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Theo leaned forward then and grabbed me by the wrist, yanking me forward and into motion towards the door.

I looked once more over my shoulder towards Ashe, and he was still watching. The playful mask of cool and calm was gone now, and his eyes tracked me with that dark, protective glare.

14

ZARINA

Theo wascold and stiff at the wheel of my car.

I don’t know how he got the spare key, but the fact that he showed up to the pub in my own car was a whole new level of insult that I didn’t need.

The fact that he was now giving me the silent treatment, like I was a child in trouble for her actions, was only making my blood boil hotter.

I’d been in a very public place.

I’d been surrounded by innocent bystanders and witnesses.

What the fuck did he think was going to happen?

When I wanted to leave, they let me leave.

When Theo was being a dick, they stood up for me.

So, who did I really need protecting from?

“I’m sorry,” Theo said in a whisper eventually, like it pained him to do so. “I didn’t mean to be so harsh, but…”

“But you’re scared of my brother,” I finished his sentence for him with a roll of my eyes.

“Zarina, I was scaredfor you.”

I frowned up at him, looking at him for the first time since he’d pretty much thrown me in the passenger seat of my own car. His knuckles were tight around the wheel, and he shook his head.

“Look,” he said with a huff. “I know I’m new to all of this. I know that you think that I’m just Antoni’s errand boy, which I guess in a way I am… But that’s besides the point, Zar. I’ve been following you around for weeks, we’ve been hanging out, spending time together. I feel like… I feel like we’re friends, aren’t we?”

I sighed, and couldn’t help but soften at the tension in his voice.

“Maybe not, I don’t know,” he ran his hands through his hair in frustration. “Either way, I know what these guys are capable of, and I do not want you to get hurt, okay?”

“They weren’t going to—” I rolled my eyes again.

“I know, Zarina,” he cut me off. “I know that you think that they wouldn’t hurt you. I’m sure that within their own circle, they are friendly enough guys, right? I get it. But that doesn’t change the fact that you are the enemy.”

Sure, he was making very logical arguments. I wasn’t stupid. I understood everything he was saying. But that didn’t mean I had to like it, or even agree with him.

My experiences with the Redline Angels had been very different to that of the rest of my family, and I supposed I couldn’t fault them for trying to protect me.

But it was a line that was blurring more and more every day, that line between caring and belittling.

Was Toni so adamant about having Theo watch me because he thought that the Redliners were justthat evil, or because he thought I was dumb enough to get myself killed if I was left alone for long enough?

I tried not to think about it.

“We don’t know what they’re willing to do in order to get at Antoni right now, alright? And sure, this guy that you like, or whatever,” he grumbled, “he might be fine and might have the purest of intentions. But that doesn’t mean that the rest of them will.”

I nodded, looking out the window and watching the lights of the city draw closer as we headed back towards my apartment.

I felt like a fool, once again.