Page 45 of Rivals Next Door

Surprisingly, Lila didn’t protest. She merely nodded. “How about a bottle of Dom Perignon to go with dessert?”

Reaching for my wallet, I smiled. “You got it. Lila…”

She held up a finger. “No explanation needed.”

I snapped my mouth shut and gazed at her for a moment. Perhaps if I had resolved my issues with Olivia and was able to carry on a healthy relationship, Lila and I could have something. With a final nod, I made my escape.

I stepped outside to see Olivia standing on the curb, looking expectantly down the street. The car that I assumed she was looking for was nowhere to be seen. The man who she was dining with appeared from a corner. At the same time, an SUV pulled up in front of them.

I was on high alert, but I didn’t intervene or make my presence known until the man wrapped his fingers around Olivia’s arm. I’d been inching closer, so I heard when he told her to get in as he gently pushed her toward the SUV.

“I’m afraid she can’t do that,” I said, stepping under the streetlight.

Olivia and the man turned to me. His eyes were squinted and hers were wide and filled with terror. I think I saw a sliver of relief in her eyes, but it was dark, so I could be wrong.

“Why not?” the man asked with a hint of annoyance.

“Because she’s coming with me,” I drawled, taking her other elbow. I maneuvered Olivia away from him and behind me. She didn’t protest, so she really must have been scared. She didn’t take too kindly to being treated like a damsel in distress.

The man’s gaze hardened as he sized me up. His posture stiffened and his voice had a dangerous edge when he spoke. “I don’t think you understand the situation here. Olivia was just about to help me with a little problem.”

My jaw tightened at the sound of her name coming out of his treacherous mouth. “I think she has helped you enough for one night,” I bit out, my voice as low and threatening as his.

He stepped forward, his stare intense. I guess I was supposed to be intimidated. I almost laugh out loud at the thought. He was really irritating the hot-headed kid that still lurked beneath my polished exterior, the one who grew up on the rough side of town.

When I held his gaze and didn’t flinch, his eyebrows elevated, and he changed tactics. “You don’t know who you’re messing with, friend.”

Olivia was silent, but she placed a hand on my arm and squeezed as if to tell me to back down.

“I’m well aware of who I’m dealing with,” I returned. Boy, did I know. The information I’d gotten on this guy made me shudder to think of Olivia alone with him.

“I suggest you mind your business,” he warned.

“And I suggest you back the fuck off,” I growled. This time, I took a threatening step toward him only for Olivia to gasp and tighten her hold on me. Her touch cooled my temper, and I stopped.

The man blinked as if shocked by my reaction and then he gazed at me with curiosity. He’d find out who I was soon enough, and I’d be of interest to Boston’s most dangerous crime organization. How did Olivia get involved with these guys? Of course, I’d stick my neck out for her… just like old times.

“Ms. Brentwood,” the man said evenly as he took a step back toward the SUV. “We’ll chat later then.” With that, he ducked into the vehicle.

I glared at the SUV until it disappeared into the darkness. I didn’t take kindly to him thinking he’d get anywhere near Olivia again. I’d make sure that never happened.

16

OLIVIA

It took me a while to recover from my stupor. My brain had to process what just happened. I was pretty much almost kidnapped by a gangster because my brother was more messed up than I thought, and the last person I expected to see came to my rescue.

“Olivia, are you alright?” Alex’s deep voice seeped into me and pulled me from the edge of panic. The sound of his voice still soothed me like it used to.

Still caught up in my panicked haze, I turned to him and whacked him on the chest with my purse. “Goddamn it, Alex! Why would you do that?”

His eyes widened and his jaw slackened. “Olivia, what…?” He shook his head. “I just saved your ass and the thanks I get is to be battered with a goddamn purse?”

The sound that escaped me was something between a humorless laugh and a groan. I clutched my head with one hand while I stared at my weapon in the other. “God, Alex, I’m sorry… It’s just…” I threw my arms up. “You just put yourself in the same pile of shit I’m in! Why did you have to come out here and be your usual cocky and reckless self?”

“Helping you is cocky and reckless? Unbelievable! If I’m still my old reckless self, then you’re still the same arrogant woman who thinks she can take on gangsters because of her last name.”

His words were like a bucket of cold water jolting me back to reality. Goodness, I didn’t tell him thanks. His harshness also stung because I didn’t want him to think of me like that. Sure, I could be arrogant. It came with being in charge of a multibillion-dollar empire, but I wasn’t an ungrateful bitch.

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