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“So you’re buying the building,” Max smirked.
“Shut the fuck up,” I warned. “I’m also pissed that you didn’t think to mention the state of her building after spending time here the other night.”
He shrugged, ignoring my anger. “So you and Trissa?—”
“Are nothing.”
Max’s chuckle only irritated me further.
I had to think of something else before I stormed Trissa’s building to discuss how much I hated her building. Of course,my fucking brain only had thoughts of Tink. Which led me to perseverating over her tonight at speed dating.
Every second of that event night had been torture for me.
As I watched her fumble through her first few ‘dates,’ my amusement was replaced by something darker, something I didn’t want to name or give life to. Each time one of those guys leaned in too close or made her laugh, my hand tightened around my glass.
I told myself it was just my protective instincts rearing its head.
But as the night wore on, that explanation felt increasingly hollow. Who was I kidding? I knew it was more than that. When she flashed that brilliant smile at the guy with the slicked-back hair, I had to resist the urge to walk over and punch him. And when that rosy blush appeared on her cheeks when another guy complimented her, it strangled every rational thought out of me.
I wanted to try to convince myself it was just the alcohol, but I knew it wasn’t. I’d barely finished my only drink of the night as I watched her.
I thought I’d kept myself under control, but then came Mason.Fucking Mason.He smiled at her, and I saw how her shoulders released the tension she’d been holding in and how she tentatively smiled back. When he took her hand, something inside me snapped. The beast that had been growling all night roared to life, demanding I go over and rip his arm off. When he kissed her delicate fingers I wanted to pull him into a dark alley and make sure he wasn’t heard from again.
I wasn’t jealous. I was looking out for her.
It took every ounce of self-control to force myself not to storm over to them like an envious lover and drag her out of there. Instead of ripping him apart, I channeled that energy into grabbing her elbow and practically forcing her to leave with me.
When I stepped out into the cool night air with Trissa tucked under my arm, the possessiveness inside me surged.
I slammed my fist down on the seat next to me. Why did I care? I needed her to be just someone I was helping out. Her talking to other guys shouldn’t make me want to destroy something and certainly not buy the building she was living in.
I had to stop this. Get far away from her. All these years of being out of her life had been torture, but this? It was a billion times worse.
I closed my eyes, unable to push away the memory of how she looked tonight, all nervous energy and sweet smiles. I tried to forget the way her eyes lit up when she laughed or how soft her skin felt when I touched her arm.
This was dangerous territory. Territory I’d sworn I’d never venture into again.
I shook my head in a sad attempt to banish those thoughts.
I was tired, that’s all. Exhausted and irritated that Tris lived in an unsafe place and didn’t seem to notice or care.
That’s why I was buying the building.
That’s why I couldn’t stop thinking of her.
That’s why I wanted to protect her.
I was concerned—as a good friend should be. It was my job to keep her safe. It had nothing to do with how my heart raced when she was near or how I couldn’t take my eyes off her all night.
Nothing at all.
The next afternoon, I met Tris at a quiet café, determined to keep things professional. But the moment she walked in with thatsunshiny blonde hair up in a messy bun and bright shining eyes, I was singing the same song as before.
Max sat discreetly at a nearby table as my security team of one. I should have more units, but we’d contacted the owner of the café and contracted a few hours of alone time without other guests present.
“Hey,” she said, sliding into the seat across from me. “I was worried you might change your mind about helping me and bail after such a disastrous night.” Her gaze focused on the menu in front of her. But I knew she wasn’t reading it. Her eyes hadn’t moved from the same spot for the last few seconds.
“Why would I bail?” She looked up and I raised an eyebrow relishing how it made her cheeks flush. The old Trissa would have laughed at how ridiculous last night was without putting herself down.