CHAPTER 6

DOM POV.
I was alert and prepared. That was why I noticed the girls and quickly assessed them to see if there was any threat and that was also when I sensed Mia make her move. I quickly blocked her kicked that she aimed at my crotch, catching her ankle and holding on to it. I still felt a little pissed that she did not trust me, but I knew that with what she thought she knew of my reputation, that she was smart not to. I smirked in amusement as she hopped on one foot, and she looked cute the way her face scrunched up in anger and embarrassment.
"Nice try, Mia," I said lowly, enjoying my small victory. "But you're not getting rid of me that easily." I said and as if challenging me, she tried wiggling her foot out of my grasp again. As much as I was enjoying this, I had to remember the dangers that lurked around every corner and in this case, literally around the corner. I knew the lecherous man from before wasn’t gone. I knew he was standing and watching us, thinking that I didn’t see him.
I let go of Mia’s foot, making her stumble back, but what I didn’t expect was for her to immediately make a run for the exit. As Mia turned to run, I tried to make a grab for her shoulder, but my fingers caught onto her necklace instead. The delicate chain of necklace she wore close to her body broke and slipped out from around her neck. It glinted in the dim light of the bar, and I watched, transfixed, as the delicate chain slid from her neck, the small pendant swaying precariously.
Without thinking, my hand shot out and I caught the necklace before it could reach the ground, my fingers closing around it like a vice. The round pendant felt warm as I held it in my fisted palm, as if it had absorbed the heat of Mia's skin. I looked up to see that she had stopped and was staring back at me, her eyes wide with surprise and something else... nervousness or could it be fear perhaps? We stared at each other for a few seconds before Mia's gaze dropped to the necklace in my hand. When she looked back up at me, she had a determined look on her face. "Give it back," she demanded, her voice low and I felt an excited thrill go through my body at her silent warning that she was trying to convey with the look she was giving me.
I smiled at her in challenge. "I don’t know… What do I get in return?" I asked, my voice dripping with amusement. "This looks like it might be important to you so what do you have to trade for it?” I spoke and dangled it in between us. I could see that I had gotten more under her skin than before. With no reply, she made a wild grab for her necklace, but I caught her wrist, holding it in a firm grip.
"Let go," she demanded, her voice pitching slightly in panic. "That's mine." She said and I smiled. I feel a surge of power and control as I look down at the feisty dark headed girl in front of me. "I don't think so," I said, my voice low and suggestive. "You're not getting it back that easy." I spoke. Mia’s eyes flashed with anger and tears as she looked from me to her necklace. She struggled against my grip, but I held firm, my fingers digging into her skin. It was only when she winced in pain, did I realize how strong my hold was. I could feel her pulse racing, just like I could hear it thumping loudly in her chest.
I gazed into Mia's eyes, seeing a flicker of vulnerability that gave me pause. I loosened my grip on her wrist, and she immediately pulled her arm free, rubbing at the tender spot but despite her discomfort, her eyes looked back to the necklace in my hand. I could sense that she desperately wanted it back and I felt a pang of guilt for teasing her. This was not at all how I thought my night would go, even though she had been on my mind since the first time I laid my eyes on her.
I had stood at the bar, sipping my whiskey and waiting quite impatiently for my business associate when I smelled a familiar scent. I immediately knew it was her and I was slightly surprised that she would be in a place like this. I had quickly scanned my surroundings until my heart thudded loudly when my eyes finally landed on her. Her hair was loose and cascaded in dark brown curls down her back. Even in the low light of the club, her green eyes seemed to glow, capturing my attention even more and to my dismay, my attention was not the only one that she captured.
It looked like she was looking for someone and just as she headed towards the back exit in her search, I noticed as the duty manager, a sleazy guy with a reputation for being too friendly with the females, make his way towards her. I could tell by the way he was eyeing her that he wanted to do more than just chat. Without thinking and just going on instinct, I made my way over to them and I was right. When I rounded the corner that led to the back exit, I saw the duty manager making suggestive comments and trying to force Mia to have a drink with him. She was politely declining, but he was persistent, and I could feel my anger rise and made my move, knowingly at the back of my mind that I would be making her an unwilling target to what lurked in the shadows. Or in this case, the boss of the sleazy bastard that was still spying on us. The night club’s owner and my business associate.
I don’t know why, but as I gazed down into Mia’s green eyes, I knew I had to protect her and the first step to do that was to get her out of here as fast as I could. Instead of giving back her necklace, I pocketed it and before Mia could do or say anything else, I grabbed her and hoisted a shocked Mia over my shoulder and started to make my way to the exit.