Dare To Run (The Sons of Steel Row #1)(40)

“Okay, time to talk.” Chris shoved his hands into his pockets and sighed. “What the hell are you thinking, man? Bringing a girl like that into this world?”

“She’s tougher than she looks,” I said, still watching the snow falling from the black sky above. “Don’t underestimate her.”

“Oh, I won’t,” Chris muttered. “But still . . . why?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted honestly, for once in my f*cking life. “I wasn’t thinking at all. She needed me, and I came to the rescue like an idiot.”

“Wait.” Chris scratched his head. “You came to the rescue?”

“I know, right?” I shrugged. “But she was about to be raped by some Bitter Hill men. I couldn’t just stand there and say nothing. I might be an *, but even I have to draw the line somewhere.”

Chris dropped his hand back to his side. “Damn. You’re right, of course, but this new intel makes my news even worse.”

I blinked. “How so?”

“Never mind for now.” He whistled through his teeth and looked over his shoulder. “What did you do to them?”

“Killed two and sent the other one home with a message.”

“You should’ve killed—”

“Them all.” I stared up at the sky. “Yeah, I know that now.”

Chris shook his head, his irritation seething off him in waves. “Does Tate know about all of this?”

“Yeah. He was cool with it, but now she’s my girlfriend, for all intents and purposes.” Lifting a shoulder, I added, “Whether we like it or not.”

“You better make sure she doesn’t think it’s for good.” He scratched his chin and glanced up at the window of my living room. The curtains were drawn, so there was nothing to see. “She looks awfully comfortable in your place.”

“Believe me—she’s as unhappy about this situation as I am. She’s just trying to make the best of a shitty situation, because that’s the type of person she is.” I started down the sidewalk, and Chris fell into step beside me. “Neither of us wanted this.”

That much was true. But if I was being honest with myself, which I wasn’t, having her around the apartment didn’t exactly make me unhappy.

“So when you acted as if I’d attacked your most prized possession up there, and you threatened my life if I ever touched her again . . .” He shot me a look out of the corner of his eye. “That was all for show? Does she mean nothing to you at all?”

I didn’t answer, and I wasn’t going to, because it was none of his damn business.

Yeah, I’d lost my shit up there when I’d found him on top of her. She was supposed to be safe inside those walls. Not threatened and thrown on the floor by someone who was a stranger to her. Seeing Chris on top of Heidi like that . . .

It had messed with me.

At first, I’d been terrified she’d be dead. Chris was the type to shoot first and ask questions later. And once I’d realized she was breathing, the relief had set in, followed quickly by the jealousy. I’d never been jealous before. Over anyone or anything.

And I didn’t like starting now, with her.

“Hmm . . .” Chris said, side-eyeing me.

“Shut the hell up,” I growled. “No one asked you. And I seem to remember a time when you were so sure you wanted to marry Suzy Maxwell, like a f*cking tool, after you fell for her in a shady-ass strip club. Where she worked. For ten years.”

He laughed. “Fair enough. But I was eighteen, and she gave one hell of a lap dance.”

“Yeah, I know.” I grinned and dug my hands deep into my pockets. “We all know.”

Chris punched my arm. “Fuck you.”

“She always liked doing that, too,” I teased, laughing when Chris growled. I shrugged. “But, honestly, it always seemed to me that you had a thing for Molly Lachlan. Every time she came outside when I was over your house, you lit up like a Christmas tree.”

Chris stiffened. “No, I didn’t.”

“Yeah, whatever, man.”

“I didn’t,” Chris argued, his whole body stiff. He acted as if I’d witnessed some big, deep secret of his and not some silly little crush he’d had as a child. “I never liked her, and never would. She’s a f*cking kindergarten teacher.”

“Yeah.” I snorted. “Maybe you’re right. The two of you would be a disaster. Suzy the Stripper’s more your speed.”

He punched my arm and laughed, but it sounded strained. “You’re lucky I swore off her, as well as any and all relationships.” He gave me a meaningful look, his forehead wrinkled. “We both did. In this life, marriage just isn’t a smart idea.”

“Yeah, I know.” I lifted a shoulder. “Believe me—we’re not getting married. For real, or for show. She’s a temporary distraction, and that’s all.”

He nodded. “Just make sure she’s not distracting you too much. Now’s not the time to let your guard down.”

“Noted,” I said dryly. Stopping in front of the store, I opened the door and Chris went in first. After I grabbed a basket, I headed straight for the liquor. “Why did you come by? What’s up?”