Page 93 of Jett

From deep in the flat, a faucet runs, and I turn to Kick, desperate to flee, but he bails me up in the small hallway and pushes me farther into the room.

“You locked me in here, you stupid little fuck, and I couldn’t find my phone,” Jett says as he comes around the corner.

I clench my jaw and turn to glare at him.

“What the hell are you doing here, Angel?”

I whirl back to Kick. “Let me past, Kick.”

He’s retreated the few steps to the door, and he grips the handle in his banged-up fist. My purse is now slung over his shoulder. “Look, I love you both, but this shit is hurtin’ us all. So, talk it out. The place is locked up tight for the night, and I’ll be back in the morning. There’s food, and liquor—”

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing, kid?” Jett’s voice booms from behind me.

Close.Too close. He’s so near I can feel his warm, formidable body at my back.

Kick slams the door and a beat later, a deadbolt slides home ... from the outside.

“Kick!” I pound on the door. “What the hell? Let us out of here, now!”

“No can do. You two are gonna hash this shit out.”

“Open the fuckin’ door, Kick. That’s an order.”

“Sorry, Prez. The door stays closed until ten a.m.”

“I’m gonna fuckin’ kill you.”

“I’ll go first,” I snap.

Kick chuckles. “See? You two are agreeing already.”

“I hate you for this.” I slap my hand against the door and spin around to face Jett.

“I know, babe.” Kick’s voice is muffled through the door, as if he’s leaning against it, his face close to the wood. “But I’m hoping by the morning you’ll both have forgiven me.”

I strike the oak again. My palm stings with the violence and I turn and lean against the door, my eyes closed to stop my tears of frustration from falling.

Jett’s voice is gentle when he says, “Being locked in an apartment with me is that bad, huh?”

I open my eyes and glare at him. “Did you put him up to this?”

His brows arch and he sets his jaw. “No. Unlike my soon-to-be-replaced Sergeant at Arms, I’m not a diabolical little shit. Just a common criminal, remember?”

I sigh and step forward, brushing past Jett who doesn’t move. His hand touches mine as I pass, and a jolt of electricity runs through me. “I need booze.”

“Seems like Kimba wasn’t the best influence on you, huh, darlin’?”

“What is that supposed to mean—that I can’t make decisions for myself? I’m just a dumb blonde who’sthatimpressionable?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“No. It never is what you mean, is it? Why don’t you do us all a favour and say what you actually want to, Jetthro?”

His lips form a hard line. “Bitch, we’ve been here three fuckin’ seconds and already you’re ridin’ my arse like a goddamn haemorrhoid.”

I close my eyes and take a deep breath, exhaling slowly through my nose. “I don’t want to fight with you.”

“Then don’t. Just come back to me, Angel.”