Face reddening, I pull out my phone and send a text to Ian because I know it’ll be pointless to ask the superintendent to let me in. He’s just as chauvinistic as Ian.
Me: Funny story. My key doesn’t work. Wanna explain that one to me?
My phone rings in less than three seconds.
“Put it on speaker,” Milo orders.
Releasing the air in my lungs, I slide my thumb across the screen and answer it.
“Yes?”
“Hey, baby. There’s been some break-ins around the neighborhood. Figured I should probably change the locks to keep your stuff from getting stolen while I’m at work.”
“Aren’t you thoughtful,” I grit out. “Any chance you left a spare lying around? I kinda need to grab a few outfits.”
“Like that black lacy thong and garter set I bought you a few months ago?” He groans as if he’s imagining me in it. “Mmm… Yeah. I like that outfit too.”
My gaze darts to the guys around me, who can all clearly hear this conversation. “Or, ya know, a few T-shirts and a pair of jeans.”
“Just one?” he inquires, though I know he can see right through me.
I shift from one foot to the other, then pinch the bridge of my nose. “Ian, I need to grab my stuff.”
“I think you need to talk to me first.”
Raising my hand that isn’t holding my cell, I try to keep my own personal bodyguards at bay when they’re all chomping at the bit to get their hands on Ian. With a huff, Milo crosses his arms but glares at my phone nonetheless.
“Is there a spare key somewhere?” I press.
“No need. I’m on my way right now.”
Then the call goes dead.
Three minutes tick by in silence. We’re all too hopped up on adrenaline and anxiety to chit-chat about the weather, but the heavy silence is not exactly helping my nerves.
I check my phone for what feels like the thousandth time and watch the clock change from 12:04 to 12:05 pm. Grabbing my phone from my hand, River slides it into the back pocket of my ripped jeans, then pats the surface with a wry grin as if to say, calm the hell down, sweetheart.
“So…how you doin’?” he asks in his best impression of Joey from Friends.
I grin, surprising myself with how effortless it feels. “I’m…” My voice trails off as a loud muscle car roars down the road. River follows my gaze, then steps a little closer to my side. Gibson flanks the other while Milo steps in front of me like a terrifying guard dog. Jake’s familiar presence greets me from behind as he drops his voice low and murmurs, “Let’s just get her stuff, then get out of here, okay?”
“You guys are suffocating me,” I huff.
“We’re protecting you. There’s a difference,” River tosses back at me. None of them move an inch. If anything, they squeeze in a little closer, making me feel like a sardine stuffed inside a can of muscles.
“You guys are being ridiculous,” I mumble under my breath. Shifting my weight from one leg to the other, I glance around Milo’s massive frame. Ian’s key fob is in his hand as he presses the button to lock his car then swaggers toward us like a Poodle at a dog show. My palms are sweaty, but I keep them at my sides and watch him approach. He looks good, and I hate that I notice he’s wearing the Henley I bought him for Christmas.
“Hey, babe. Wanna call off your guard dogs for a minute so I can get to the door and let you in?” Ian asks in a bored tone.
River’s arm snakes around my waist, tugging me into his side with a protectiveness that makes my breath hitch. My gaze drops to his fingers digging into my hip. They’re causing little indents on my bare skin from where my shirt has risen up.
But his action doesn’t go unnoticed.
I can feel Ian’s eyes on me as I inspect River’s touch. That same sixth sense tingles with awareness. Holding my breath, I look up to find his heated stare. It pins me in, rendering my muscles useless as he stalks closer.
“So that’s how it is, huh? Already moved on? Awfully quick, don’t you think?”
“Give me the key and wait outside,” Milo practically growls, his fury simmering like a freshly cracked egg in a frying pan.
“And cut our reunion short? I think I’ll have to pass. Let me guess. You’re Milo.” It isn’t a question. “I’m Ian. Nice to finally meet you, man.”
I snort.
Bullshit, it’s nice to finally meet him.
Ian has been putting roadblocks up left and right any time I’ve tried to bring Milo around. So much so, in fact, that I stopped bothering to introduce them to each other altogether. Who would’ve thought it was because he was trying to cut all the ties between me and my family in hopes of isolating me until I believed he was the only one I could rely on.
Classic abusive behavior. Jake’s right.
“It’s probably a good thing we never met,” Milo informs Ian. “If we had, your relationship would’ve ended a hell of a lot sooner than it did.”
“Is that right?” Ian challenges. He might not have ever hit me, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a hothead who’s always been down for a brawl. Now that I think about it, it was probably only a matter of time before his fist would’ve found my face in a moment of fury.
They’re almost matched for their heights, but Milo is more cut. More muscular. More predatorial. More everything. And I’m so glad he’s on my side.
But that doesn’t mean I want him to throw the first punch.
Or any punches, for that matter.
River lets go of me, giving me a gentle nudge toward Gibson before he steps forward to break apart the possible fistfight that’s seconds from happening. Under normal circumstances, I’d probably give him crap for treating me like a yo-yo, but I bite my tongue and remind myself to thank him later for putting himself in the line of fire.
The vice around my chest begins to ease as River flanks Milo’s side then moves between the two stiff bodies.
“Now, now, gentlemen. Let’s remember why we’re here, shall we?” With his hands raised in defense, he presses his open palm to Ian’s chest in a silent warning to take a chill pill. Then River strikes faster than a coiled snake and grabs onto the collar of Ian’s shirt with one hand before nailing him in the jaw with his closed fist.
My hands cover my mouth that’s wide open in shock as my ex flies backward.
“What the hell?” he screams in outrage. An angry red mark is painted along the side of his face, and I’d bet a thousand bucks he’s seeing stars right now. But it only lasts for a second.
Charging toward River like an angry bull, Ian is ready to rip his head off before Milo steps between them and shoves him back a few steps on the concrete outside my apartment door.
“Back the hell up,” Milo orders. His face is stone-cold as he dares Ian to disobey him.
Ian’s hand flings through the air, motioning to River, whose nostrils are still flaring with adrenaline and frustration.
“That asshole just sucker-punched me on my own property. I could have him arrested for that shit!”
“Look, we just want to grab Reese’s stuff,” Jake interjects as he steps onto the other side of Milo with his arms crossed over his chest. There’s so much testosterone on this porch I’m afraid I might drown in it.