Page 102 of Play Pretend

“Ronan is a cop,” she said. “Braydon would be an idiot to do that.”

“Yeah, but?—”

There was a commotion, and we snapped our attention back to the men. “Fuck you, pig,” Braydon spat. My eyes went wide as Ronan huffed out a laugh.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“I’m not telling you shit.”

“Why are you here bothering my girlfriend?”

Gracie’s mouth fell open at the words.

“Girlfriend,” she repeated, nudging me with her elbow. “Oh my god.”

“Shh.” I jabbed my finger into her side, my eyes glued to what was happening.

“You know, she’s been flirting with me for weeks,” Braydon said smugly. “Not very loyal, if you ask me. Kind of a slut.”

Ronan went deathly still, silent. He stared at Braydon, and I held my breath. Everything happened all at once—slowly, but quickly.

One second, Ronan was standing a few feet from Braydon, and the next, his hand was wrapped around the back of the other man’s neck. He hauled him forward, his lips curled in a mix of anger and disgust.

“Get the fuck out of here,” Ronan snarled. “If I ever hear you’ve been around my girl again?—”

“What?” Braydon challenged, struggling to get free of Ronan’s grip. “You’ll arrest me?”

A dark, humorless laugh left Ronan. “I won’t arrest you,” he said in a low voice. “I’ll fuckingendyou.”

I gasped at the words and wrapped my hand around Gracie’s. We watched as Ronan hauled Braydon through the bakery and outside. He roughly tossed him aside, and Braydon fell to the ground. A shouted threat fell from his lips, but I couldn’t make out the words. He glared up at Ronan, and I felt the hatred burning inside him. But Ronan just ignored him as he strolled back inside and flipped the lock on the door.

His chest inflated as he took a deep breath, and I rushed out of the kitchen. He stooped as I threw my arms around his neck, and he lifted me effortlessly off the ground. I nestled into him as he held me tightly.

“You okay, baby girl?” he murmured against my hair. I nodded, my face rubbing against the fabric of his shirt. “Does he come in often?”

“He has been for the last couple weeks,” I muttered. “Today is the first day he’s been?—”

“No,” Gracie said from behind me. Ronan put me back on the ground, but kept his arm protectively wrapped around my waist. “He’s been creepy before.”

“He’s asked me out a few times,” I explained. “But I’ve said no every time.”

“And…” she prompted.

“And he’s sat in the back corner?—”

“And he’s been watching you!”

Ronan’s jaw tensed as he turned his attention fully to me. “Has he escalated since we saw him at the diner?” I nodded guiltily, and he sighed. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I shrugged and reached up to press my fingers into my temple. “If he comes back, call me immediately.”

“I will.”

My fingers danced over my cheekbones, then circled around my eyes. “You okay?” He tucked my hair behind my ear, his expression softening. “Still hungover?”

“We were until the excitement sobered us up,” Gracie laughed.

“Headache,” I mumbled.

Now that the adrenaline was leaving my body, I was beginning to feel the full effects of that migraine I knew had been coming. I thought I had more time.

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