She started to shake her head even before he finished his sentence. “I gave you a week and you didn’t return my calls. I want it now.”
“Shit,” he blurted and immediately flicked his gaze to the door. It seemed Cord was running out of time, and he knew it. Without any type of warning, he reached out grasping her elbow. It was a bold move and she’d admit, unexpected. Roxanne hadn’t pegged either one of the boys standing in front of her as aggressive. It wasn’t a tight hold but firm enough to send a shock to her heart. She yanked her arm and stepped back.
Who the hell did this guy think he was?The heat rose from her chest to her neck almost instantaneously. It wasn’t often she was angered in a way that boiled her blood but right now she was on the verge of unleashing hellfire on Cord. How dare he think he could put his hands on her! Instead of fear for her safety, she was a fiery bomb about to explode. She clenched her fists and lunged forward, sending both boys stumbling backward.
She pointed in his face. “Touch me again and I’ll have you on your ass in five seconds flat.” She shifted her gaze to Holden who was standing behind his brother. “And you in three.”
“Jay!” Holden shouted.
Cord whipped his head and snarled. “What are you doing?”
“Dude, she just threatened to lay us out. She looks small but I think she could do it. She’s psycho.” He shook his head with a small pout playing on his lips. “All the hot ones are.”
Roxanne sent him a glare and clamped her lips while stifling a chuckle. He inched closer to Cord’s back as if seeking protection.Ah, boys.
Cord threw his hands over his head in a sign of defeat. “He’s gonna fucking kill me.” Cord paced in the small area, sharing a look with his brother. Holden gave Cord a sympathetic nod.
Roxanne didn’t know who “he” was but from the boys’ reactions she assumedhewould not be happy. Roxanne had the distinct feelinghewas the brother Cord had been talking about at the scene of the accident. Clearly, it wasn’t Holden. She glanced between the boys. There was something familiar about them. Until the fender bender, she’d never met Cord or Holden. Still, there was something. Same bone structure, the same green eyes and hair color. She smirked. And the same dreaded twitch of their cheeks though Cord looked more annoyed than scared.
Her phone vibrated in her bag and while she was tempted to ignore it, she couldn’t. It could’ve been Stone checking in on her. The last thing she needed was him showing up as back up. She felt a swell of empowerment in her chest. She was totally handling this situation. She reached in her bag planning on sending her brother a quick text if it was him.
Then, all hell broke loose.
“Oh shit, she’s got a frickin gun. Jay!” Holden screamed.
Roxanne jerked her body and widened her eyes. It was absurd to think she’d pull a gun on anyone. However, she hadjust made a verbal threat. She moved forward to show him her phone, but he grasped Cord’s shoulders pulling him back against the wall.
“Fuck, Hold, it’s not a gun, you dumbass.” Cord tried pulling away from his brother but couldn’t get away from his death grip.
“Jay!”
“Calm down, it’s just a …” Roxanne slid her hand over the metal piece in her bag. She gasped, stopping in mid step. Oh hell, she did have a gun. However, unless asked, she wouldn’t be offering up that information. Holden would probably have a full-blown panic attack. As it stood, he was halfway there. “Relax, I was just grabbing my phone.”
His breath was heavy, obviously scared. “S-so, you don’t have a gun?”
Oh shit!By law, in their house, she had to disclose she was carrying a weapon.
She swallowed the knot in her throat and smiled, hoping to keep things calm. “I actually do but I …”
“Jay, help us, she’s got a gun!”
Roxanne staggered back a foot. What the hell had she gotten herself into? Her own panic set in. This was a clusterfuck. Before she could say another word, she heard heavy footsteps charging through the door. Then they stopped. She jerked her head to the corner of the room with every intention of explaining the situation as quickly as possible. However, the figure in the doorframe had her speechless.
What the …
Her bottom lip fell as she stared at the man taking up most of the doorway. The crown of his head almost reached the top, and his body left only a few inches on either end of the frame. He was almost as tall as Stone with the same solid girth as T. His brows dipped in a harsh scowl as he surveyed the room. Hard, imposing and unconventionally handsome was how shesaw him. But she was getting an entirely new view. He was shirtless, an array of tattoos on his chest, fully on display. The only thing more distracting was his six pack. The reality of Jonah far surpassed her imagination.
Roxanne watched him tighten his lips as his gaze landed directly on her. Heat rose from her chest to her cheeks under his stare. His inspecting eyes scanned over her face, down her body. It was brief and she saw the moment recognition set in.Yeah, I’m the last person you expected to see in your living room, huh?
What were the odds that when she eventually ran into him again, it’d be at his house? This was so strange and weird and …Oh, my God!
Bogs’ voice played in her head.“It’ll be fine. Rox can handle herself.”
Clarity struck her at the worst possible moment. Her entire body flamed with heat as her heart pounded against her chest.I’m going to kill him.It all made sense why Bogs had been on her side and was so adamant she went on her own. All the bullshit he spewed about her independence and being a self-sufficient adult and handling her own shit? He knew exactly where he was sending her.Bastard!
She drew in a breath, aware of his unwavering stare. Roxanne straightened her shoulders, forced a smile and gave a small wave.
“Hi, Jonah.”
