“I don’t know who you are,” Strada began.
“My name’s Quinn Ryder.” He knew from Strada’s blink that he recognized Quinn. “Yeah, we’ve met. Now Cade told you to get lost.”
“He’s my—”
Before he could finish the sentence, Quinn leaned in so close he could smell the whiskey on the man’s breath and see the tic under his right eye. “He’s my boy now. Not yours. You lost that chance when you beat him up.”
He didn’t mention the rape, not wanting a member of the public to overhear, but the assault outside a club was on public record.
Strada tried to look around him. “Cade—”
Suddenly a balding man appeared with two guys larger than Quinn at his back. “Mr. Connolly, is there a problem here?”
Quinn gathered Cade close to him again. “Mr. Strada needs to leave.”
Cade clung onto Quinn and nodded in agreement and the bald man, obviously part of the club security, turned to Strada. “Mr. Strada, please come with us.”
The bald man made it clear who had the power in the room, and it wasn’t the huge men or the daddies. Cade had the power, and he’d spoken.
Quinn waited to see what Strada would do. The primal part of him wanted a fight, wanted to be able to claim his boy publicly so that there was no doubt in anyone’s mind who Cade belonged to. The protector part of him hoped Strada was sufficiently intimidated by this show of civilized force to back the fuck off.
“Mr. Strada?” the bald man said, making it clear by his tone and his expression that he expected Strada to obey or he would be removed by force.
Strada huffed. “You can’t keep avoiding me, boy,” he said, and stalked toward the door, the three men following on his heels.
Cade shuddered, and Quinn tucked his head under his chin.
“It’s okay, you’re safe,” he soothed.
The team melted to a safe distance. He nodded at Tormac, impressed by his decision to get club security involved. Now they would know for future that there was an issue. And Quinn had claimed Cade for his own.
Cade spoke but Quinn didn’t hear him. He bent his head and asked for him to repeat it. Cade raised his head. “I want to go home.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Then we’ll go. Give me a minute to make the arrangements.”
He didn’t know where Strada had gone, and he didn’t want to risk him following them home, although it wasn’t like Strada didn’t know where Cade lived.
Quinn guided Cade back to the table. “Stay here,” he said.
He heard Ian’s worried, “Are you all right?” as he walked over to Tormac.
“We’re leaving,”
“On it.”
“Make sure we’re not followed.”
Tormac raised an eyebrow. “Anything else obvious you want to tell me?”
Quinn held back a snarl. “Just be careful.” He caught Tormac’s expression and sighed. “Too obvious?”
“Yeah.” Tormac’s frown deepened. “You know he’s going to try again?”
“Now who’s being obvious?” Quinn grinned at him, but it swiftly faded. “I do. He’s obsessed with Cade and it’s clear he’ll do everything he can to get him back.”
“If he’s cornered he could be dangerous.”
“Noted,” Quinn said.
Tormac nodded. “Jace is ready. You’re going out the back.”
“Paparazzi?”
Quinn didn’t put it past Strada to alert the paps and try to make a grand gesture in front of them.
“It’s clear.”
He returned to the booth, pleased to see Cade laughing at something Keith had said.
“We’re ready to go,” Quinn said to Cade.
Cade nodded and slid out of the booth.
“Aw, don’t go yet. It’s early,” Keith protested, making a grab for Cade who evaded him.
“It’s nearly three and I’m beat, man.” Cade grinned down at his band mate. “I need my beauty sleep.”
“Lightweight,” Keith grumbled.
“Quit whining,” Dave said. “I think I’m gonna call it a night too.”
Keith sighed heavily and looked across at Ian. “It looks like it’s just you and me, kid.”
“Oh joy,” Ian said, but he grinned at Keith.
Quinn ignored the by-play and looked at Cade. “We’re going out the back.”
Cade nodded. “What about my bike?”
“It’s waiting for you. Don’t worry, your baby is safe,” Quinn teased.
They left, Quinn’s arm around Cade. Quinn zipped up Cade’s jacket over his naked chest as if he were a little boy. Cade’s expression was conflicted, and Quinn understood.
“It’s for show,” he murmured. “You don’t know whether Strada has friends here.”
“He’s got friends everywhere,” Cade said, surprisingly, as Quinn put on his own jacket.
Quinn studied him. “That’s a conversation we need to have.”
“But not now.” Cade sighed. “I just want my bed.”
“It can wait until tomorrow.”
He turned but Cade curled his fingers around his jacket. “Quinn.”
Quinn looked down at him. “Yes?”
“I’m sorry.” Cade bit his lip and Quinn wanted to free his poor abused lip from his teeth. “I should have listened to you. I didn’t think Eric would be stupid enough to follow me here.”
“How did he know you’d be here tonight?”
Cade looked troubled. “I said he had friends everywhere.”
“Someone called him and told him you were coming.” Quinn didn’t like that idea.
“Anyone could have done that.”
“In your band?”
Cade shook his head without hesitation. “No, Keith, Dave and Ian are loyal to me. Besides, they didn’t like him.”
Quinn thought he’d discuss that with each member of the band separately. But Cade was right. Anyone in the club could have called Strada.
“Why did he come?” Cade asked, his gaze locked on Quinn’s.
“To check me out,” Quinn said. He’d been thinking about that, too.
Strada hadn’t made much of a scene. Hadn’t started shouting or screaming. It had been a power-play. Testing Quinn, not Cade. What had Strada seen? Hopefully he’d realized Quinn was higher on the food chain than he was, and not to be pushed.
“He didn’t like seeing me with you,” Cade said.
“No, he didn’t.” Quinn took grim satisfaction from that.
Cade’s lips twitched. “You know you’re snarling.”
He was? Quinn took a deep breath. He needed to keep himself under control. Especially around Strada. Quinn wanted him locked up, but by the book. It wouldn’t be hard for Strada to wriggle free of any charges with a good lawyer. No, Quinn wanted him locked away for life. If that weren’t possible, an eight to fifteen stretch would be good enough.
“Let’s go home,” Quinn said.
Cade nodded. “I need a cuddle with Mogs.”
Quinn gave a loud snort. “You’ll be lucky if she even acknowledges you exist.”