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He didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence before Hayden appeared out of nowhere, grabbing him by the throat and shoving him back, slamming him into the wall. People all over the restaurant gasped and pulled out their phones, but Hayden ignored them.

“You need to change how to talk to her,” Hayden growled in his ear. Min was surprised and a little frightened of his swift violence, but also grateful. Alex had always made it his mission to intimidate her, and though she had never let him, she was still relieved to have Hayden there with her, supporting her.

Alex finally realized he was in trouble. He struggled to break Hayden’s hold on him but failed.

“You don’t know her, man. She’ll leave you high and dry for the next cock that comes around.”

With the hand still around his throat, Hayden yanked Alex forward, and then slammed him back again, harder, the wall shuddering under the impact.

“Talk about her like that again and I’ll break your fucking neck.” Hayden’s voice was low, dangerous, glittering with anger.

Alex clearly got the hint and backed down, realizing that Hayden wasn’t going to let him go. “Sorry, mate. Not here to step on your territory, just surprised to run into an ex. Don’t worry, she’s all yours.”

Hayden still held him there, his eyes scanning Alex from head to toe and back. Min could see the truth hit him with Alex’s ugly words.

“You will not talk to her. You will not approach her. You will keep her name out of your fucking mouth. As far as you’re concerned, she doesn’t exist. If you act otherwise, I’ll make sureyoudon’t exist. Understand me?”

Alex nodded, and Hayden slowly let him go, Alex gulping oxygen while he stared at Hayden. Hayden, meanwhile, turned to Min, touching her cheek with one hand, worry in his eyes. His mouth opened, probably to ask if she was okay, but Alex interrupted.

“Do I know you? You sound familiar.”

Hayden froze, a flash of something in his eyes that Min saw and made her want to shrivel up into nothing. It was one thing for Alex to ruin her life, but she wouldn’t let him ruin Hayden’s. Which is why when Hayden turned back to Alex, she grabbed his arm, pulling him with her.

“We should go.”

Hayden was torn, not wanting to get recognized but also not wanting to leave Alex there.

“Hayden,please.”

With much reluctance, he finally let her pull him toward the door, but Min suspected it was only because Theo had come out from the kitchen to see what was going on. If Hayden was going to trust anyone to deal with Alex, it would be his brother. He was already approaching with a thunderous expression on his face, which Min could only assume meant Alex was soon going to be stuck with lunch from a vending machine.

Min breathed a sigh of relief when they stepped outside the restaurant, but stiffened when she heard Alex call to her from inside.

“See you at the tournament, Min.”

Min and Hayden walked back to the convention center, both of them silent. Min wasn’t certain what to say, but was also desperate to know what was going through Hayden’s mind. Her ex had almost recognized him. It was literally the worst thing that could happen. The more she thought of it, the more she regretted bringing Hayden into her orbit, however inadvertently. He had told her from the get-go that the most valuable thing he had was his privacy. Running into Alex threatened that. She couldn’t let him get that close again.

And so as they made their way back to the convention center, the time of the tournament drawing near, Min did the only thing she could think of.

She pulled away.

“I’m gonna head to the center early. Get ready, get in the headspace.” She pulled her hand from his, not looking at him, not able to meet his eyes. But she could feel his stillness, could sense his eyes on her as if he could easily guess what was going through her head.

“If that’s what you need.” His voice was neutral, the warmth of his gaze on her face, and she just couldn’t stop herself from gulping.

“Great. I’ll, um, see you later. Thanks for everything.”

She was gone before he could say anything, striding away as fast as her legs could carry her. He let her go, probably feeling relieved that she was walking away, that he didn’t have to attach himself to someone so dangerous, someone who could ruin his privacy and his life with one wrong slip of the tongue. He deserved better. Hell, they had never even talked about this going further than the convention, so really, she shouldn’t be so upset about it.

Really.

At least that’s what she kept telling herself as she walked further and further away from him, losing herself in the crowd that once brought her comfort.

CHAPTER13

HAYDEN

“Ilook forward to washing your blood off my hands.”

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