Page 12 of Another Round
“I was just looking for someone. I thought she lived here.”
His body shakes as much as his voice. Terrified beyond reason. Not a hitman. Just a dumb arse.
Before I can chew him out for being an idiot and a criminal, the knob clicks open and all my reason and rationality vanish from her putting herself in danger again. “Go back inside Evie.”
Of course, she disobeys my orders and strides toward us. Stopping next to me. Skin to skin with her shoulder brushing my torso while her hand curls around my bicep. Grasping my arm, straight and rigid pointing my Glock at this bastard.
Helping me. Halting me. Hindering me. I’m not sure which, but regardless of what she thinks or does, I can’t have her jeopardize her safety. “Get the fuck back insidenow.”
He nods furiously toward her yet keeps enough of his wits about him not to step any closer. “Her! She’s the one I’m looking for!” As if her presence in the hallway justifies him breaking in. “Remember Friday night? I was running with my friends? I saw you come in here afterward and came back to ask you out.”
Desperate for us to believe him, he glances from her to me to her again. Oh yeah, I believe him. It’s just that I hate him for it. “I don’t give a damn what you—”
“If you wanted to ask me out, then you should have done it that night.” Evie shocks the hell out of both us staring him down. Her tone as cool and confident as she is. The epitome of a righteous queen with her unrelenting guard at her side. “If you don’t have the balls to talk to me in front of your friends, then there’s no way you can handle being with me.”
Kind of harsh but totally hilarious. And absolutely accurate. He could never handle her. Very few men could.
The moron disagrees. Her insult making him stupid enough to forget I only need one reason to end him. And him attempting to get closer to her is enough of a reason. “Don’t move.”
This time his petrified gaze flicks between me and the tip of my gun. I jerk my chin toward the exit. “Discussion’s over. If you come back here again, I will do what I have to do to protect her.”
Humongous eyes and furious nod confirm he gets my meaning. No more threat necessary.
“Jesus. Okay, okay.”
Neither of us utters a word as he twists around and flies down the steps. Slamming the door behind him in his haste to escape. That I need to convince the real landlord to lock permanently regardless of how inconvenient it is for deliveries to the first floor.
Her body softens, separating from mine which is for the best even if I already miss her touch.
“I can’t stand immature guys like him. I don’t get why they act one way around their friends and another around a girl. Just like Caleb was to Lucy. So dumb.”
I follow her inside while she rants. Concentrating on ensuring my steps are soundless like I did in the old days to calm my pulse and control my adrenaline. Otherwise, I would yank her around and shake her until she couldn’t see straight. She plops onto her stool, her own movements jerky with irritation. Unaware how livid I am. Oblivious to the fury pounding inside me. Blind to the implosion I’m trying to defuse.
I lay down my weapon and palm the cool stone. Keeping my gaze on my splayed fingers and my tone even. “Stop Evie.” Breathing through the memories buzzing in my mind and stinging my heart. Crushing me from the reminder of the day I didn’t get there in time and that monster destroyed my life. I refuse to allow it to happen again. “You don’t have to prove anything.”
“What are you—”
“Not to me.” Outrage pulses in her voice from my severe tone. But I don’t care and keep going. I’m kind of shouting. But Evie’s heard worse. Seen worse without a doubt and doesn’t seem disturbed by my anger. “Not to your dad. Not even to yourself. So stop fucking putting yourself in danger because you think you do.”
Now I really am yelling. No one must ever yell directly at her I would assume from the surprise blooming on her face. I shouldn’t either. I didn’t plan to. But I can’t fucking stop myself. “What if he had a gun? What if it was more than just him? I would die to keep you safe Evie. But what if I—if that—wasn’t enough? One of these days you’re going to really fuck up and no one is going to be able to save you.”
More composed than I expect from my outburst, she only lifts her head. Facing me with an unflinching gaze. “I want to be able to save myself.”
“Then do it by making good decisions. Be smart. Show your Dad that you’re not stupid or naïve or irrational by doing exactly what he asks of you. This big life altering journey you called it can make him believe you if you do a good job with this internship and earn your own way and stay out of trouble. Because all of your damn recklessness just proves you can’t be trusted and pisses him off!”
“You sound like you’re the one who’s pissed off.”
“I am pissed off because the last time some motherfucker broke into my house he fucking raped my wife. So when another stupid arsehole breaks in here to get to you and you act like a god damn idiot, I’m a little angry.”
Or a lot angry with my chest heaving and my voice straining and my fingers fisting. I’ve said too much. More than I should have or ever expected too. Mates I used to work with know what happened, but I’ve never told anyone else. I shouldn’t have told her.
Quiet except for the beads of water dripping off my shorts and dropping onto the tile. So focused I forgot I was even wet. Finally, she slouches down, her elbows resting on her thighs, while she rubs her face.
“Holy fuck.”
“Yeah, holy fuck.”
And fuck it. I usually reserve my alcohol consumption for one bitter day per year but today is different. Today I feel alive. Enraged. Confused. Overwhelmed. But at least I feelsomethingsince it’s been too damn long since I’ve felt anything. And I want to keep feeling something. Rather than wallow like I normally do.
