The sudden pounding on my door has me looking to Shayna in panic. He’s here.
“Let me get it.” She stands, squaring her shoulders as she walks to the door. I rush into the kitchen to hide. But when I hear the male voice, it’s not Alex’s. The deep, familiar tone is someone from my past. Officer Price.
I’m about to go tell him to get lost. The man broke my friend’s heart. But his words stop me. There’s so much regret and emotion bleeding out of him.
My phone buzzes with another text and it nearly drops from my hands.
Unknown number: Did you get my messages? I’m coming to fuck that little cunt. You’ve denied me for long enough and I’m done with this stubborn game.
My stomach tightens, but not with excitement like it used to. I feel like he may actually try to bust down my door and pin me down.
“Did he send another text?” Shayna’s voice startles me. I nod, holding it up for her to see.
“You guys can come in,” she calls out, looking alarmed by what she’s seeing on my screen.
Guys? There’s more than one?
9
Rogue
Link signals me from the door, wanting me to come inside. Good news is it looks like Shayna isn’t kicking his ass to the curb. I dismount my bike and stretch, feeling my bones brittle from the eighteen-hour ride we just did. We only stopped for gas, food, and to piss. Link was so wired with nerves he couldn’t calm himself down long enough to get some sleep, so I’m running on fumes. I’ll see what he needs then I’ll be heading out, crashing at the nearest hotel so I don’t crash out on the highway.
“Hey, Rogue.” Shay greets me with a smile, and I pull her right in for a hug.
“It’s damn good to see you, doll. Though, I don’t like seeing that redness around your eyes.” My brother flinches in my periphery. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Shay other than fierce, but she’s obviously been crying. A damn lot by the looks of it. I pull back and tip her chin up. “Hope you know how much thisman loves you. I’ve got a numb ass to prove it,” I tease, trying to lighten the mood.
Her giggle is a welcome treat and so is seeing the smile that’s forming on my brother’s face.
“Come in.” She takes my arm, much to my brother’s growly chagrin. “I want you to meet my friend Izzy.”
As soon as we enter the living room, I swear thunder claps inside my chest. There’s a petite little thing with some juicy curves standing before us. Dark mahogany long hair. Deep blue eyes. A perfect nose. Damn near the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen. But those gorgeous eyes are looking terrified as she scans me over.
It’s not exactly a foreign reaction. I’m used to people being intimidated by my size, but this girl has nothing to be afraid of. Any friend of Shayna’s is a friend of mine.
She quickly moves to the table, lifting a plate of cookies. “Do you um… Cookies?” She holds out her offering, and the sweet treats nearly shake off the plate.
“We’re okay, doll,” Link answers. “Need you to tell us what’s going on with this ex of yours.”
I was nearly mesmerized by her face, but his words have me tensing, tugging my attention back into focus. What the hell is going on with her ex?
“He um… He’s been…” When the girl’s nervous voice drops off, Shayna moves to her side and does the talking for her.
“Her ex has been texting her nonstop. She keeps blocking his number, but he keeps getting through. I was telling her right before you all got here that he’s probably using one of those apps that generates phone numbers. Anyway, she’s told him to leave her alone, but he won’t stop. He keeps showing up at her work and on campus. And then he just sent these texts.”
Shayna takes her phone from her and shows us what they say. As soon as I read them, my nerves are strained and there’sa prickling sensation at the back of my neck. The fucker doesn’t seem to be taking no for an answer. And now, he’s getting aggressive. Threatening to break into her place and pin her down. The bastard will die if he even tries.
“I don’t like the sound of that,” Link states, looking toward me. “Rogue, would you mind stepping outside for a word?”
I’m scanning the parking lot down below as we exit her apartment, looking for anyone who might be heading in this direction. If her ex tries to step foot in her place, he’ll be staring down the barrel of my gun.
“Is it just me, or do you get the sense the fucker’s starting to lose his shit? You think we should hunt his ass down and give him a warning?”
Usually I’d say yes, but we’re not in our element. I don’t trust cops that aren’t on our payroll.
“The cops in these parts don’t know us. If we’re not careful, we could find our asses in jail.”
“Fair point.” He nods. “Then what?”
