Page 38 of Let Me Protect You

His light brown eyes darken a shade. “No. We’ll figure it out. I was just hoping to do it sooner rather than later.”

Vicki plops down on the other side of the table. “How about we have a little less depressing conversation, huh?” She turns to Elias. “How has business been, Mijo?”

Business? As in, Cutesy’s? Why is she asking him about it?

“Let’s talk about it later.”

“Later? Why?”

“We have company,” Elias says in a monotone voice. He eats a bite of rice and looks at me.

There’s something in his eyes that makes me want to reach across the table and grab his hand. My stomach swoops when he looks away. I pull out my phone.

Harmony

Is everything okay?

He glances at his watch before nodding once.

Harmony

Did my sister say something to you?

Again, he checks the message and nods.

Harmony

Do I need to kick her booty?

This time, he pulls out his phone and types a message.

Elias

No need to go to jail for me. It’ll be a lot harder to protect you in there.

My skin tingles under his intense stare after he places his phone in his lap.

Harmony

If it’s going to get us out of this dinner, then jail sounds nice. Just commit a crime and join me.

Elias:

Ah, yes, a typical Thursday night for me.

Harmony

Plus, I think you’d look great in an orange jumpsuit.

“Who are you two texting?” Serenity looks between us with a raised brow.

“No one,” Elias and I say at the same time. His cheeks turn red, and the image sears into my brain for probably eternity.

Serenity’s eyes widen.

I cut her off before she can speak, spewing out the first lie that comes to mind, “Just a girl I got to know on Everlasting Love.” A few of the other contestants did give me their numbers, but I’m not close enough to them to actually text them.

“How was your time on the show?” Sully asks, thankfully changing the subject. “Other than the threatening messages, I mean.”