Page 97 of Alphas Like Us

I glare, stepping further off thewall.

And he says, “That’s how you plan to spinthis?”

My nose flares, hot-blooded anger craving to twist my face. There is nothing more I can give him than what I feel. He’s still choosing not to believe me. “I’m not warping shit,” I tell him. “If you don’t see it the way I see it, then fine. Leave italone.”

Akara, Quinn, Oscar, and Donnelly all stand rigid. Watching. Tensed. But not surprised that we’re butting headsagain.

Thatcher steps over a pile of mailers. Rolling the sleeves of his plaid flannel. Like he’s boiling as hot as me. He nears me and says, “Did you even consider Maximoff when you decided to quit onhim?”

I glareunblinkingly.

He’s deadserious.

He truly believes that I don’t give a flying shit about Maximoff. I almost let out a pained laugh.Fuck, I’d do anything forhim.

I’d even choose securityforMaximoff, but here’s the thing: Maximoff would resent me. Every day, every minute, he’d hate me. We are so alike in that we want to give each other what we need. And he wouldn’t, for a second, let me stay in security out ofchivalry.

“Wow,” I say flatly. “Did I even consider my boyfriend when I made a life-altering choice that would directly affecthim?”

Of course I did. Of course I’ve struggled. Of course I’ve beat myself up at the terrible timing. But I’m the one who wakes up to those forest-greens that screamdon’t coddle me, just loveme.

Just loveme.

Not thisfucker.

“Your client, yourboyfriend, just broke his collarbone,” Thatcher spits out, pointing at my chest. “Hejusthad surgery and lost his job, and you chose this moment to quit onhim—”

“Say that shit again and we’re going to have bigger problems,” Isneer.

“When one of us quits, we have to hire someone new,” he growls, unable to stop spewing more. “And these families have to learn to trust a stranger to protect themall over again.” His glare grows hotter in a single pause. “Your client, the guy you left behind, will get someone new in his life. You should be worried about that after what’s happened between youtwo.”

I hear what he’s insinuating. “You don’t know what the hell you’re talkingabout.”

“I know Maximoff is impressionable.” He cups a hand around his fist. Like he knows what he’s about to say will set me the fuck off. “If he fell for someone like you, he’d have no problem falling for his newbodyguard—”

I explode forward to hit him; I’m going to fucking slam my fist in his fucking face—and then Oscar wrenches me back, my feet smashing boxes. And he means well by restrainingme.

But the other guys don’t catch Thatcher in enough time. I jerk in Oscar’s grip as a reflex, seeing the pair of knuckles, and my friend lets go too late—Thatcher’s fistslamsinto mycheek.

My head whips, the stinging pain familiar from all the blows I’ve taken in aring.

Yells pierce the air. Oscar shoves Thatcher backwards, and Donnelly tries to jump the six-foot-seven guy. But Akara stops another fight from breakingout.

I don’tmove.

I’m staring at the floorboards, my self-restraint greater than my rage, and I look to the door that connects the two townhouses. And I’m confident about where I want to be and where I need togo.

Tuning out SFO, I head to the adjoining door to findMaximoff.

It opens before I even grab the knob. And my boyfriend fills the doorway. He looks at the welt on my face, and then his eyes basically murder Thatcher a hundred differentways.

Maximoff almostcharges.

“Wolf scout,” I say, quickly putting a hand on his waist. Guiding him into his townhouse. I kick the door closed behind me, my smile almost rising. Maximoff trying to protect me has definitely become one of my all-time favoritethings.

His thick hair is disheveled like he just sprung out of bed, and his drawstring pants ride low like he just raced down the staircase. He must’ve heard theshouting.

He holds my hip and glowers at the door like he’s cursing Thatcher for eternal damnation. He really wants to go back in there and fight on mybehalf.