Page 12 of Diesel
The man turned, startled, but didn’t move.Big mistake.
Diesel didn’t slow down.He crossed the distance in long, purposeful strides, and by the time the guy realized what was happening, Diesel had already grabbed him by the collar and yanked him backward, slamming him into the parking meter.
“You deaf, asshole?I said back the fuck off,” Diesel said with a hiss.
“Hey, man, relax.I was just talking—”
“She didn’t look like she wanted to talk.”Diesel’s face was inches from his now.He tightened his grip on the man’s collar.“You threatening her?”
“N-no,” the guy stammered, eyes darting to Sophie, then back to Diesel.“Just asking questions.”
Diesel’s lip curled.“You got any idea whose street you’re standing on?”
The man went pale.
Diesel shoved him back with a grunt.“Get lost.”
The guy didn’t argue.He stumbled away, muttering something under his breath and disappearing down the sidewalk fast.Diesel watched him go, chest heaving, jaw clenched so tight it hurt.
Only when the street was empty again did he turn back to Sophie.She hadn’t moved.Her face was pale, and her hands were still crossed over her stomach like she was trying to hold herself together.Her wide and startled eyes locked on his and for a split-second, Diesel wondered if she was afraid of him now too.
He took a step toward her and then stopped.His fists were still balled at his sides.
“You okay?”
She nodded, but it was too fast.Not convincing.
“He just walked up out of nowhere,” she said, voice thin.“Asked if I was the owner and asked what I thought about the recent vandalism.I told him it wasn’t his business and he got ...close.”
Diesel swore under his breath.“He touch you?”
“No.”A beat.“Not really.”
Not really wasn’t good enough.He raked a hand through his hair, trying to calm the pulse hammering at the base of his skull.Everything in him was on edge, burning with the need to protect, to eliminate any threat near her.
“You can’t be out here alone,” he muttered.“Not even for a minute.”
“I didn’t know he was—” Sophie began.
“I’m not blaming you.”He took another step, softer this time.“I just ...I should’ve been here.”
She looked up at him, brows drawn together.“You were gone ten minutes.”
“Too long,” he said, almost to himself.And it was.That’s what scared him most.How fast it could all go sideways.
Sophie hugged her arms tighter.“I’m fine.”
“You’re not,” he stated.
She blinked at him.
Diesel cursed again, this time more quietly.“Look, I’m not trying to scare you.But this guy doesn’t seem like some random jackass.He was testing the water.Seeing how close he could get.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re involved in something bigger than just a busted window now,” Diesel said.“Someone wants to shake you.Maybe they want to buy the building.Maybe they want to pressure Tom.Maybe it’s something else entirely.But whoever it is, they’re playing games, and I don’t like games.”
Sophie didn’t answer right away.Her eyes were shining just a little, but she didn’t let the tears fall.That made Diesel ache worse than if she’d cried.
