CLUB SQUABBLE

Anika stood and showed them all her engagement ring.

“He proposed.” Anika squealed.

“And she said yes.” Tedros said smugly.

“OMG! I’m so happy for you both.” Uriel squealed as she got up and hugged Anika.

“Congrats man.” Nik said and shook Tedros.

“I’m happy for you.” Connor said.

“I hear a 'but' in there, Connor.” Tedros said with an arched brow.

“But why are you both getting married now? You’re still very young.” Connor said.

“I’m Twenty seven, Connor. And Anika is twenty five. That’s not so young. Besides, we aren’t getting married right now.” Tedros said to him.

“We plan to get married by the end of the year or the beginning of next year so we still have a few months.” Anika said.

‘Well, goodluck to you both. The only way I see myself getting married is if I’m forced to. And that will be when I’m in my forties. There are so many women to sample, why settle for just one. It’s so boring.” Connor said and Nik groaned.

“Don’t even start, Connor. No one wants to hear about your many conquests.”

“This calls for a celebration, Anika. Let’s dance!” Uriel said excitedly as she pulled Anika with her to the dance floor.

The males remained in their seats, having their drinks and discussing about the latest sport update. 

Uriel and Anika were dancing together with the others on the dance floor when a strong hand wrapped around Anika's midriff. She was pulled back into the chest of a tall male with brown hair and a scar on his left eyebrow. She tried to turn and move out of the person’s arms but she was pulled back to her former position.

“Be a good girl.” The man whispered against the back of her neck.

“Hey! Let her go. We don’t need any male company, we’re not single.” Anika yelled so she would be heard over the loud music.

The others on the dance floor either didn’t notice the scene that was going on, or they didn’t care enough to interfere.

“Run along, woman. I want to have a chat with your friend.” The man warned Anika and began to pull Uriel away with him.

“Hey! Let her go!” Anika yelled as she held Uriel’s hands and tried to pull her back but the man was too strong.

Uriel was struggling and trying to twist out of the man’s grasp, but to no avail.

Tedros was the first at their table to notice what was going on.

“Hey, what’s happening there?’ Tedros asked as he stood and the others turned towards the scene.

Nik was already out of his seat and moving towards the commotion before any of the other two males.

He pushed people out of the way as he tried to get to Uri and Anika. He saw the man holding Uri shove Anika so hard that she fell to the floor. He growled though it couldn’t be heard over the music, and his gaze had darkened in anger.

Nik got to Anika and helped her up then kept moving forward to follow the man dragging Uri.

Who the hell was this man that thought he could touch someone else’s woman with such disrespect?

Nik saw the man take Uri into a hallway and he followed. The hallway led to a back exit that led out to the parking lot. That was where Nik finally caught up to them.

“Let her go, now!” Nik bellowed as he walked swiftly and the man holding Uri stopped walking.

“Keep walking and pretend you didn’t see anything.” The man warned but Nik didn’t stop till he was right in front of them and he pulled Uri’s hands.

“I said let her go.”

“Nik, don’t let him take me.” Uriel said with panic in her voice.

“Oh, so you know her?” The man chuckled. “No wonder you’re being so stupid.”

“She’s mine. Let her go.” Nik said through gritted teeth.

Nik’s vision was hazy with ire as he saw another man’s hands on his Uri and the man was making it worse by refusing to let her go.

“No one gives me orders around here boy. I give the orders, these are my streets.” The man said menacingly.

That was when Nik noticed the tattoo of the snake winding around a screaming skull on the man’s forearm. That was the symbol of the deadliest Mafia family in the city. They were feared by all and no one dared to cross their paths because it would only lead to death… a painful, gruesome death.

Nik was too angry to reason properly. All he knew was that another man was touching what was his and he hated that.

“Go get yourself a woman who actually wants you, this one is taken.” Nik said as he pulled Uriel away from the man’s hands and moved her behind him.

“Nik, he looks dangerous. Let’s just go.” Uriel whispered fearfully from behind him when Nik and the man stared at each other like they wanted to fight.

“Since I’m so generous, I’m willing to give you a choice.” The man said and looked at Uri.

“Come with me, and your boyfriend lives. You’ll stay the night with me and I’ll let you leave after you’re done satisfying me, I’ll even pay you whatever amount you want. If you refuse, you’ll watch him die by my hands and then I’ll still have my way with you on his corpse and you won’t get a dime.”

“She’s not a damn prostitute.” Nik said as he shoved the man hard.

The man stumbled backward with widened eyes like he couldn’t believe that Nik had the audacity to touch him. Uriel screamed as the man brought out a gun. Nik immediately tried to take the gun from the man. While they both struggled, their friends finally caught up to them.

“Uriel, step back.” Tedros said as he pulled her away from the two men. 

“No… Nik.” She called for Nik as she tried to struggle to free herself from Tedros’ grip.

“They have a gun, Uriel. It’s not safe. You could get shot.” Anika said.

“I’m calling the police.” Connor said as he took out his phone.

He had just started dialing the number when there was a gunshot and everyone of them paused.

AUTHOR'S NOTE; Keep reading!