Page 45 of Obsession

“What’re you saying, man?” One of them says to the guy I shot. “Why are you apologizing to this overdressed lunatic? He should go back to his own neighborhood. We got guns, too.“

“Shut up, Brady!” The mouthy one howls, spittle flying from his mouth, his eyes wide with terror. “Let’s go! Come on.“

“Where are you going?” I ask, my gun still pointed at his forehead.

“Stop, Mr. Middleton!” Megan reprimands me through the open car door. I use the base of my foot to kick the door closed again.

“I thought you were going to look after my car… and thegirlfor me.” I cock the gun and smile. Menace flowing through my veins at the thought of him even thinking about Megan. “Unless I was wrong?”

Even with two gunshots, the mouthy one is still able to respond. His fear of me is stronger than whatever pain he may be in. That’s good.

“We’ll guard it. I swear. Nobody will touch it. Or we can leave. Whatever you want.”

He’s stumbling over his words, and I study him for a moment longer before tucking my gun back in and saying, “Good.”

I can hear his men mutter between themselves, but I’m not overly concerned.

Megan tries to dart out again as if she’s in a rush to get away from me or into her apartment. I allow her to exit the car, but then I grab her carefully. I don’t know the extent of her injuries yet, so I don’t want her walking. It’s a bad habit I’ve picked up lately, worrying about her safety.

I knew it was coming, but she struggles against me when I pick her up in a bridal hold. “Let me down!”

“Wait for me here, Vaughn. I won’t be long.”

“You sure about that?” His eyebrow raises.

“Just watch the car.”Smartass.

I glance over my shoulder at the corner boys who have now retreated a few feet away. It’s as if they’re waiting for my approval to get the mouthy one some help. I can see the recognition in one of their eyes when I give a simple head nod, and then they prop their friend up and start walking away.

“Keep still,” I order a very wiggly Megan. “Or I’ll throw you over my shoulder and carry you inside.”

“I can walk,” she says defiantly, but at least she’s no longer fighting me.

“Which floor?” I ask, ignoring her comment.

She hesitates but finally reveals, “Fifth floor, but there’s no elevator.”

“It’s broken?”

Of course, it is.

“It’s never worked.” She shrugs as if a non-working elevator is par for the course when you live in west hell. “Look, it’s a long climb. You should seriously let me down.“

“I’m stronger than I look, and you’re not that heavy.”

“I didn’t say I was,” she grits her teeth. “It’s just inconvenient, and I asked you before not to touch me. It seems you have a hard time understanding directions.”

“And here I thought you were scared of me,” I say lightly, carrying her up the steps. “But you’re just holding a grudge.” My hold on her grows tight as I watch her breasts sway with each step I take.

“Scared of you?” She sounds dismissive, but I can hear a hint of strain in her voice. “You had guns pointed at my head the first time I met you. I’m not holding a grudge. There’s nothing to hold a grudge over. It would be stupid for me to hold a grudge against a man who can kill me at a moment’s notice.”

My body turns stiff at her words, and I stop walking, looking down at her. Her eyes turn away from me and I feel a flicker of anger within me.

“I’ve never once tried to harm you. If you’re angry about what happened between us in the office, that’s fine. However, I’ve done nothing to make you feel that you’re in any danger around me.”

It’s true.

I’ve been unusually tolerant of Megan. Nobody has ever spoken to me the way she does or challenges me without hesitation. She’s aware that there’s a line, but she constantly flirts with crossing it. I’ve killed a man for less, but things are very different with her. I find her bravado, when facing me, almost amusing.

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