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Story: A is For Arson

"While I think Noah's theory that you guys are trying to hurt Tory is a bit ridiculous, she does seem to keep being targeted and put into more and more dangerous situations the longer you guys are her bodyguards." Tiffany piped in.

"What the hell, Tiff?" I demanded. "You're the one that is constantly nagging me about Rich's rules."

"I know, babe. I'm just saying, you were never in this much crazy shit before these five came around."

"Fuck you, Barbie." Joey hissed, causing my mouth to fall open in shock. "Maybe we should have a chat about the companyyoukeep."

The dining room devolved into arguing and veiled threats. All the men, even Tiffany, shouted what they each thought was best for me. G.G. and I sat in stunned silence as their voices grew louder, each screaming to be heard over the others.

"Enough!" I screamed, standing from my seat and slamming my hands against the table. Eight sets of eyes turned to me, the room falling into silence. "I am sosickof everyone trying to decide what's best for me. I am a fucking adult. I'm not a child. I'm not a toy for you to fight over."

"Tor–" Tiffany started.

"Shut the fuck up, Tiffany." I snarled. "You're supposed to be my best friend and here you are arguing with these six idiots about what I should and should not be allowed to fucking do. All of you have overstepped so fucking far that you'll be lucky if Idon't cut all of you off. I don't have to like some of the rules that Rich put in place, but I am smart enough to know which ones are actually going to keep me safe."

"Could have fooled me." Az snorted, causing me to turn my anger on him.

"Tell me one time I've refused to follow one of these stupid rules and intentionally put myself in danger, because from where I stand, it seems like you're just salty my ex called you a fucking thug. That's what you are, isn't it? I used to think you were one of my mother's success stories, but if anything, you've just proven to me that you never learned anything other than how to be a massive dick."

Leighton started to clap, and my head whipped toward him, my eyes narrowing. "Don't even fucking get me started on you. I am fucking done with this. All this posturing and bullshit, 'I know what's best for Tory.' This was supposed to be a nice dinner with my friends. Instead, it became a pissing contest between Az and Noah before you all decided to go for asshole of the year awards. None of you have the right to make decisions for me. If any of you gave a shit about me as a person, or hell, just keeping me fucking safe, you'd be having adiscussionwith me about the best courses of action. All any of you care about is your fucking egos."

Still seething, I turned on my heel and stormed from the dining room. I'd come to expect Rich and Az to try to dictate my life, but Tiffany and Noah were a low blow. I'd only grown angrier by the time I stomped into my room, slamming the door behind me. I paced my floor, muttering about how wrong all of them were and how trapped I felt by their need to control me. My eyes landed on the window Leighton had climbed through just days before, and an idea formed in my mind.

Before I could reconsider, I'd climbed out my window and was sneaking quietly around the manor toward the garage. Ididn't have my car at the estate. It was still at my apartment, one of my father's men taking it out once a week to keep it running. Calling an Uber was out of the question, too. I'd left my cell phone in my room, not bothering to grab it when I gave in to my impulsive idea. I knew from how often Craig took me to the center that the guys kept a spare set of keys to their vehicles in the garage lockbox.

I made my way to the box when I was sure I'd slipped into the garage unnoticed and punched in the code. My lips curled in satisfaction as the door popped open, and I saw keys to Az's Porsche hanging inside. Grabbing them and a garage door opener, I practically ran to the Porsche and climbed inside. Unless they were still arguing, they'd likely hear me leave, but I didn't care. I needed space from all of them, and taking Az's car to get that space felt like a special sort of 'fuck you.' Grinning to myself, I turned the car on, hit the button to open the garage door, and held my breath. The moment it was raised enough to make it out, I tore off into the night, intending to go anywhere that wasn't the manor.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Victoria

Common sense took over not too long after I'd cleared the front gate. As thrilling as it was to have stolen Az's Porsche for the evening, I knew it would be stupid to stay in it. Craig was a tech genius, and the guys were, well, the guys. There was no way their cars didn't have some kind of LoJack for them to track, and I was in no way ready to deal with their macho chest-beating again.

I noticed the street signs and realized I wasn't far from my apartment complex. My father may have moved all my personal effects to the manor, but I still owned the place. My car was still in a secured lot, monitored by cameras and security guards. It would be a safe place to leave the Porsche, and the guys wouldn't be able to track me in my car. I'd be able to find somewhere they'd never expect me to go while I sorted through the shit crowding my mind.

Ten minutes later, I was punching in the code to my apartment complex garage. I eased the Porsche through the levels until I reached my assigned space. Parking it in my guest space, I cut the engine and tucked the keys into the glove box before climbing out. Running my hand over the sleek exterior, I sighed before turning toward the elevators. The last time I'd been home, I'd left my keys with the front desk for valet. As much as I wanted to head into my apartment and let myselfwallow in a familiar space, I knew the faster I got out of the complex, the better.

My thoughts mulled over where I could possibly go that the guys wouldn't think to look as I rode the elevator down to the main floor. I didn't really have any known 'haunts'. My life revolved around my work, but that didn't mean they wouldn't expect me to find somewhere in the affluent part of the city to hole up for a while. Southside was a much better option, assuming I could find somewhere that wasn't near the center.

I still hadn't figured out my plan when the elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. Steeling myself with a deep breath, I plastered on a smile and strolled to the desk.

"Ms. Bristol, how wonderful to see you." Arthur beamed.

"It's nice to see you too, Arthur. You're looking quite dapper."

"I'm trying a new haircut." He chuckled. "The barber said it makes me look stately with my grays."

"He was right." I grinned, leaning against the desk.

"Thank you for the compliment, Ms. Bristol. Now, what can I do for you this evening? I was told that you had left your residence for the time being. Do you need let in?"

"I'm just here for my car keys, actually. I left them with Bea the last time I was here."

"Certainly. Allow me to retrieve them for you."

Arthur slid his chair away from the desk before standing and entering the small back office. Moments later, he returned with my keys in hand.

"There you are, miss. It was a pleasure to see you home again. You have a wonderful night."