Page 89 of Savage

“What Ithinkis that if you can’t stay inside the walls of this building, I will lock you back up in that penthouse where I know you won’t get into any trouble.”

“Trouble? What am I, a five-year-old?”

Christ he was stubborn. He’d literally come to me for help, called my goddamn number because he had drug dealers up his ass, and now he was arguing with me about his safety?

“You know what? Fuck it.” I marched over to the elevator and punched the button, and when the doors opened, I stepped inside. “If you want to leave, go for it. But just know I won’t be there to save you again.”

29

COOPER

SAVE MEAGAIN?When else did he?—

Oh. He had to mean in the club with Mick.

I gripped the back of my neck and looked around, but for once I wasn’t feeling quite so curious. Lachlan taking off, leaving me here, gave me the perfect excuse to go wherever I wanted, explore inside or outside of this place. Eavesdrop on the members milling around. Ask questions. Satisfy the part of me that always wanted to lift the veil on things and see what was hiding underneath.

Only now all I could do was stare at the place Lachlan had disappeared to. I hadn’t been finished with our conversation when he abruptly left, and now that I knew he thought he had to constantly “save” me like I was some helpless kid, I was ready to give him a piece of my mind.

I’mnotfuckinghelpless. And he doesn’t get to just walk away. He’s not the only one feeling stuck, for crying out loud.

With every second that passed, there was a rising need to go after him, even though I had no clue where he’d gone. Shit, maybe I’d just stop on every floor until I found him.

The only thing that made me pause was the thought that he could be on the fifth floor. The sex club floor.

It would make sense. He was pissed off, frustrated, and I’d felt all that tension directed my way. Even when he was upset, there was no denying the sexual undertone that laced every interaction between us. What if he’d decided to use that and take it out on someone else?

My stomach rolled, the thought making me physically ill.

No. He wouldn’t do that. Would he? He could. It wasn’t like we were dating or anything. We’d just been hooking up while we were in this crazy situation together.

And getting to know each other.

And I was realizing how much more I wanted to know and just be around him.

Shit.I was getting in too deep already, and I couldn’t stomach the thought of him with anyone else. Or even the fact that he’d shut down and wouldn’t talk to me.

Or, worst of all, that he thought I was some incapable guy who couldn’t possibly handle any real-world situation without needing a savior.

That had my blood pressure climbing, and I shot toward the elevator. Before I could decide which floor I wanted to go to first, a towering figure in shitkicker boots stepped into the entryway, blocking the doors.

With long, dark hair and crossed, muscular arms on full display, I recognized the intimidating figure as one of the men who had been at King’s meeting. Alessio.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

I glanced behind me, assuming he was addressing someone else, but I was the only one in here.

I narrowed my eyes and waited for him to step inside, but he just kept blocking the door. “You wouldn’t do what?”

“Cooper, right?” Alessio said, even though I knew he was fully aware of who I was. “Let me give you some advice. Steer clear of the raging bull for a few hours.”

“By that, I’m assuming you mean Lachlan.”

“Smart guy.”

“No, apparently I’m helpless, haven’t you heard?” I snapped.

Alessio whistled low and held his hands up, and I thought it odd he wore a silver cross necklace. He didn’t strike me as the religious type.

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