Enforce(82)

I pulled the car up to security and gave the guard a quick rundown of what happened while Trace’s face turned about thirty different shades of red.

She was silent the entire drive through campus.

With an amused sigh, I pulled her hands away from her face. She held on to herself with the cutest death grip ever.

“Trace,” I whispered, my lips so close to hers I could almost taste her, “Are you okay?”

She whimpered and then shivered. “No, I’m not okay! We could have died! Who were those people? Why did they have guns? Is it like this all the time when you’re out and about in public? What the hell, Nixon! I need answers.”

And I needed her to change the subject. “As well as a volunteer.” My eyebrows shot up in amusement.

“Come again.”

I burst out laughing at her confused look. “Yes.”

“Yes, what?”

“My answer.” I winked. “Just name the time and place. I’ll be there.” With freaking bells on. “It would be an honor.” She had no idea how serious I was. So she’d never been with a man before? Never let them look upon her naked perfection? Good. Because no man would ever see her — no man but me. “I mean, I would love to be the one guy going into uncharted territory and…”

“Shut up! Just shut up!” She covered her face again and moaned. “Oh my hell, I’m so embarrassed.”

Pity, because I was so turned on I couldn’t think straight.

“Hey,” I nudged her. “That was a real bonding experience back there.” I gently pulled each finger from her face and kissed the inside of her wrist. “And don’t worry, we’ll wait until you’re ready…” Or until I die from want. I may die first…

“You’ll be waiting a long time.” That’s what I was afraid of.

“It’s not like you didn’t,” I teased.

Her eyes narrowed as she let out a little gasp. I took the opportunity with enthusiasm, crushing my mouth against hers with all the aggression that had built up over the past fifteen minutes.

I used my lips to convince her it was me — I was hers. It was a punishment. Hell. Getting to only kiss her, instead of taking her up on that promise right then and there? Could only be described as hell.

I reached around her body, tugging it closer to mine, as close as it would get with the console between us. It would be so easy to lift her into my arms, to toss her in the back seat, to convince her that this was what she wanted — even though I knew it wasn’t what she deserved. My body screamed in frustration as her tongue swirled with mine.

Her taste was my heaven.

“Now is good too…” She surprised me by saying as she tugged my hair with her hands.

Hell yes.

I lifted her, slowly. Hell, I was a Mafia boss. The straight and narrow? Moral compass? Yeah, not in my vocabulary.

I was going to wreck her for anyone else.

And then my worst nightmare came true.

At first the knocking was distant, and then it became louder. I pulled back and stared Frank Alfero down.

His eyes narrowed.

He opened his jacket and pointed at his gun.

And I knew in that moment, whatever fantasy I had created for me and Trace, whatever future I may have built up — was about to come crashing down at my feet.

Funny, I always thought I’d die before I experienced heartbreak.

And there I was… twenty-one years old, and feeling like my heart had just been ripped from my chest.

He would take her from me.

And this time — I wouldn’t survive it.





CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

The big guns



Chase

I SENT NIXON A text, warning him that Frank was waiting outside the dorms. Clearly he was otherwise occupied, if the steam taking up the front windshield was any indicator.

“Ten bucks says he gets shot in the ass,” Tex piped up next to me.

We were about fifteen feet away from them in the bushes. We didn’t need binoculars and were close enough to hear words or gunshots — if it came to that.

Frank knocked on the window.

Tex started to chuckle.

The door opened.

Trace stepped out, her face flush with pleasure. I gripped my gun so tight in my hand I could have sworn I almost broke it in half.

“Down boy. She’s not yours until she’s not his anymore, got it?” Tex whispered, elbowing me in the ribs.

“No, but thanks for the pep talk.”

Tex grunted.

Trace stepped awkwardly into her Grandpa’s stiff arms. “Hey, Gramps, you’re early.”

He returned her hug, his eyes glued to Nixon. “You.”

“Aw, shit.” I pointed my gun at Frank and waited.

Tex flashed me a grin. “It’s better than watching a movie. Look, Nixon’s not even shaking. Damn, I’d be shaking. Frank’s scary when he’s pissed off. Ever notice that weird vein that travels down his temple? Swear, it’s like its own entity.”