Page 10 of Fighting My Demons

“I just said you are. Either Xavier takes you home, or I do,” Latham growls, and the noise startles me.

I step away from him when another thought occurs to me.

“Wait. You aren’t going to tell Eli…” I don’t finish, suddenly humiliated that I am half-naked in my office with three men.

“What happens between the four of us stays between us, Bella,” Latham says, though I find his choice of words unusual, like he is expecting something to happen between the four of us.

“Go. I will cover for you,” Latham says.

I roll my eyes before walking over to the filing cabinet, unlocking it, and grabbing my bag.

“Wait. If he drives me home, what about my car?”

“Xavier will drive your car home. We will pick him up when we finish here,” Latham says, and I realize that means Xavier will be waiting at my place.

“No. I will just head home and quickly change,” I tell him suddenly, uncomfortable knowing my brother will be waiting there for me.

I rummage for my keys, heading toward the office door, when I hear them jingle behind me.

Xavier loops his arm through mine. “I’m driving,” he says, opening the office door and pulling me with him.

“I can drive myself,” I argue, trying to snatch my keys from him when I am suddenly shoved inside the elevator and pressed against the steel wall.

“Latham said I am taking you home, which means I am taking you home. So stop whining and do as you're told,” he says before stepping back.

We get to the parking lot, and Xavier walks over to my car. He presses the ket, and the lights flash. He opens my car door before shoving me inside and shutting the door to my blue little Holden Barina.

Xavier looks cramped in my little car as he adjusts the seat, pushing it back. I notice he never asks for directions as he pulls onto the street, heading toward my apartment building.

“Wait, you know where I live?”

Chapter Six

“Yep, Latham told me before I left,” he says, yet I don’t remember Latham mentioning my address.

Pulling up into the parking lot, I stare at the gray brick building.

“Hmm, interesting,” Xavier says, making me look at him.

“What's interesting?”

“They have empty apartments. We may just be your new neighbors,” he says, and I feel my face drop.

It is bad enough that I work with them. I don't want to also live near them.

“You can’t be serious,” I tell him, outraged.

Are they planning on invading every part of my life?

“What? We can carpool to work,” he says, and I roll my eyes.

“You can’t be my neighbor,” I tell him.

“Does that mean the one next to you is empty?” he says, and my smile drops.

“Yes,” I say through gritted teeth.

“How many bedrooms is it?” he asks, and I shrug, not knowing.