Page 37 of Fractured Fear

“You’re kidding, right? This is some practical joke. No man would be okay with something like that.”

“Who hurt you, Mama?”

“What?”

“Someone must have messed with your beautiful brain real good to give you such a narrow-minded view.”

Rio’s question jars me. What am I doing? Ifheever found me he would be furious. Doesn’t matter that I made it clear we were over.Hewould hurt them just to teach me a lesson.

That’s the type of man I know. The type of man who would never be okay sharing.

Just another reminder that his level of possessiveness was toxic and destructive. I can’t bring that kind of destruction here to rain down on Rio and Zane, that’s not fair to them. I need to redraw the lines in the sand so they understand. We’re friends. No almost-kisses, no nipple rubs, no delicious lips running up and down my neck…Nope. None of that.

I sidestep both of them again and continue my path to the door. “No one, don’t worry about it. I should get going anyways. I have paperwork to catch up on tomorrow, suppliers to pay, payroll to do, and all that, so I’m just going to catch a cab and head home. This was fun, but we shouldn’t. We’re all just friends, right? Friends don’t kiss and…” I hesitate to find the appropriate words for what I’ve done with them. “Stuff. So let’s pretend it never happened, okay? Start over.” I finally bump into the door and grasp the handle like a lifeline.

They stalk towards me as if they know I’m about to run.

Rio responds first. “I’m not forgetting shit, Spencer.”

“Me either.” Zane adds.

“This isn’t over. We’ll give you space if you need it, but be prepared because we’re talking all of this out. We’re not quitting. We know you’re scared, but you’re safe with us.”

They’re getting too close. If they touch me again, I’ll cave and give in to whatever wild fantasy my mind can conjure and it’s conjured quite a bit in the last ten seconds.

“Awesome. Talk later. Bye!” Before I know it I’m sprinting out of the bathroom and through the bar. I spot Iris and signal that I’m heading home. She gives me a pout seeing that I’m leaving alone but then smiles. Suspiciously so. I peer over my shoulder and see two men pursuing me. The same two men I left in the bathroom, or thought I left.

No way am I letting them follow me home.

I dart out of the bar and thank the man upstairs that there’s someone getting out of a cab at that same moment. I dive right in and spout off my address.

As the car drives away, I peek behind me through the window and see them standing there in the street. Rio with his arms folded and Zane with his hand in his pockets; both have a determined look on their faces.

I have a feeling that determination isn’t targeted at trailing me home. It’s directed at me in general, and I’m not so sure Safe Spencer will survive their plans.

CHAPTER 14

SPENCER

The cabbie drops me off in front of Clay Creations and speeds away as if I smell like a dumpster and he can’t get away fast enough. I probably do smell. That’s what happens when you’re in a crowded space, dancing, and get worked up by two sexy men.

The air is still and the street oddly empty. Shadows from the warm streetlamps creep towards me. I sigh and ignore it as I make my way to the clear door separating the sidewalk from the stairs to my apartment, digging for my keys in my purse.

I’m not paying attention to the lamppost a few feet away that’s suddenly out or the fact that the street is empty.

That’s mistake number one.

Before I get to the door, I’m hit with the earthy scent of cigars and a set of arms immediately encircle my upper body and the asshole attached to the arms lifts me off my feet.

I hesitate.

Mistake number two.

He carries me a few steps to the side when I finally get with the program and fight back. I try dropping my weight to throw him off balance, but he’s too big. He easily corrects himself and keeps carrying me backwards to God knows what.

I scream and scream, but not a soul responds. My heart begins to sink when no one comes running to my rescue. I’m alone. Just like I was the day Abuela died. Just like I was the day I left Houston. No one to lean on. I only have me. No one else gives a damn enough in this moment to save me.

I only have me.

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