The appearances of the two men in their thirties or forties were unremarkable—average height, slightly overweight, with jeans and T-shirts. However, it was the identical tattoos they each had on the backs of their hands that caught her attention. The symbol was seared into her memory from the earliest days of her ADDA training: an eagle clutching a rifle in one claw and an American flag in the other.
Shit. They were part of the "America for Humans Only League," which were the biggest pains in ADDA's asses. Their acronym was fitting—AHOL. Although she thought asshole was too tame a word for them. Regardless, most people just called them the League.
Their primary goal was to banish all dragon-shifters in the USA to either Canada or Mexico, and often formed their own groups to try and make that a reality.
If she wasn't careful, things could get out of hand. Fast.
Keeping her voice even, she stated, "This woman has a mind of her own, thank you very much. And it's you two who should leave."
The slightly taller man with unshaven cheeks raised his brows. "He's brainwashed you, baby. Good thing we're here to help you. Come with us, and we'll remind you why dragons are the enemy. They only want us around to give them money, children, and land. They're not to be trusted."
Ashley hoped those lines didn't work on women or men in the company of dragons. Because if so, ADDA's job of making the League a designated hate group would be that much harder. The press would have a field day with even a handful of humans saying how they'd been saved from the dragons because of the League's intervention and guidance.
Wes grunted. "The lady said you should leave. I'd listen to her."
The other man, the one with gray in his hair, took a step toward Wes. "Don't talk to me, you fucking monster. You shouldn't be allowed in the same room as any human, let alone touch one."
Just as Ashley expected, Wes's pupils flashed. His dragon was most likely pissed.
Wes shrugged. "I haven't broken any rules, so I'm staying."
The pair of League members took a step closer, but then another man moved to stand between them and Ashley and Wes—Natasha's part-time dragon employee, Brad Harper. His gruff voice stated to the human men, "It's time for you two to leave for the night."
Their eyes darted to the dragon pin affixed to the tall, muscled dragonman's shirt and back to his face. The unshaven one crossed his arms over his chest and said, "Not until this piece of scum is separated from this lady."
As both of the dragonmen growled simultaneously, Ashley tried to think of what to do. She couldn't let either dragon-shifter be banned simply for trying to help her.
She moved in front of the dragonmen and put her arms out wide to her sides. It seemed her wish of a night spent being a woman and not working for ADDA had ended. "I'm a high-ranking ADDA employee. So unless you want me to call the police and personally file claims of harassment against these dragonmen, you'll do as Brad says and leave."
The two human guys narrowed their eyes. However, before either one could say a word, another man appeared at their side. Despite his casual jeans and button-down shirt, the quality of his clothes and his expensive watch told her he had money. And after a second, she realized who he was—Duncan Parrish. A powerful business owner in his own right, he also had the ear of not only a member of the Nevada Gaming Control Board but one of Nevada's senators as well.
In other words, he had connections that might surpass her own.
Duncan cleared his throat. "Excuse my brother-in-law and his friend. We've had a lot to drink and should be going, Miss…?"
She didn't want to give her name but knew she had to since she'd stated her ADDA connection. "Ashley Swift."
"Right, Miss Swift." Duncan lowered his voice. "I'd suggest you and your friend leave right after us, though. The room is turning against you."
From the corner of her eyes, she could see people starting to gather. After all the trouble and backlash Natasha had faced upon opening her doors to dragon-shifters, Ashley owed it to the woman to avoid any more scandal. She lowered her arms. "Once I see you guys leave, we'll wait a few minutes and follow suit."
Duncan bobbed his head. "You have my word that we won't follow you."
She didn't know shit about the value of his word but kept her well-rehearsed smile in place. "Sounds like a plan."
As they left, Duncan whispered something to the unshaven man, who then looked over his shoulder with a sinister grin.
Shit. If Duncan Parrish was somehow involved with the League, then it could spell trouble for her, for the dragon-shifters, and for anyone who worked with ADDA in the greater Reno area. Hell, maybe even in all of Nevada.
The only good thing was that Wes's clan was located in California, which gave him some protection from Parrish.
Wes whispered into her ear, "I'd say thank you, but I don't want your ego to get too big tonight."
At his light teasing, she turned away from the trio of men leaving and smiled up at Wes. "I deal with worse on a daily basis." She looked at the bar's security guard. "Thanks, Brad. We'll be okay from here."
Brad nodded and left to conduct one of his checks around the room. When they were alone, Wes murmured, "We need to talk in private. Where can we go?"
It had to be eating at Wes to not know everything and be in control like he was back on PineRock. But this was Ashley's territory, and she wouldn't feel bad about that. She glanced at Natasha, and the woman met her gaze. Ashley nodded toward the back, the bar owner bobbed her head to give permission, and Ashley took Wes's hand. "This way."