Enforce(102)

“Such a gentleman,” she grumbled, taking my hand as I helped her to her feet.

She tugged down her shirt and walked over to grab her book bag. I stared like a man starved. Her ass was fine in that skirt. “Sorry, Trace. I lied. No wonder Nixon was—”

“Can we just… not talk about him?” She tossed her bag over her shoulder and crossed her arms. So much for humor helping the situation.

With a nod, I held my hands up in surrender. “Good deal. Let me just grab my keycard, and I’ll walk you to your dorm.”

Her face immediately flushed, like the idea of me helping her was abhorrent. ”You don’t have to do that. You already let me hide out in here for most of the morning and—”

“I insist. Besides, it’s kind of my job.” I shrugged.

“Your job?”

“Chase Winter at your service. Get used to it, babe. I’m your official bodyguard.”

“Says who?” she shrieked.

Yeah, funny. I had the same reaction but was given time to let it sink in; she, however, had two seconds.

“Um, Nixon? Your grandfather? Mo? Just about everyone who loves you…” I shrugged. When the Mafia says jump, you say how high and where.

“Nixon doesn’t love me.”

I exhaled the breath I’d been holding. “I refuse to get into that with you right now. Believe what you want, but that boy would flipping cut his own arm off before he let someone harm a hair on your head.”

Her eyes filled with tears, “Sometimes, Chase… it’s the emotional wounds that hurt the most.” I pushed back the anger and sighed. “I’d rather he beat me. Cuts heal, bruises fade — but broken hearts? They carry scars for a lifetime.”

Well said, damn it. I shoved my keycard back into my pocket and pulled her into my arms. I kissed her forehead. “I don’t think any guy can promise not to break your heart. But I do promise that the next jackass who tries it will be on the other end of my fist.”

She nodded.

“Come on, Trace…” I nudged her., “One smile. Give me one smile before we walk the plank.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Please?” I jutted out my lower lip.

Her smile was pathetic, — looked more like a wince, like I smelled bad, and she was trying to reassure me it wasn’t so horrible she couldn’t breathe. Awesome.

Hopeless case, that Trace.

I led her outside. At least the sun was shining; that was something.

“See?” I whispered against her ear. “Smooth sailing.”

Famous last words. Swear, the minute they left my mouth, people around us started whispering and pointing. Someone yelled, “Skank.” Another yelled, “Whore.” And somehow they turned into chants.

I made a mental note to kill them all.

And then I made another mental note that if I was to keep my sorry ass out of prison, I couldn’t commit unnecessary murder. But was it really unnecessary when they were hurting her feelings? I ignored them as much as I could, told everyone to F off, and managed to get her to her dorm.

Cara came barreling out of the door the minute I swiped my card. Fantastic. Just the girl I wanted to see, the same one I’d rejected the week previous on account that I didn’t feel like whoring myself out anymore, because my heart had kind of decided it didn’t like it as much as it used to.

“Told you.” Cara smirked at Trace then her eyes fell to me. “Nice of you to take over Nixon’s sloppy seconds.”

Oh, this was going to be too fun.

I always loved it when people momentarily forgot who I was, what I could do, what I was capable of.

Trace tried to tug me into the dorm, but I didn’t budge.

“Sloppy seconds?” I repeated.

I released Trace’s hand and began to circle Cara.

“Cara…” I threw my head back and laughed. “…I forgot how entertaining that little mouth of yours was, which is crazy because I could have sworn it was wrapped around Phoenix’s junk last week.”

Trace’s face paled while Cara’s mouth dropped open.

“Aw, baby, was that an invitation?” I chuckled. “I wonder how your boyfriend, Deacon, would feel about you screwing Phoenix behind his back? Hmm? I wonder what he would do. No, actually…” I snapped my fingers. “…I know exactly what he’d do. He’d drop your fat ass and move on to the next skank ready to spread her legs for him. Then again, maybe he likes that you’re easy. Hey, why don’t I call him right now and see if he wants to join us for a threesome? Hell, make that a foursome, since you clearly like what you see. I’ll play.”

Cara’s lower lip began to tremble. Do it. Cry. I was just getting started. I would destroy her for making Trace feel small, freaking laugh when she cried for me to stop.