Page 84 of Baby Surprise for my Brother's Best Friend

“No.” I step back a fraction.

He steps forward, looking around and closing the gap. “Doesn’t look like your date’s paying much attention.”

Before I can shoot back a retort, his fingers skim lower. Too low.

“Hands off, fucker.”

And suddenly, he’s there. One hand on my waist, the other grabbing the guy by the front of his shirt and slamming him back against the wall.

“Back off,” Alessio growls.

The man’s smug expression drops. “Whoa, easy th—”

Alessio’s fists tighten in the guy’s shirt. “Touch her again, and I’ll break your fucking hand.”

The guy raises his hands. “Okay, okay. Didn’t realize she was taken.”

“She’s not some thing to be taken.”

The guy stumbles off into the crowd.

I blink up at Alessio, heart hammering.

“What the hell was that?”

“I was protecting you.” He’s breathing hard.

“I didn’t ask you to.”

He leans in, voice low and sharp. “You looked like you needed it.”

My jaw tightens. “You don’t get to decide that.”

“You don’t get to act like you don’t care.”

We’re toe-to-toe, heat rising, neither backing down.

I tilt my head to the front door. “Let’s go.”

He doesn’t argue. He gives his regards to Nikolai while I bid Halie goodbye.

We’re silent all the way home.

But the tension? It doesn’t leave.

It crackles.

It burns.

The second we step inside the apartment, I bolt for the bathroom.

I need space. I need steam. I need anything to scrub away the fight still thrumming beneath my skin.

I strip down, crank the water hot enough to sting, and step under the spray.

For a while, it’s just me, the water, and the echo of Alessio’s voice in my head.

You don’t get to act like you don’t care.

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