Oh no! Talk about the devil.
I sit dead still, praying Trent doesn’t look our way.
“Nova?” Easton gives my hand a squeeze. “What’s wrong?”
Trent glances in our direction, and my heart sets off at a crazy pace when his features grow dark. “The fuck? Where have you been, bitch?” He picks up speed, and turning up the path leading to the porch, heshouts, “You left me hanging high and dry. I got kicked out of the apartment because of you.”
When Easton rises to his feet and moves out from behind the pillar, Trent’s eyes snap to him, but then shock registers on his face, and he comes to a sudden halt.
I hear footsteps and notice Ryan and Noah coming out of the house. They keep a cautious eye on Trent, who seems to be rethinking things.
Not sure I can stand because my legs are a little numb, I remain seated as I say, “Leave, Trent.”
Easton instantly growls, “So you’re the bastard who likes to beat women?”
“Hey, now. I don’t know what she’s told you, but I never laid a finger on her,” Trent says, holding up his hands in front of him.
“Leave this to me, guys,” Easton tells the guards as he grips hold of the railing around the porch, jumping over it with ease. When he walks toward Trent, his tone is threatening as he asks, “Are you calling my girlfriend a liar?”
I dart to my feet and rush down the stairs, grabbing hold of Easton’s arm. “He’s not worth it.”
Easton pulls free from me and gently pushes me a few steps back, then he swings around, and his fist connects with Trent’s face.
My ex staggers backward before falling flat on his butt, blood gushing from his nose.
I gasp and dart forward, grabbing hold of Easton again. “Don’t. Please!”
This is so, so very bad. What if it’s leaked to the press? What if Trent opens an assault case against Easton?
God.
Easton
The fucker deserved it. I’ll face whatever backlash I have to, but there was no way I was letting the opportunity pass me by.
“Trent Crawford,” Maggie snaps from the front door. “Are you causing trouble again?”
“He hit me,” Trent shouts as he climbs to his feet. “You broke my fucking nose. I’m going to sue you.”
“All I saw was you causing trouble,” Maggie says. “I called the sheriff.”
Sylvia is going to lose her shit.
But it was worth it, and I’d do it again.
Not even a minute later, the patrol car stops in front of the house, and when Deputy Stone climbs out, I lean into Nova and say, “If I’m arrested, call Sylvia.”
“Oh God,” she whimpers.
“Crawford, I’m so goddamn tired of your shit,” the deputy grumbles. “What did the troublemaker do, Maggie?”
“He just came up to Nova and Mr. Rowe and started yelling obscenities.” Maggie comes closer, then she lies through her teeth as she adds, “I think he took drugs. He got himself beaten up somewhere, and now he’s messing blood all over my cobblestones. I’m never going to get the stains out.”
I think I love Maggie. Fuck, she’s saving my ass right now.
“A night in the cell will do you good,” Deputy Stone says while he puts handcuffs on Trent.
“I didn’t do shit,” Trent yells. “He hit me. You’re arresting the wrong man!”
