Page 47 of Rivals Next Door

Despite his irritation, he answered, “When you walked in with the guy, I didn’t think he was your type. I was vigilant and noticed your discomfort.”

I never could hide things from him the way I did from everyone else.

“I did a quick check on him, and the shit I got back was terrifying, so I followed you guys out.”

I wasn’t sure what to think or say. Alex had been paying that much attention to me while with another woman. He left his date to rescue me. I thought he hated me. I didn’t address any of that though because I suspected he’d get defensive. I’d like to avoid the stifling tension that always rose when we were in proximity.

“You always were good at getting information at the drop of a hat,” I noted instead.

“I have quick fingers,” he quipped, lifting his phone, which he had taken out of his breast pocket.

“I know,” I whispered. I’d lost count of how many times he’d achieved what I deemed impossible with a keyboard at his fingertips.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Making sure Lila is safely on her way home and getting eyes on Scarface so you can go home without worrying.”

I let out a sigh of relief. The damsel in distress wasn’t my favorite role, but tonight had unnerved me more than I cared to admit. Sometimes a girl just needed rescuing and there was nothing wrong with that.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

Alex grunted his response and continued to tap away on his phone. Jealousy flared inside me at the thought of him checking on his date. It was irrational and absurd. Alex and I had been long over. However, I still thought Lila was a lucky woman.

As I gazed at him from my periphery, taking in his handsome features twisted in a frown of concentration, I thought how amazing it would be to have his affection again. He had been an amazing boyfriend, and he loved hard. Did he love Lila? Did he treat her like a queen the way he used to treat me? Alex was presently known as Boston’s richest playboy, but I suspected he hadn’t really changed all that much from the sweet guy I fell in love with. I swallowed the lump of regret rising in my throat.

I waited until he put his phone away to speak again. “Alex, thanks for whatever you just did.” I assumed he had friends in law enforcement. “But I don’t want you getting caught up in this. That man is dangerous…”

He turned to me with an unreadable expression. “Don’t worry about me. I guarantee I’m more dangerous than he is. I just choose not to get my hands dirty the way he does.”

There was no conceit in his tone, just a matter-of-fact confidence that frightened me a little. I had an idea of the extent of his capabilities to keep someone like Mr. Nameless in line. That was why I was so anxious about being in his crosshairs.

Alex could take everything from me. Yet at the moment, he made me feel safe. It was a perplexing combination of emotions. Suddenly feeling exhausted, I sat back and didn’t say another word until my apartment building came into view.

For once, home wasn’t a welcoming sight.

Alex must have noticed the way I tensed when the car pulled into the underground parking lot because he turned to me with a frown. “There are already eyes on this place, Liv… people I trust. You don’t have to worry about that guy showing up.”

“I thought your specialty was cyber security,” I said, although I knew he had his hands in multiple things.

“You know me… I get around.”

His little smirk made me smile. “Yeah, I know you.”

My statement cast a familiar shadow of awkwardness over us. Alluding to our past always did that.

I cleared my throat lightly. “I’m not nervous about anyone showing up. I’m just anxious about Liam. I don’t know where he is. Plus, I think I need to get my mother protection too. If Liam’s associates found out where I live, there’s no doubt they know where she is.”

Alex nodded, his expression turning serious once more. “Your mother will be fine. I’ll have someone watch her place too.” He lifted an eyebrow. “She’s still at the Brentwood mansion, I presume?”

I nodded.

“Alright…” He hummed as he tapped on his phone again. He then asked, “Where was Liam last?”

Raking my fingers through my hair, I shrugged. “Last he answered my call, he mentioned something about an inn on the south end.”

Alex lifted an eyebrow, and I nodded.

“Yeah, he’s likely to find lots of trouble there,” I said dryly. “But that was last week. I doubt he’s in the same place and that guy said he couldn’t find Liam anywhere, so I doubt I will. I just want to know he’s alive at least…” My last words dropped to a sad murmur because I didn’t even want to say them out loud.

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