“We’ve been here long enough, it’s time to go. Being out in the open like this with no one to watch our backs makes me uneasy as fuck.”
“Go? This is my home.” She shut the lid on the case and ignored him. The numbness and shock had faded. Now she was angry and ready to dig her heels in and rebuild from the ground up.
“You’ll be staying with me until this shit is taken care of, one way or another.”
“You don’t get to just boss me around—”
“No, what I’m going to do is keeping you safe. Now go do what I said.”
He’d cut her off and she saw red. There’s no
way I’m giving away any more today. Haven’t I had enough taken by force?
“You’re an asshole!”
Gritting his teeth, he balled his hands into fists. “Not the first time I heard it and it won’t be the last. I get you’re mad, but don’t go off the deep end on me for something I didn’t do.”
“I don’t really want to go anywhere with you right now.” She crossed her arms beneath her chest.
“You don’t have a choice.”
The words hit her like a slap to the face. Her jaw dropped and her hackles rose. The tight rope she’d been walking snapped.
“What did you just say to me?” She dropped her voice an octave and stared him down.
“This is about keeping you safe. If you want to hate me for that, go right ahead. At least you’ll be alive and whole.”
“Fuck you, Shooter.” Her scream echoed through the room as she scrambled to her feet.
“Calm your shit down. You’re overreacting.”
“I just had my house torn apart, I’m trying to pick up the pieces and you’re bulldozing me. I’m not overacting.”
“Aren’t you? In all the time I’ve known you, you’ve never raised your voice to me.”
“You never acted like a heavy-handed Neanderthal.” She threw her hands up in the air.
“Yes, I have, because it’s who I am. I know it and so do you. Hell, I gave you the disclaimer before we got involved.” It was true, but she’d be damned if she’d admit it in the middle of a fight.
“So that’s an excuse?” She placed her hands on her hips.
“No, sweetheart, it’s a fact.” He smirked and she wanted to claw his eyes out.
“I think we could both use some space.”
“Not going to happen.” He shook his head.
“You don’t dictate what I can or can’t do.”
“I do when you’re being completely irrational and showing a total disregard for your own welfare. I bet Stant’s somewhere waiting for this to happen, rubbing his lily-white hands together in glee at the thought of having me out of the way. Fuck that.”
“So what now? I’m trapped in a new arrangement?” she scoffed.
Turning, he slammed his fist into the wall. She jumped, knowing she’d taken things too far. “Don’t you dare compare me to him. You don’t want me around, fine. But you will stay in my apartment and be followed to and from work until this shit is hashed out. I’m not risking your safety because we picked a shitty time to have our first fight. I’m doing the best I can here, Juliette, give me some fucking credit and a little respect.” He stepped forward and gripped her jaw, pinning her to the spot with pain-filled brown eyes. Something was eating him from the inside out. “You own my fucking heart. Be careful what you do with it.”
“Shooter.”
“You’re not the only one with demons, Juliette. I fight mine for you. I need you to do the same for me.” He released her and stepped back.