Page 62 of Zero Chance

Excitement roared through me.I was this much closer to unveiling my mistress’s identity.

“Who is she?”I said.

Hope’s gaze flared with horror as she realized she’d let out too much.But instead of confessing, she lifted her chin stubbornly.“I’m not telling.”

“Hope,” I growled from between gritted teeth.“Who…is she?”

Her lashes fluttered in indecision.“Seriously,” she said, pushing experimentally on my chest to get me to step back, except I didn’t budge.

Worry lit her gaze.“Stop looking at me like that,” she demanded.“You’re freaking me out.Now get out of my space, Keene.”

“Gladly.Just give me her name, and I will.”

Acting like a cornered rabbit, her eyes darted back and forth between me and her brother before she said, “Nope,” and then tried to duck out from under my arm and shimmy through the space there.

“Get back here,” I growled, instinctively hooking an arm around her waist to keep her from escaping.

Hope yelped in surprise, screeching, “Alec!”as her feet scrambled to no avail, unable to break free.

“Hey,” Alec cried, coming to his feet with both hands lifted.“Whoa, now.”

Xander leaped up as well, backing away from the table with wide eyes just as a hand grabbed my arm and ripped me away from Hope.I went hurtling backward until my spine rammed into the refrigerator.

Gasping as the wind was knocked from me, I blinked up into Parker’s enraged eyes as he pinned me in place by the throat.

14

KEENE

“Thefuck, man?”Parker demanded, glaring at me with more anger than his usual amount, which was saying a lot.

My mouth opened, and I gaped at him before wheezing, “Where the hell didyoucome from?”And I’m honestly surprised I got that much out, what with his forearm lodged against my windpipe.

“I was in the living room, talking to Archer,” he answered calmly before bumping me back into the refrigerator threateningly.“Now why did you have your fucking hands on my girl?”

“I was just?—”

“Wrong answer.”He pressed harder against my neck, cutting off my words with a choke.Leaning close, he hissed, “You don’t touch her.Ever.”

I lifted my hands in surrender and mouthed the word, “Okay,” because I definitely didn’t have enough air to actuallyverbalizeit.

But Parker only narrowed his eyes as if my response was more offensive than reassuring.I kept eye contact with him the whole time, sure this was it.I was going to die, here and now.

Until Hope appeared at his side, touching his arm gently.“Parker, honey,” she said, speaking in a calm, even voice to cool him down.“He can’t breathe.”

“Good,” he growled, talking to her but still looking at me.“Maybe that’ll teach him to never fucking attack you again.”

“He didn’tattackme.”Hope rolled her eyes and mumbled under her breath for a moment before adding, “I mean, not really.I knew he wouldn’t actually hurt me.It’sKeene, Grumpy.Seriously.”

Parker finally turned his head to look at her directly.“Then why were you screaming to Alec for help when I walked in the fucking door?”

Hope heaved out an impatient breath.“Because I accidentally admitted I knew who his mystery girl was last night, and he was just trying to get her name out of me.”

He whirled back to pin me with a glare.“This is aboutthat?”

“Yes,” Hope answered for me.“Now, let him go.His face is turning purple.”

For a moment, Parker refused to budge.Then he lifted a finger at my face in warning.“If you ever put your hands on her again, I will hurt you, and I will like it.Got me?”

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