The raised brow and the self-important smirk told me Xander was okay. We clasped palms and gave each other a half hug, and then I wound my way to the VIP section to look for Nick. I headed through the back hallway toward the patio where they let everyone smoke without actually having to leave the club. There was no one on the patio, but when I turned, something caught my gaze. Suddenly, the hairs at the back of my neck stood at attention and I frowned. What the hell?

Someone was out there. I narrowed my gaze. And then I felt it, the shadow behind me, and I whirled on the balls of my feet, hands up, ready to defend or attack.

Unfortunately, when I moved, whoever was behind me moved too, so I only caught a brief glimpse before the attack happened.

A fist punched straight to my kidneys, and I howled.

I whipped around and fired off an elbow in the general vicinity of my attacker.

The guy oomphed, and I was ready to turn the tables on him. But once I was facing him, ready to go in for the attack, I heard footsteps behind me.

Multiple attackers. Fucking fantastic.

The guy in front of me swept out a leg, trying to sweep me off my feet, but my stance was strong. With a couple of quick jabs, I snapped his head back and moved in for the quick kill. Forearm on his neck, my other arm blocking his free one and attacking. I delivered a couple of knees and then, grabbing onto shirt and skin with my bar arm hand and using my block arm for momentum, I turned his whole body around, so I could see my other attacker. Striking him like this, I could deliver all the blows I needed. I could also keep my eye on whoever else was coming for me.

He was my height. Over six feet, dark hair, thicker build though. My mother used to tell me I was whipcord lean. So, I might not be as big, but I'd learned a long time ago that I needed to be deadly.

When he refused to go down, I adjusted my hold and grabbed his face with both hands, pressing my thumbs into his eye sockets. When he leaned back, trying to save his sight and exposing his throat, I punched him, and down he went.

His partner was coming at me next, and he was also quick on his feet.

I was weaving. I'd had too much to drink for this. But like hell was I going down that easy. I knew what it was like to be helpless and alone. It wasn't going to happen today. "Hey arsehole, you know, we don't have to do this. You can take your girlfriend here and go. I don't want to hurt you."

He smirked and came at me in full-on attack mode.