Page 34 of The Originals

“Now, what do we have here.” The unfamiliar male voice had her opening her eyes and Mick’s hand stilling.

Meg couldn’t see the man with Mick blocking her.

“Mick?” she whispered.

He stared back at her, tension in his eyes and his jaw squared. He slowly pulled his hand from her pants, then zipped and buckled her jeans and belt before looking over his shoulder.

“Fuck off.” Mick’s voice was calm and even, but she heard the threat.

She heard a few men chuckle, and her heart immediately began to race. It was more than one man. Mick turned back and lowered his voice.

“You stay behind me. We get into it” —he paused— “you run.”

What? Get into what? A fight?

****

This was definitely killing his buzz. This was the last thing he needed. They were at least a hundred feet from the stands and triple that away from the club. Adding to the tension was the fear in Meg’s eyes.

“You run,” he repeated, and slowly turned, keeping her blocked.

Three men stood about ten feet away. He’d never seen them before, nor did he recognize their cuts. But clearly, they belonged to a club. “Can I fucking help you?”

The man in the middle chugged back his beer and tossed the can. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and arched his neck as if to see Meg.Motherfucker.

Mick straightened, blocking as much of her as possible. Being ambushed by these men was threatening enough, but adding alcohol to the mix could have severe consequences. Guys looking for something to prove were more aggressive when they were drunk. Mick was in the worst possible position backed into a dark corner and outnumbered.

“Need me to ask you again, asshole?” Mick snapped.

“You willing to share?”

Mick felt her hand grip the back of his cut and heard her faint whisper, “Mick.”

Hearing the panic in her voice only added to his own anger.

“Back up, motherfuckers,” Mick said. “And walk away. This is the only warning you get.”

They didn’t seem the slightest bit intimidated. Mick stepped forward a few feet, thankful that Meg had released her hold. He was hoping she’d follow his orders of running if a fight broke out. He wasn’t concerned about himself.Only her.

“Got my whole club here. You don’t want to do this.”

“I don’t see your club.” The man in the middle spread out his arms. He eyed Meg, licking his lips.

“Then turn the fuck around.” Mick heard Jack’s voice but couldn’t make out where it was coming from until the Ghosttown Riders MC appeared all around them from the dark.

“You got a fucking problem?” Mack asked, inching closer to the three men.

The guy in the center of the threesome stepped back as he scanned the club. He was finally taking Mick’s advice and trying to retreat. But Mick wasn’t letting it go.You started this shit. Now I’m gonna finish it.

“I think he does have a problem, brother.” Grain sidled up next to Mack.

“Mick.” He heard her whisper, and more importantly, the fear in her tone. And they were going to pay for it.

The club circled around the three men. The guy in the middle, who’d been so brazen minutes earlier, held up his hands.

“We’ll get outta here.”

Oh, the fuck you will.