Rock Me Slower (Licks of Leather #3) - Jenna Jacob Page 0,23

of here. Now!” Quinn barked as he and Ava helped Mia from the floor.

That’s when I got a good look at the welted, crimson handprint marring her pale, shocked face.

Rage spiked hotter and higher.

Beating the shit out of Devon was no longer good enough. I wanted to kill him. As I lunged toward him, Ross grabbed the collar of my jacket and hauled me back.

“He’s not worth it. Come on, we gotta get out of here before the cops show.”

My body shook with fury as I tore from Ross’s hold and stormed out the door.

Once outside, I struggled to harness my still-blistering rage as sirens wailed in the distance. A few yards ahead of me, Sofia studied the mark on Mia’s face as they hurried to the limo.

“We’ll get an ice pack on that in a minute,” Sofia assured.

Burk, who was a half a step ahead of them, turned and flashed a grin. “Damn, Mia. Where’d you learn how to be such a badass?”

“When no one else wanted to fight for me, I had to learn to do it all by myself.” She tossed a caustic glare over her shoulder at me and stomped her sexy-as-fuck stilettos against the concrete.

The little hellcat was still slinging arrows every chance she could. But drinking in the sight of her pert little ass swaying so invitingly erased some of the sting.

Burk paused and waited for me and Ross to reach him. “Sorry, bro. I didn’t mean to dredge up shit from the past.”

I waved his apology away. “When it comes to Mia, everything’s a landmine from the past. I’ve gotta learn how to tiptoe around them.”

“Learn fast, man. You’ve only got one set of balls.” Syd chuckled.

As we reached the vehicle, Mia and Quinn stood outside talking.

“But you said no physical viole—”

“I said no physical violence between my clients. Devon deserved more that what he got. That boy better get his ass to rehab before he shows up in an RIP video on Facebook.”

“Rehab won’t work. He’s too far gone,” Ross stated before entering the limo.

His grim tone sent an ominous chill rolling up my spine. If the four of us hadn’t sought Quinn’s help and staged an intervention a few years ago, Ross might not be here now. The drugs hadn’t taken his life, but they’d stolen his zest for it, along with his smile and carefree demeanor. Still, I’d never stopped hoping one day he’d vanquish the demons that continued haunting him, and we’d get our old Ross back.

Snagging the empty seat next to Burk and Sofia, I watched Mia make her way to the back of the limo. Concern written all over his face, Quinn shut the door behind him as he slid in beside Ava.

Both Sofia and Tori put together an ice pack for Mia, then returned to their seats.

“I think everyone is ready to head back to the hotel and skip Dark Gardens. Am I right?” Quinn asked.

The overwhelming consensus was yes. While he directed the driver to take us back to our hotel, I glanced at Mia. She was holding the ice pack to her face and absently staring out the window. Both Grammys rested in her lap as if they were an afterthought and not the mammoth achievements they symbolized. She no longer looked like a badass capable of putting grown men in their place with a well-aimed knee or the whip of her tongue, but a young woman, fragile, lost, and alone.

Because that’s exactly what she is, a little voice in my head reminded.

A part of me wanted to move in beside her, gather her into my arms, and soothe the pain Devon had inflicted. But he wasn’t the only guilty prick who’d hurt her tonight. I was equally guilty.

I reached over and fisted the bottle of my old friend vodka. He’d been there through my darkest hours when Mia and I parted ways. He’d eased my heartbreak, calmed my rage, and numbed my misery. Studying the liquid sloshing in the bottle, I knew he wouldn’t be able to erase the riot of emotions gnawing and warring inside me now. I might be able to mute it, but it wouldn’t change a thing, only give me a bitching hangover. Shoving the bottle into the vat of ice, I tilted my head back and closed my eyes.

Forty-five minutes later, I was in my hotel room, showered, and donning pajama pants and a cotton tee. I grabbed the change I’d tossed on the nightstand and my key