Page 3 of Life Blood
“I’ve got you,” he said. He studied my hand as he helped steady me. When his eyes met mine, I could see the electric blue in them, magnified against his raven-black hair. “Is there someone you can call to pick you up?
“They took my phone,” I barely managed. My eyes were held hostage by his somehow, and I felt a current of energy jolt through me. As if that wasn’t strange enough, my entire body suddenly felt drawn to him. He rubbed his thumb over the back of my hand, studying it. I was about to jerk away, but unexpectedly, I felt a connection with him. If that wasn’t enough to freak my ass out, I had some extreme emotion hit me next. I couldn’t explain it…it was like this guy was family or something.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yes.” I pushed away from him even though everything in my body told me to stay in his protective arms forever.
I was losing my damn mind. “Can I—” I rubbed my forehead, trying to sort out my thoughts, “I just need to use your phone to call my friend and get home.”
“Absolutely.” He handed me a silver iPhone, and I quickly dialed Jen. It went to voicemail, but I knew she wouldn’t answer a number she didn’t know, especially this late. I left her a brief, probably incoherent message and prayed she’d call back right away.
“I’m Braden Banner,” he flashed that smile that did weird things to me again. “My cousins and I moved here about a week ago.”
“Elle Simms,” I answered, oddly comforted by his presence the longer I was with him. “And thanks again for saving me from those assholes tonight.”
He looked down the street in the direction they had sped off to and laughed, “It was nothing. I’m sorry you had to deal with that. Are you feeling any better?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“You could have been in a lot of trouble tonight if I hadn’t shown up when I did. Why are you out here alone?”
Was it me losing my mind or did this guy have a velvety smooth voice that practically quieted my frazzled nerves? I should not be feeling this comfortable after what happened tonight, especially not out here alone with a total stranger, gorgeous or not.
I blinked a few times,please call me back, Jen!I thought, ripping my gaze away from the god-like man standing in front of me. I oddly felt his presence, but that pull of energy faded when I darted my eyes away.
“I’m just trying to get home from work, and if my friend doesn’t call back in a few more seconds, it looks like I’ll be jogging home.”
“If you ride, I can easily take you home.”
I folded my arms, resisted the urge to look at him, and instead eyed his massive motorcycle. “I’d rather take my chances jogging. I don’t ride, thanks.”
His laughter sent tingles down my spine, prompting me to close my eyes.What the hell is happening?
“What was your name again?” I asked. This time I looked over at his face. He looked curious as he watched me. It made me wonder if he’d felt the same magnetic draw that I did. My God, this was so freaking weird. I needed to get out of here.
“I’m Braden,” he softly intoned.
“Thanks again, Braden,” I said. I glanced at his phone, “If my friend calls back just let her know I’ll hit her up when I get home.”
“You sure you’re okay walking home this late and after what happened?”
“It’s not all that far. I’ll be fine.”
I gave him my best smile and a nod and took off jogging down an alley between some houses. The further I got away from him, the more my nerves started to take over again. I was scared out of my mind, and I pushed my legs as fast as they could take me.
Everything that occurred between Braden and me started to fade into a fog, and I welcomed that. The last thing I needed after Jackson and his dick friends tried to have their way with me was the weird idea that something was up with the guy who saved my ass tonight.
Thank God!My house came into view, and the silent street welcomed me and my exhausted, entirely out of shape muscles home.
By the time I walked through my front door, my mother had ruined my chance to call Jen and stop her from calling back the guy who saved me. For the hundredth time, mom was face down on the kitchen floor. She had puked into the sink, and the stench was still in the house. My hatred for the woman grew, but tonight, it was different. Something was wrong.
“Mom!” I shouted, noticing her shallow breaths and feeling for her weak pulse. I rested her head on my lap and reached for my cell.Shit! Assholes took my phone!
I gently rested mom’s head against the cold, linoleum floor of our worn-out kitchen and snatched the cordless phone that Mom refused to get rid of from its charging station. I dialed 911, and everything that happened afterward was a blur until the doctor came out of the hospital room.
I was huddled in my best friend’s arms, her parents next to us, when I saw the expression on his face. It wasn’t good. Did I lose her? I felt the tears sting in my eyes as I stood next to Jen’s dad. I braced myself and prepared for the worse.
Chapter Two
