Cole knew what that meant, even if Angel didn’t fully understand what was happening here. Bid Ed was making a point, and he was using Angel to do it. Either Cole claimed her as his, or Big Ed was going to take her, and do God knows what with her. Cole stepped in between Angel and Big Ed. “Just haven’t gotten that taken care of yet.”
Big Ed smiled an evil smile, and called his bluff. “Well, hell, boy. No time like the present. It’ll be my treat.” He pulled a couple of large bills from his pocket, and held them up between two fingers. “Escort them down to Stumpy’s, Taz. Make sure it gets done right.”
The one he’d called Taz reached up, and took the money, looking at Angel with a wide, evil grin. “You got it, boss.”
Angel swallowed. It was the guy that had been checking her out at the party. What was happening? What were they talking about? Getting what done?
“That’s kind of old school these days, Big Ed. The lady’s with me.”
“Well, I’m an old school kind of guy. You wouldn’t want any of my guys to think she was available, would you?”
Cole’s gaze moved to Taz.
Big Ed smiled. “Didn’t think so.” He turned, and walked over to a table along with three of his guys. The other four stood waiting.
The muscles in Cole’s jaw worked as he grabbed Angel’s hand, and headed toward the door. Crash and the four Devil Kings followed them out. Cole and Crash had parked right in front of the door. The Devil Kings headed toward their bikes, which were parked in the row beyond.
Cole turned to Angel, and said in a whisper, “Look, I’m gonna get you out of here.”
Crash looked at him, and said in a low voice so the others wouldn’t hear him. “Are you insane? You do that and Big Ed will slit both our throats. Besides, there’s no way you’re gonna get her out of here. I’m with you, brother, but there are eight of them. And you piss on the Devil Kings, and Mack will have your ass. What’s left of it, anyway. You’re lucky Big Ed’s even giving you this out.”
He turned to her. “I’m sorry I got you into this. I shouldn’t have brought you here.”
“A little late for that,” Crash added.
Cole glared at him.
The Devil Kings sat on their bikes, waiting. The one called Taz hollered over to them, “Let’s go!”
Cole looked back at him. Crash was right. He didn’t see anyway out of this. It was a fight they couldn’t win, and once the fight was over there would be no one standing between these animals and Angel.
They mounted up, and pulled out of the parking lot. They rode down the street, followed by four Devil Kings.
In a few minutes, they were turning down a side street and slowing up in front of a line of run down businesses. They passed a Vietnamese grocery, a pawnshop, and a couple of boarded up businesses. They rolled to a stop, and Cole backed up to the curb, and cut off the engine. They dismounted.
Angel looked up at the neon sign in the store front window. Stumpy’s Tattoo Parlor.
Cole slid his hand to the nape of Angel’s neck, and pulled her close. Leaning down, he whispered in her ear. “Just do what I tell you, and everything’s gonna be okay. Don’t put up a fight. You understand me?”
Put up a fight? What was going to happen? She looked in Cole’s eyes. She didn’t have any choice but to trust him. She nodded.
Cole took her by the wrist, and pulled her along.
Crash bent, and pulled a bottle of whiskey from his saddlebag.
They entered the shop, followed by the Devil Kings. A bell tinkled over the door, announcing their entrance.
Angel looked around. There was no one in the place, and then a voice from a back room yelled out. “Be with ya in a minute.”
“Hey, Stumpy! Get out here. Cole needs to get his ol’ lady stamped,” Taz yelled. The four guys leaned against the counter.
Taz looked over at Angel, and grabbed her right wrist. “Come on, darlin’.”
Cole yanked on her left wrist. “I got it.” He glared at Taz.
Angel stood between the two, wondering what was going to happen.
Taz stared Cole down, and then smiled. “Okay. Go on,” he nodded toward one of the tattoo stations.
Cole led Angel over to a long padded table. He pulled her sideways,