used to being the one to pay. The suit really was a first-class asshole. Or a con artist maybe, looking for a sugar mama. Soleil seemed too young for that.
“Thank you, Ice. That is very sweet of you.”
He was pleased she actually remembered his name. The bar was loud, and she had just walked in alone and afraid. He smiled at her. “Tell me about the suit.” Behind his back he signaled to his twin brother, showing his phone and mouthing “Lana.” He needed Lana on his side, and she wasn’t going to like what Storm was going to tell her.
Soleil took a slow sip of the whiskey and then looked at the glass. “I love the way this burns all the way down.” She wasn’t slurring her words, but she’d had more than one drink before she’d gotten there. That much was obvious.
Ice nodded his agreement. “Feels good, doesn’t it?” She was still looking very nervous and he was afraid if it wasn’t for Savage standing right behind her, she might have tried bolting. He was a little out of his depth. He didn’t want to sound like her asshole for-sure-to-be-ex-fiancé. He didn’t know how to talk to “nice” girls. He tended to just issue orders. Most revolved around sucking his cock. Shit.
He needed to keep this woman with him. He didn’t even know why the compulsion was so strong, but that need was relentless, bone deep. Soul deep. He swore under his breath and tried to find the words that would put her at ease.
“It’s loud in here, but it will clear out in an hour or two. In the meantime, you think it would be a good thing to give Lana a call, so she can vouch for me? I don’t want you nervous. You really are safe with me.”
Immediately she put down the glass and all but sighed with relief. “I doubt if I could hear her, but maybe if I text her?”
“Good idea.” He glanced back again and saw Storm on his cell talking fast and knew he was filling Lana in. Storm already knew this was the woman who had caused Ice to nearly blow their cover on the street earlier. She wasn’t just anyone. Ice wanted her. For whatever reason, he might even need her. Storm would walk through hell to give Ice whatever he asked for—because he’d never asked for anything. His brothers and sisters in Torpedo Ink would do the same.
Ice’s body felt cold with nerves. He’d faced guns, knives, all kinds of fights, and he’d done so without flinching. This was different. This was important, and he had absolutely no guidelines. None. He swallowed the whiskey down, feeling the burn. Needing it. How the hell was he going to get her home, where he had a chance of keeping her?
“You know, honey, I’ve been thinking about this prenup thing. You’re right, everyone has them. He was a fool to give you up over that. I would have signed it without even looking at it in order to have you.” Deliberately he brought it up again, needing her to want to stay with him in the crowded bar. He needed time. A little time.
“You would?” Her face brightened, and she leaned into him. Just a little, but it was enough to tell Ice he was on the right track.
“In a heartbeat, princess. Any man worth anything would sign one.”
“He thought he was still going to get me,” she said. “And when he realized I meant what I said, he—” She broke off. Her voice trembled. Her hand shook as she lifted the glass to her mouth.
Ice moved closer to her and rubbed her back soothingly. “You’re safe here with us. Text Lana, she’ll tell you this is the right place. No one can harm you as long as you’re with us.” He glanced up as his brothers came back through the door. All three shook their heads. They hadn’t found any evidence of anyone chasing her.
He nodded to them and they moved in closer to protect his woman. She looked so completely out of place there, but now they had her surrounded. Alena would escort her to the women’s room anytime she wanted to go. Some of the women in the bar weren’t looking at her too fondly. He didn’t give a shit, as long as she was sitting next to him.