“Luscious Lina. Nik,” Darren greets us, cool as ever.
Nik shifts in front of me, a human wall, voice low and lethal. “You’re violating your restraining order, Darren. Come any closer and I’ll rip you a new asshole and call it self-defense.”
Darren laughs, lifting both hands like he’s harmless. “No need for threats. I’m just out shopping. It’s pure coincidence we parked near each other.”
Everything about his tone sounds rehearsed, like he’s practiced this story just in case. I clutch the back of Nik’s shirt, pressing closer.
Nik doesn’t flinch. “Shopping, huh? Where are your bags?”
“Didn’t find anything worth buying.”
“Where’s your car?”
“Guess I lost it.”
“How convenient.”
I’m tired of this game. I peek around Nik’s shoulder. “What do you want?”
Darren shrugs, smile icy. “Like I said, just shopping. But if Ididwant something, it’d be to remind you to watch your back, bitch.” His tone sharpens. “You ruined my life. No school’ll touch me with a sexual assault charge pending. My shot at a football scholarship? Gone.”
His fists curl at his sides, his face darkening.
“You did that to yourself,” Nik snaps. “Don’t blame Lina for the consequences of your shitty choices.”
Darren’s smile twists. “That’s up for debate. Doesn’t matter, though. I don’t have to break my restraining order to get payback. There are people out there who’ll get their hands dirty for the right price.” He tilts his head. “Maybe I’ll send someone to grab you at school. Or follow you home. Or slip into your room at night and remind you of the dirty slut you are.”
Nik surges forward with a growl, but my grip on the back of his shirt stops him. Not here. Not like this.
Darren’s grin widens. “I guess you’ll never know. Bye,LusciousLina.”
He strolls away, unhurried. We watch him until he disappears into the crowd, then Nik hurries me to the car, gets me inside, and slams his own door shut. His hands clamp the steering wheel, knuckles white. His jaw’s so tight I think he might crack a tooth.
The ride home is silent.
Once we park in the driveway, neither of us moves. The engine ticks softly as it cools. Then, Nik reaches across the console and offers me his hand, palm up. I slide mine into his without hesitation. He laces our fingers together like it’s second nature.
“You okay?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
He gives me a look that says,don’t bullshit me.
I sigh. “Seriously, I’m fine. Darren’s just… pathetic. He’s not stupid enough to actually follow through on anything.”
Nik doesn’t look away. “That’s where we disagree. He’s a dumbass, and now he’s a desperate dumbass. He feels like he has nothing left to lose, and that makes him dangerous. I think we should tell Ben. Let him do his FBI magic and keep tabs.”
I hesitate. “You really think we need to?”
“I do. Better to be safe than sorry.”
I nod slowly. “Okay. You’re right. We’ll tell him.”
His kind, worried eyes find mine.
“Hey, Nikolai?” His eyes darken at the sound of his full name, and a little thrill sparks in my chest. I love knowing I affect him like that.
“Yes, Carolina?” he answers, voice low, teasing.
