As they lingered by the bar, Valentina noticed how many of the men were hammered. One man in particular, who was one of the few not wearing a leather cut, was completely inebriated and irritating the bikers. She wondered why he was here if he wasn't part of the club.

Gripping the bottom of her stool, she scooted closer to Butcher. He side eyed her as he crossed his arms, a black long sleeve shirt laid against his muscles. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows and she couldn't help but look at the ink etched into his skin. They looked like traditional-style tattoos, some of them higher quality than others. Some of them were completely destroyed because deep scars tore through them, whatever image had been there before unrecognizable now.

The biker frowned tighter and pulled his sleeves down. Valentina rolled her lips awkwardly, darting her eyes away. "Sorry," she mumbled. "I've always thought about getting one. I think I'm too scared of the pain."

Butcher shrugged dismissively. "Just skin. Half of mine are fucked." He scratched at the tattoo that was scarred-over without thinking. Her eyes softened a bit, turning more towards him before a loud voice caught her attention.

Jude made his appearance before she could keep trying to bait her bonafide bodyguard into more conversation. Butcher turned to face straight ahead instead of towards her.

Her brother's duffel bag was thrown over his shoulder and he was smiling at the bikers shoving alcohol in his hands. "I've gotta drive, boys. Gimme a break," he shook his head in amusement.

Many of the guys booed. Jude smirked but took the large shot. He held up the glass, and everyone around them raised whatever drinks they had as well.

"Let the road lead you back home, brother!" Gunner shouted before everyone took a swig of whatever they were holding.

Valentina frowned, as she didn't have anything to do it with, but felt better when Butcher didn't do it either. He just looked annoyed at the gesture.

The siblings made eye contact, and her little brother meandered his way over sheepishly.

Valentina shifted a little on the stool. Resting her chin on her palm, she eyed him carefully. "Be safe," she muttered. Butcher rolled his eyes, listening to the two of them.

Jude sighed and nodded. "If I do this, will it be water under the bridge?"

Valentina combed her fingers through her hair, utterly annoyed with him. "The only reason you're doing this is because Gunner made you."

Her brother threw his hands up. "I don't get it, Val. What do you want from me? You're not even giving me a chance."

Her language switched quickly to avoid others from eavesdropping.

"Olvídalo. Ni siquiera te importa lo suficiente como para intentarlo, sólo quieres no sentirte culpable."

Forget it. You don't even care enough to try, you just don't want to feel guilty.

Butcher's ears perked up at the change, brows lifting in interest. Honestly, this argument was only entertaining for a moment. He was waiting for Valentina to finally put her foot down with her ungrateful brother.

Her thick accent flowed off of her pretty lips smoothly. Jude opened his fat mouth, obviously getting riled up with how his fists clenched and his face flushed.

"¡Sólo quiero que me devuelvan a mi hermana!"

I just want my sister back!

Jude's voice had risen a bit and his tone grew sharp. Having enough of this, Butcher shoved him back immediately, getting in his face. "Watch how you fuckin' talk to her, got me?"

"Por favor, dejemos esto." She placed her hands on Butcher's back instinctively. "It's not a big deal. Let's leave please—"

Please, let's drop this.

Still, the angry biker moved forward, Jude stepping up as well.

"Butcher—he's my brother, let me—!" Valentina tried to assure him that he didn't have to fight her battles. She pushed between the two. The auburn haired man didn't even glance down at her, shoving his finger in Jude's face over Valentina's shoulder.

"He needs to learn some goddamn respect! Treatin' ya like shit and you just let him!" His words were harsh and Valentina didn't get the chance to respond.

Jude made an offended noise, "This whole thing is stupid! Tiene que ocuparse de sus asuntos, Valentina! Butcher is fucking crazy anyway! You're probably safer away from him taking your chances with our fucking father," he barked, glaring at Valentina and Butcher alike.

He needs to mind his business, Valentina!

Valentina sucked in a breath, turning her attention to Jude and pushing him with all of her strength. He flew back, caught off guard.

"He is the only one who's given me the time of day! For you to even say that about him shows how fucking delusional you are, Jude! Discúlpate con él, ¡ahora mismo!"

Apologize to him, right now!

Butcher was cracking his neck behind the siblings, everyone watching as he flexed his hand and clenched hard. The crowd all took a collective step back. Emotions swirled inside of the conflicted man: on one hand he wanted to pound his fist into Jude's face for the blatant disrespect. On the other, Valentina openly defending him made his adrenaline pump for an entirely different reason.

Before anything else could escalate between the three, another interruption made its way over.

The drunk man that wore no cut came over. "I didn't know it was a fiesta over here," he sneered stupidly.

Both Valentina and Jude's faces whipped over to the white man.

"The fuck did you say man?"

"Mind your business," Valentina snapped at the same time Jude did.

Butcher was still glaring daggers at Jude. Valentina didn't remove her one hand from his chest and it was sending a different kind of heat soaring through his body and made him even more wired.

The older white man glared at the two speaking to him as if he were an idiot. "Yo, if I wanted to hear you speak that shit I would've called you to cut my grass, homie. We speak American here!"

The entire club went silent at the outsider spewing racist shit in their bar.

The man's eyes were trained on Jude, whose knuckles began to go white. Before he could do anything, Valentina threw her fist into the guy's nose.

"Fuck!" she hissed, while rearing back and shaking out her hand. "Vuelve a hablarle así a mi hermano. Fuck around and find out, pussy." Valentina spat while rounding on the stumbling man for a second swing.

Talk to my brother like that again.

Large arms wound around her tiny waist, lifting her clean off the ground as other patched-in members threw the man to the ground.

Butcher was almost amused at the turn of events, but they both were heated as he dragged her into the back.

Shoving out of his hold, Valentina held her bruised hand to her stomach and bent over at the waist. She cringed at the pain as the adrenaline left her.

"Fuckin' stupid, give me." The brute yanked her hand closer to him. They were in the kitchen, and he snatched an ice pack from the fridge.

"I haven't had to hit anyone in years," she breathed, as if in shock.

"You didn't have to do shit. You're in a room full of fuckin' bikers and you go and hit someone when it was already taken care of. Stupid," he repeated with a shake of his head. Her small hand laid in his left, leaving him clammy as the other pressed the ice to her swollen knuckles.

They sat in silence, Butcher staring at her hand while she stared at his face.

"Last time you hit someone...why?"

Valentina was surprised by his question, taking a deep breath and sighing. It pushed her messy strands out of her eyes.

"I used to fight back against my dad. But...actually I was at this bar my freshman year in college the last time. This asshole grabbed my ass, pinned me against the bar and stuff. I fucked him up pretty good. Then Jude tracked him down and did him in even worse." She smiled a little at the memory of her brother sticking up for her.

Butcher's grip on her hand tightened and she looked back at his face.

"Don't hit anybody anymore," he growled lowly before finally meeting her gaze. "That's what the fuck I'm around for. I ain't got anythin' better to do."

Valentina grinned at the demand, and she rocked forward a little. Closer to him. His amber eyes darted down at the movement.

"Whatever you say, boss," she mumbled with a low lidded gaze that made him tense up. A choked grunt erupted from his throat before he cleared it on instinct.

"I'm assuming you have a lot of experience hitting people then? They must've picked you to watch me for a reason." Her head tilted to the side cutely, watching his attractive face as he forced himself to stay focused on the task. Even as his shoulders tensed up a bit.

Butcher hummed lowly in the back of his throat. "There's a reason."

He didn't delve further than that into why.

"Well," Valentina muttered softly, "I'm glad you took the job. Even if you are an ass, it means a lot that you take me seriously." Butcher didn't respond or glance up from her busted knuckles.

Abruptly, the door swung open and they both looked over quickly to see Jude with wide eyes. He did a double take at how close the two were with a scrunch of his nose.

"You still do love me!" Jude announced while pointing at Valentina.

Her mouth fell open, "Of course I do, you asshole."

His shoulders fell in relief. Jude's gaze softened and he walked over, wrapping his arms around her tightly.

The girl was surprised, keeping her bruised hand in Butcher's possession she spared her other one to wrap around him.

"You need to apologize to him, Jude."

She felt her brother slump at the request. He pulled away to look down at his sister and then the man who still held her hand. Butcher watched him closely, looking ready to end him then and there. Really—what was he thinking, insulting the Butcher of Mayhem Men to his face? Jude paled.

He glanced back at Valentina, who narrowed her gaze at him.

"Look man, it was heat of the moment. I didn't mean what I said...I'm grateful for what you're doing."

Once again he looked at Valentina, who nodded her head in approval.

Butcher sneered, tugging on Valentina's hand so she was out of Jude grasp. The younger biker sighed down at his sister.

"I'll be back soon. I'll get rid of him and we'll fix this, sì? Te quiero, somos nosotros contra el mundo."

I love you, it's us against the world.

Eyes watering, Valentina nodded shakily as he repeated the words she'd always say to him at their lowest.

"Love you too. Now go. Be safe." She pulled away and pushed him towards the door. Jude swallowed hard and nodded down at her.

He glanced at Butcher, his superior that didn't like him much at all lately.

"Take care of her, please."

Butcher's eyes narrowed. He'd take care of her better than Jude ever could. "Fuck you."

Valentina spluttered out a laugh but Jude relented and gave one last goodbye before heading off.

Beside Butcher, Valentina relaxed a little while taking a deep breath. Glancing down, she looked at her now numb hand. "I can't believe I hit someone."

Butcher scoffed a little and dropped the hand finally, watching the way she pouted a little. He ignored the pang in his chest.

Gunner's head peaked in, seeing Valentina and looking visibly relieved. "We fucked him up good, hun. You alright?"

She flashed her swollen knuckles as if they were a prize, with a shit-eating grin. "I'm battle scarred."

"It definitely gave you street cred," he nodded in agreement.

She giggled and Butcher felt the need to interject. "Who was that asshole?" His tone was darker than before and Valentina shivered at the drastic change. The small warmth she'd felt from him had been snatched away too soon.

Gunner leaned against the door frame. "Some prospect's uncle that apparently wanted to live vicariously through him."

"Ban him."

Valentina looked up in surprise and saw Butcher was in no joking mood. Sensing this, Gunner nodded.

"Gotcha buddy. Why don't you get the little lady home? You got work tomorrow, hun?"

The nurse nodded. "Mhm. Just call me if you need me."

Gunner nodded in thanks, then gestured for Butcher to get on with it.

Butcher sniffed in mild annoyance at the instruction before pressing a hand to Valentina's back. She almost squeaked at the contact but didn't stop herself from shuffling closer to him.

The man side eyed her, but focused on the task at hand to avoid being distracted.