Page 27 of Storm

It’s concerning, but who am I to tell her to slow down? I’ve no right to give her my opinion, especially with being blocked to contact her.

Ezra is on the move again, so I slip around the corner and keep my head down as I make my way to where he just turned a corner. Clouds blanket the night sky, so it’s extra dark. I’m hoping my friend is too distracted to realize I’m here.

I hiss when my toe taps an empty soda can, so I freeze, closing my eyes in frustration that I’ve most likely been made. After a moment, I don’t hear him heading toward my position, and I blow out a breath in relief.

Inching toward the corner, it takes me a second to find him squatted in a shadow, staring intensely toward the soft light at the end of the alley. A woman’s voice rings out, and by the tone of her voice, I immediately know two things.

Miriam is at the end of the alley, and she knows she’s being watched. I bite my lip at her threat to keep from laughing because it’ssoher. My eyes flick to Ezra when she mentions a boyfriend, and he rumbles out a low growl in warning.

Don’t be an idiot, Ez. You know she’s not dating anyone. The woman doesn’t have a chance to eat, let alone get laid.

He’s unmoving, but relaxed, which tells me he doesn’t plan to approach her tonight. Taking my eyes off him, I decide to wait until I hear him on the move again, so I relax against the bricks of the building I’m hiding behind. The drizzle chills my cheeks as my eyes find the sky.

I think I need to get Ezra into some therapy. He’s resisted up until this point, but the weekends away with the guys to fuck and expel all of our pent up energy doesn’t seem to be working for him anymore.

A niggling thought pushes to the forefront of my mind.

Maybe it’s not Ezra deteriorating mentally. Maybe it’s because Miriam is special and he truly feels something for her.

I should probably probe deeper into myself and see how I feel about her as well. If nothing else, I know that I’ve been feeling pretty low ever since she accused us of treating her like a whore and nothing more.

A slow grin tilts my lips up as I remember reading those text messages and Ezra translating. I want to get to know her. Those few days weren’t long enough for me to get my fill.

Gloved fingers slam over my mouth, pressing me against the sharp textured bricks, and another covered hand grips my throat just tight enough in warning, but I can still breathe.

My instinct is to fight Ezra off, but peering into his dilated eyes, I know he’s triggered. Instead, I relax my body and check him over. Then my eyes widen when I see what he’s actually wearing. I tap at his hand covering my mouth and he lifts it away.

“What the fuck, Ez? You’re wearing your gear?” I hadn’t seen his full gear from a distance before now. I figured he was just dressed in dark clothing. But this fucker is fully decked out, hismask like something from our Call of Duty video game. “Where the fuck did you get that mask?”

Ezra drops his chin to look over his attire, never letting up on the grip he has on my throat. He’s on edge. I can feel the tension through his fingers and if I fight him now, he might react in a very unfortunate way for me.

“I think I look alright. Girls get wet over a man in uniform.”

Shaking my head urgently, I give it my best shot to make him to understand. “No, no she won’t. Not in this type of scenario. You’re following a young woman through alleys and dark streets with a fucking mask that makes you look like the goddamn grim reaper coming to claim souls.”

His boisterous laugh catches me off guard and he finally lets me go, smoothing out my jacket, then patting my chest. All I can see are his wild eyes and teeth when he grins widely, clearly proud of himself.

“You think so? I could never tell what these were supposed to make us look like, but the grim reaper is pretty badass.”

“It looks like the guys from our video game.”

His grin becomes more boyish, as if he’d been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “It totally is. Did you know there’s a whole online shop with this shit?” He plucks at his mask, but doesn’t remove it.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I squeeze my eyes shut in frustration. “Jesus Christ, Ez. If she sees you, or catches you slinking around, you’re going to scare the shit out of her. This is not normal, man!”

“She’ll understand when I explain,” he retorts, then strolls away, back toward where our vehicles are parked. With his hands in his pockets, he whistles as if he’s simply enjoying an evening stroll. Still wearing his motherfucking mask.

“Ez,” I call out and wait for him to acknowledge me. Instead of turning around, he only stops to let me know he’s heard. Ijog until I’m standing in front of him, setting my hands on his shoulders and digging deep. “Look at me, man.”

Once his eyes lock in, I lean in and press my forehead to his, never breaking eye contact. I hear him gulp, but he says nothing.

“Listen, Ez. You’re intrigued. I get that. You’re looking for a fix right now, but you’re not going to find it with her. We collectively burned that bridge. I need you to dig deep and focus on the here and now. You’restalkingher. You’re not hunting and this isn’t a game. The line you’re about to cross is fast approaching, and you’re going to get your ass arrested.” Changing my tone from firm to pleading, I add, “I can’t help you if you’re locked up, Hall.”

He backs up from me, breaking my hold, shaking his head only briefly. “No,theyfucked everything up with her. Not me and not you. I’m not a fucking idiot, but she needs protection.”

“From what?” I ask, throwing my hands up in supplication, begging him to see this isn’t healthy. “She’s working. She’s moved on and cut ties. It’s never supposed to be more than a weekend with them.”

Ezra’s lip ticks in annoyance. “If you don’t know, then you don’t deserve her.”

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