I get down to the end of the cigarette before realizing it’s been a decent amount of time since I heard from her. I’m aware she is a girl. Girls have a problem with getting ready on time but given the circumstances and her lack of desire to impress me, I think she would be down by now.
I call her phone, but it just rings twice before going to voice mail.
Nothing about this feels right. Cursing LA traffic under my breath, I climb out of my car.
Marching to the door of the building, I glance around the lobby through the glass door. I spot some guy in a suit leaning against the wall by the stairs. He looks far too much like some jerk who would hang around with her ex.
I pull out my phone, grateful she included the apartment number in her text message.
Pulling the door open, I let it slam shut behind me. The guy in the suit glances at me, eyeing me up and down. He must not have a good taste in music, because he doesn’t seem to know who I am or consider me a threat. He glances down rather quickly.
Little does he know I fight much better than it would seem.
Walking past him, I decide to take the stairs to get a better lay of the land. I stroll up the maze of stairs and hallways until I’m at the third floor. Reading numbers of doors that make no sense to me. I finally see apartment 310, which is closer to 314 than I’ve been.
It’s then that I hear a crash a few doors up and across the hall. I speed walk toward it. I know it’s not a good thing to hear given the situation. Dread crawls up my neck.
The door reads 314, which happens to be the one she sent me. It’s shut, so I tap on it. The low shouting on the other side isn’t aimed at me, leaving me no choice.
Closing my eyes and cracking my neck, I suck in a deep breath. A lawsuit is the last thing I need right now, but there is no way in hell I’m just walking away from a woman in need. So much for not getting involved. Past Ben would be annoyed, and unfortunately for future Ben, he has a right to be.
I grip the handle and shove the door open, my eyes sweeping over the scene before me. He has her pinned against the wall, her wrists trapped above her head, his face inches from hers as he murmurs words I don’t bother trying to catch. My gaze drops to the scratch on his cheek. Looks like she tried to fight back.
Good girl. Not that she is any match for him. I’m barely a match for him. He is tall and bulky. He has the money for steroids and endless bottles of prework out powder.
“Hello,” I say, shutting the door behind me. I don’t need witnesses.
Both heads snap in my direction. Her eyes widen, even as they spill tears.
“Listen, dude, this doesn’t involve you,” he says to me. “You shouldn’t be messing with another guy’s girl anyways.”
“I’m not your…” He cuts her off by slamming his hand over her mouth.
Any chance of leaving without blood on my hands is dwindling.
“She is just angry with me, but we are going to work that out.” he continues. There is a threat laced in his voice.
“Yeah. I don’t think so,” I say, taking a step closer. He doesn’t like my movement, tensing up, and forcing that tension against Prue.
More tears drip down Prue’s face. It shifts something inside of me. I haven’t been the nicest to her, but seeing her cry like this, with another person’s hands on her, fills me with a rage I didn’t think I had in me.
Though as much as I want to kill this fucking prick right now, I know Prue doesn’t need to see more violence, especially from me. I don’t want her to associate me with violence. I’d much rather she associates me with pleasure.
But in my gut, I know she isn’t going to handle the fact I’ve witnessed this very well. She wants to be strong and brave. She likes to act like she is the things I called her that first night. Enjoys the idea she holds some power over me, even if it’s just from the fact she sucks dick better than anyone else I’ve come across. Now that I’m seeing her vulnerable and weak, she is going to try to push me away even harder. The insults she is going to hurl after this are going to hurt, but the price of my pain is nothing compared to saving her from this jackass.
“Dude, just leave,” he snaps at me. I kind of wish I knew his name right now, but it’s probably best I don’t. I’d be bound to track him down and ruin his whole existence if I knew it.
“No. I thinkyoushould leave,” I counter.
“Me? I’m her fucking boyfriend. You’re just a guy in a semi famous band who her parents would be ashamed to hear she fucked.”
“Ha.” I laugh. I half wish his words were true. Not sure I’m going to be able to fuck her after this. “Please take your hands off her.”
“This doesn’t involve you, man,” he groans.
“It kind of does.”
“Why? Cause you fucked her? She’s just a slut, and while I can’t say I blame you for hitting it, you need to let it go. She is going to be my wife one day.”
