I set my mug down and shove off the counter, walking toward him. “I try not to need people in my life, Diesel, because it’s hard to find people I trust and because association with me is risky.” I place a soft hand on his arm. “But I need you.” My eyes scan his. “I need you to be on my side. To continue training me. To continue helping me. I won’t survive this otherwise.”
His hard features soften, and he sighs, bundling me into a friendly hug. “You know you have me. Whatever you need, I’m always on your side.”
Thank fuck. I ease out of his embrace. “Then, you know why we need to keep this platonic. We had fun, but if we kept going, someone was bound to get hurt. I can’t risk that, and you are more to me than a hot body to fuck.”
He loosely holds my waist. “The guy you end up falling for is going to be a lucky son of a bitch, because you truly are one of a kind, Harlow Westbrook.”
“Careful,” I tease, needing to defuse the atmosphere. “You don’t want to give me too many compliments. It might go to my head.”
“I very much doubt that, but I hear you loud and proud, little squirt.”
I grin at his familiar endearment although it’s been a few years since I heard it, but I know we’re going to be okay. A layer of stress lifts off my shoulders. “Coffee?” I ask as I grab my cup and move toward the pot.
“Please,” he says, pulling himself up onto a stool at the counter. “You weren’t the only one who didn’t get much shuteye last night.” I grab another mug from the overheard cupboard and pour him a cup while I refill mine. “Speaking of, do you want to tell me what’s going on? Why are you covered in scratches and cuts and walking like you’ve got a limp?”
I hand him his mug and claim the stool beside him. “Saint and the other assholes decided to test me.” I shrug, wanting to downplay it. “It’s nothing I couldn’t handle, and I think they’re finally realizing I’m not easily intimidated.”
“Be careful, Lo. They may be only junior chapter, but they have rap sheets as long as my arm. At least Saint, Galen, and Caz do. Theo is the invisible ghost orchestrating stuff from the shadows.”
I level him with a stern look. “You don’t have to warn me about The Sainthood. I know what I’m dealing with, and I’m taking the necessary precautions.”
“And are you protecting your heart?” he blurts.
My mouth hangs open. “Seriously?”
“C’mon, Lo. You’re gorgeous, intelligent, feisty, and you can hold your own. You think I don’t know they’re hitting on you? You think I don’t know about the tape?”
Well, shit. I’ve never discussed that with him.
“I didn’t watch all of it,” he adds before I can ask. He removes his aviators, locking his gaze on mine. “But I saw enough. There’s chemistry there, and that’s worrisome. If they can’t get to you through intimidation, they will revert to more seductive measures.”
Based on the convo I had with Saint before I left, I’ve already deduced that. But I made the decision to seduce them first, and if they want to play this game, I’m more than ready to play ball.
They might think they can win me over, but I’m not like other girls.
I never give my heart away, and I sure as fuck won’t start now.
“I’m already two steps ahead of them.”
He scowls, and his eyes burn with envy. “That’s what I was afraid of.”
“Please tell me you’re not jealous and this is just concern.”
He has the decency to look ashamed. “It’s mostly concern, and I’m working on the jealousy part.”
I’m so glad I ended things with him last time because it’s obvious now that he was already invested. My heart aches a little, because, in a different time and different place, I could see us making a go of things.
But we are where we are, and there’s no point dwelling on what-ifs.
“Work harder,” I suggest, my tone brooking no argument.
“What is it you wanted to ask me?” he says, and I’m grateful for the subject change.
“I need you to get me the accident paperwork.”
“What are you planning, Lo?”
“I know Neo had my dad murdered, Diesel, and there’s got to be some evidence I can use to put him away.”
