Page 29 of Life

I jump back and spin around. “Dude! You could have warned me.”

“Don’t make me say it again,” he says, practically growling.

What’s with him and the growly responses? He needs to learn some new expressions if he thinks he’s going to get me to respond accordingly.

I adjust my boobs up with my forearms, tilt my head, and rest a hand on a cocked hip without saying a word. It’s my signature “suck it” move.

He takes a step closer to me. “Where.” Another step. “The fuck.” Another step. “Were.” Step. “You!” he roars, pushing me up against the wall. His body doesn’t stop until he’s plastered against my body from neck to knee.

Well, hello there.

My heart starts pounding in my chest, and my body heats to what feels like a million degrees instantly. I lick my suddenly dry lips. “Uh, the hospital.”

He squints. “Why?”

“Dios mio, you read the reports, right? My best friend and I were in a theatre fire set by Danny McBride, the man who killed your brother.”

“Kathleen is a friend of yours?” he asks. It is obvious that he read the report because I never told him her name.

I roll my eyes. “Yeah, she’s a friend. There are three of them, for your information. Gigi you’ve met, and Bree and Kathleen. We’re soul sisters, and Danny fucked with all of us trying to get to Gigi. Kat’s undergoing several burn treatments, not that it’s any of your business.”

“If it involves you, it’s my business.” He inches his face closer. I can smell his minty breath he’s so close. I’m trying desperately not to react, but for some insane reason, when it comes to Elijah Redding, my body and libido are Judas.

I purse my lips. “Back off, please.”

He focuses all his attention on my face before pushing off the wall behind me and walking to the living room.

“What happened with Antonio?” I ask, needing to know whatever he found out about my ex.

Eli’s back is to me. He tightens his hands into fists as he rotates around stiffly. “You sure know how to pick ’em, Spicy.”

I scowl. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He clucks his tongue. “Let’s see.” He lifts a hand and presses one finger down. “One, he looks like a prissy boy douche.” He grabs another finger. “Two, he says he hasn’t seen you in five years since, and I quote, ‘thecadelalocked me up and stole my freedom with her lies.’”

“He denied what he did and called me a bitch?” I snap.

“Oh yeah. Says he hasn’t reached out, either. Shared his phone number with us so we could verify the numbers in and out.”

“That’s impossible!” I stomp my foot. Yes, I stomp my foot like a frickin’ child.

“No, it’s not, babe. A burner phone can’t be traced, and what I gathered from this prick, he’s far from stupid. Conniving, but not stupid. For now, he’s covering his tracks and playing along.”

I fall down on the couch. The weight of this day, the last week, and now this is enough. I’ve had it.

“What else did he say?” I’m afraid of the answer.

Eli sits down next to me and puts his hand on my knee. “He promised he wouldn’t go near you. Knew there was an order from the court stating he couldn’t be within five hundred feet of you.”

I laugh. Straight up laugh in his face. “And you believe him?”

Eli squeezes my knee. “Fuck, no.”

“That’s something then. Antonio promises a lot of things.” I huff and shake my head. “Promised me every day he wouldn’t hurt me right after he’d shoved me against a wall. Or after each time he tried to ‘teach me a lesson’ about respect. Or perhaps when he thought I needed a good water treatment.” I stand up and pace the floor. “I need to go down there myself! Look thatbastardoin the eye.”

“Oh hell!” Eli makes noises like an angry animal again.

I head toward the door, but before I can get there, an arm curls around my waist, lifts me off the floor, and places me back on the couch. Only I’m not on the couch exactly. More like I’m in Eli’s lap while he sits on the couch, holding me as I struggle.

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