“Good.” She smiled, eyes searching my face. “Head back to your hotel. There’s no need to walk me back to my apartment. It’s too far and in the opposite direction.”
“I could use a walk to clear my head.” I paused, biting my lip for a second. “Unless you’re looking to get rid of me. Do you have a hot date waiting for you in bed, still?”
She smacked my arm playfully. “No hot date unless you count Allison.”
My eyes widened. “She’s in your bed?”
She gave me a dirty look. “Don’t be a dumbass.”
“Comes naturally.” I smirked.
We walked side by side, barely speaking, but a natural silence between us. There was no awkwardness like I’d felt with other people when I was too inside my head to chitchat. Makenna let me have my quiet time without the pressure to talk.
When we arrived at her apartment, her door was ajar. “Wait,” I said, grabbing her arm as she moved toward the door, ready to go inside. “The door’s open.”
“It’s probably Allison. She’s a little out of it sometimes.”
“No,” I whispered, gripping her a little tighter as I moved her behind me. “Let me check it out first. I’m not letting you go in there first.”
Makenna peered down where I was holding on to her wrist. “Listen, it’s nothing, and if it isn’t, I can handle whoever is inside.”
I held up my hand and silenced her.
“Men,” she muttered, motioning toward her apartment with her free hand. “Knock yourself out.”
“Stay here,” I told her, lifting her off to the side so she’d be out of the way in case someone ran out.
“Ridiculous.” She rolled her eyes.
“Zip it, woman,” I told her, hating that I had to argue with her about her own personal safety. I didn’t care if she was G.I. Jane Junior or not, I wasn’t letting her put herself in harm’s way. “Do not move.”
“What if there’s gunfire? Should I run or just stay here and get shot?”
I pinned her with a glare.
She threw up her hands. “Fine. Fine.”
I pushed open the door, looking around the apartment, and saw a man in the kitchen, opening a cupboard. I moved as quietly as possible around the space, staying low to avoid drawing his attention. He closed the cupboard door and opened another, searching for something.
His back was to me as I came up behind him, jumping on his back with my arm wrapped around his neck in a choke hold. He fought me, struggling as we fell backward, his full body weight landing on me.
I squeezed harder as he struggled for air, elbowing me in the ribs with all his might.
“Oh my God, Stop!” Makenna screamed as we fought on the floor. “Dad. Fuck. Dad.”
I froze, releasing my grip. “Dad?” I gasped for air, my ribs aching and my chest tight from his weight.
As soon as I let go, the man, her father, elbowed me one more time, but harder than before, winding me even more. “Fucker,” he grumbled, holding his neck with one hand.
“Daddy, Jesus. I’m so sorry,” she said, bending down to help him off the floor.
He took her hand and climbed to his feet, glaring at me as I lay on the floor feeling like an idiot and a fool. “Who the hell is this?”
“Um.” She peered down at me, her cheeks turning pink. “He’s my friend.”
Her father raised an eyebrow, still rubbing his neck where my arm had been. “Does your friend have a name?”
“Austin, sir,” I said, finally climbing to my feet. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean—”
