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As soon as I heard his voice, I calmed down and stopped fighting. I was safe. Nobody could hurt me now.
“Jesus Christ, I think you busted my nose,” grumbled Brax. “What happened? Why were you running like the hounds of hell were on your ass?”
My chest was heaving now that the adrenaline had faded, and my legs and lungs were screaming at me. I struggled to catch my breath, not caring I was sprawled on top of Brax. I’d move in a minute. Or maybe 10 minutes. He wasn’t complaining.
“I thought someone was chasing me.”
Brax instantly pushed me off and jumped up, scanning the area around us, putting himself between me and any possible enemy.
I pitied anyone who tried to get a jump on him now. There would be carnage. When he saw nothing amiss, he took my hand and pulled me out of the trees and onto the sports field.
“Did you see someone?” he asked.
“Well, no, but it felt like there was someone there.” I shook my head, starting to think I’d overreacted. “Ugh, maybe I’m being paranoid. Honestly, I have no clue.”
“Given everything that’s happened lately, I don’t think you’re imagining things.” He stared past the trees again, but the light was fading fast. I shivered, fully aware of how sweaty and gross I was right now.
“Come on, let’s get back to the apartment,” Brax ordered.
“Erm I’m sorry about attacking you and hitting you in the face.” Blood trickled down from where I punched his nose.
“It’s fine. I’ve had a lot worse from guys ten times bigger than you.” He smirked, then his face clouded over as the realization hit him I wasn’t supposed to be out here alone. “Quinn shouldn’t have let you go running on your own,” he growled. “I’m going to fucking kill him when I see him!”
I yanked my hand away with irritation. Now that my fear had faded, I wasn’t in the fucking mood for a display of toxic masculinity. “Oh please, I’m a big girl. I can make my own decisions! Quinn tried to stop me and I went anyway. So blame me if you need to but leave him alone.”
“Trust me, that isn’t going to happen, princess. We all agreed we’d watch over you. He fucked up and he will suffer the consequences.”
“OH MY GOD! Have you listened to yourself lately? On what planet am I a shrinking violet who needs a strong man to take care of me? I appreciate the fact you guys have been there for me, but I feel smothered. I need some space. I can’t live like this!”
All my frustration and anger flooded out. I wasn’t really mad with Brax. I was mad with fate for dealing me such a shitty card. My vision blurred with tears, and I angrily wiped my eyes, grimacing when the salt from my sweat stung a little.
Brax pulled me into his arms and I sobbed against his chest. God, he smelled divine. Sweat and citrus.
The angry toddler in me stamped her foot and demanded he release me immediately, but I was tired. Exhausted from the run and the after-effects of too much cortisol in my system.
All in wanted to do was snuggle and eat chocolate.
“Come on, let’s get you back,” Brax murmured in my ear.
I mumbled something incoherent and he kissed my sweaty forehead.
Gross but sweet.
I loved this side of him. I had a feeling not many people saw it.
Chapter 83
Harley
“We need a reason to visit Cincinnati, so if anyone is tracking Stella’s movements, they won’t be too suspicious.”
Quinn was right. After I heard about what happened earlier, when she decided to go for a run without me, I wasn’t happy. And she knew it. I totally got that she was feeling smothered, but putting herself in danger wasn’t acceptable.
My fist clenched as I thought about what might have happened if Brax hadn’t been there. God. It was bad enough watching her fall in a hail of bullets while I stood by, helpless.
I never wanted to experience that level of fear again. It would likely send me prematurely gray, and given my blond hair was my best feature, what a tragedy that would be.
Well OK, maybe not my best best feature, but definitely in the top five.
