“Because I can get him to do more for me when you guys aren’t fucking glaring at each other,” she answers, pushing my hand off her leg. Shit. “You seemed to have forgotten I don’t need your permission to take care of business, and I don’t need your protection.”
“I’m not saying you need my permission or anyone else’s. But you shouldn’t go alone because, Pretty girl, you might not fucking need our protection, but you’re going to get it,” I say hotly. I’d never tell her what she could or couldn’t do, but it’s our job to protect her. It’s even more imperative now that she worked her way into my heart even further.
“In case you’ve forgotten, I’m the Boss, and I say when I need you and when I don’t,” she says, just as pissed off as me. “And I didn’t need you today.”
I grit my teeth so hard it hurts before I slam on the brakes, jerk the car to the curb, and throw it into park. I turn in the seat to face her and jerk my sunglasses off. “We’re here to fucking protect you and take care of you. Why can’t you just let us do that? Instead of being fucking stubborn. You have a fucking stalker, Les. Did you forget about that?”
She pushes her sunglasses on her head again, and I wish she didn’t. Her eyes are narrowed, and she’s fucking pissed. “Who the hell do you think you are talking to, Gage? You get a little taste of my pussy, and you think you own me?”
Leo’s eyes are ping-ponging between us, but he’s smart and keeps his damn mouth shut.
“That’s not what I meant, Les, and you know it. You know you shouldn’t go alone to those meetings. That’s how it was before I got a taste of your pussy.”
“I make the decision whether you go or not. That’s how it’s always been, and it was just Zane.”
“It doesn’t have to do with Zane!” I yell and then take several calming breaths when her eyes turn hard. “It has to do with going anywhere without backup. You aren’t invincible.”
“I never said I was,” she grits out before jerking the door open, climbing out, and slamming it behind her. She struts her ass down the street four doors down from where I’m parked, jerks the door open to the nail salon, and disappears inside.
“Fuck!” I explode, slamming my hand down on the steering wheel.
“What the hell was that?” Leo asks, staring at me with concern.
“That was me being a fucking idiot,” I answer honestly. I overreacted. Big time.
“I’m guessing this has to do with the fact you are with her now?”
I nod. “She used to go alone all the time before, no questions asked, and she can take care of herself.”
“But you don’t want her to have to?” I shake my head. “Then why didn’t you just tell her that?”
“Because I’m a jealous bastard, apparently.” I know it sounds stupid, given she is sleeping with or almost sleeping with four other guys, but this is different. Those guys I trust, Zane, on the other hand, is the literal enemy and got a taste of Les way before we did. He knows what he’s missing out on, and he’s not above trying to steal her back.
“You have to trust her, Gage,” Leo says gently.
“I do trust her. I don’t trust him.”
“Then you need to tell her like that, man. Just because there are feelings involved doesn’t mean she’s automatically going to know. You need to tell her that you know she doesn’t need protection, but you want to protect her.”
I run my hand through my hair. “I will. I just got pissed.”
He shrugs. “I get it.” He slaps me on the shoulder. “Let’s go make our girl happy.”
We climb out and make our way into the nail salon. Les is already in the back of the shop, waiting for her pedicure. She looks up when we walk in and looks right back at her phone.
Damn it.
“Gage!” Staci, the shop owner, greets. “You must be Leo?”
I nod, answering her question. “We’re here for the appointment with Alessa.”
“Follow me. Pick any chair. We’ll be with you shortly.” She bustles away. We each take a chair on either side of Les, kicking our shoes and socks off.
“Pretty girl, I’m sorry.” She won’t even look at me. Leo gives me a look to get me talking. “I know you don’t need my protection, but I want to. I can’t stand the thought of something happening to you.”
“I get that,” she says quietly, still sounding pissed. “But you can’t suddenly dictate how I run my life.”
“I don’t want to dictate it. I just want peace of mind knowing you have someone at your back. All of us do. Can you give us that?”
