Page 31 of Devious Corruption

Blood boils beneath my skin. My vision blurs. It’s only on intuition that I’m able to find myway to her car.

“Get off her!” I grab Jaxon by the back of his neck and rip him back, throwing him away.

He stumbles, then falls flat onto his ass.

“Lev!” Maxine grabs my arm as I reach back to my holster, intent on grabbing my gun and putting a few holes in the bastard.

“Whoa! Whoa!” Jaxon scrambles in a backward spider crawl. He knows what’s coming.

“Lev, listen to me!” Maxine smacks my shoulder as I pull my arm back, Glock in hand. When I still don’t react to her, she kicks my shin.

I freeze. Slowly, turn my glare down at her. She’s staring up at me with her lips pinched together and her nostrils flaring. She’s angry with me.

She kickedmeand she’s pissed?

“Stop it.” She gives a pointed look to my hand. “He wasn’t hurting me. He was helping me.”

The words penetrate the dome of anger that’s encapsulated me, but it’s not enough to calm the storm brewing.

“Yeah, man. I was just helping.” Jaxon shoves up to his feet, keeping his hands up.

“Helping what?” I demand.

“My keys. I locked them in the car.” She slaps her hand flat on the driver’s side window. “He was just looking at the locks to see if he could jimmy them open.”

“Yeah. Just the locks.” He gestures toward Maxine, but I know the look of a fucking liar. And this prick is lying through his teeth.

“How did you know she locked the keys in the car?”

“What?” He huffs a laugh. “What do you mean, they’re right there on the seat.”

“No. I mean why are you in the garage in the first place. Why did you follow her here?”

Maxine’s brow furrows, like she hadn’t thought about that.

“I went out for a smoke, saw she was walking alone, and figured I’d make sure she got to her car all right.” He lifts his shoulders.

“Put the gun away.” Maxine orders me in a sharp tone, like she’s talking to one of her brothers. Like she’s handling me.

“I’m here now; she doesn’t need your assistance. You should go.” I keep my focus on Jaxon. I’ll deal with the little hellion in a minute.

“Maybe I don’t want him to go.” She continues to stoke the fire. If she only knew what’s in store for her if the flames get out of control.

It won’t only be my temper that runs hot. Her cute, curvy ass will be aflame, as well.

“Lev has this under control. I’ll head back to the party.” Jaxon, smartly, takes a few steps back, dropping his hands.

“Thanks, anyway,” Maxine mutters. “I’m sorry he’s…I’m just sorry.”

The way she speaks, the softness to it, grates on me. After I watch him head down the stairs, I holster my weapon and turn to her.

Her eyelids are red, like she’s beenfighting back tears. And she looks exhausted. How long of a shift did she work before coming all the way down here for Nicolette’s party?

“You didn’t need to do that; he wasn’t hurting me.” She blows out a breath and faces the car window. “My keys are still locked in there.”

Her shoulders round out, like she’s had enough weight to bear today and seriously needs a rest.

The woman needs a nap. A solid meal and a long nap. And instead of letting her have a relaxing night with her friends, I barreled right over her, making her feel every ounce of my annoyance.