Avenging Angel (Pounding Hearts 5)

Before I can get too hopeful though I realize it’s a little strange that my father hasn’t been in touch, and the fact that he hasn’t is worrying.

Maybe he hasn’t heard the news yet?

I double-check to make sure I didn’t accidentally block him when I blocked Tristan and Ashley. But no, he’s still there, unblocked and at the top of my contacts.

Perhaps he doesn’t give a shit that I broke up with the son of his biggest campaign donor…

Fuck, who am I kidding? I’ll be lucky if he doesn’t disown me.

The worry growing inside me until it’s a basketball of pure dread, I gulp down some more coffee and seriously consider giving him a call to get the fallout over with.

Maybe if he hears it from my lips, he won’t be quite as angry.

Thumb hovering over my screen, I’m just about to hit the call button when I hear a car door slam and someone calling my name behind me.

“Bree?”

Every tiny, microscopic hair on my body stands on end at the sound of that voice.

How the hell did he find me?

Pulse racing and breath quickening, I don’t turn around, hoping that my head is so messed up I’m only hearing things.

Best case scenario, I’ve finally gone completely batshit crazy.

But no, my name hits my ears again, closer this time. “Bree!”

Whipping around, I stare in horrified shock as Tristan walks toward me from the parking lot.

“What the fuck are you doing here?!” I blurt out in panic.

Seriously, how the fuck did he find me? I blocked him on everything.

Another car door slams and my eyes are instantly drawn to the sound. Tristan’s best friend, Spencer, leans against the side of his black BMW and gives me a snarky grin and wave.

Fuck. Fuck my life.

I may have blocked Tristan and Ashley, but my dumbass forgot to block everyone else to be safe.

Striding across the parking lot with purpose, Tristan’s eyes burn into me as his long legs easily eat up the pavement between us.

“Why did you block my number?” he asks, a look of anger and hurt flashing across his face.

Glancing behind me, I look desperately for an escape. Unfortunately, I’m in the middle of the wall on the side of the building. I have no idea if there’s anything at the back of the building, and there’s no way I can get past Tristan to make it to the doors near the front.

An All-State track star, he’s too damn fast and athletic for me.

“Why did you block me, Bree? Why are you hiding? Are you cheating on me?” Tristan asks, his voice growing more and more heated the closer he gets to me.

Goddammit, he’s literally got me trapped between a rock and hard place, and something about it just pisses me off. It fills me with so much anger, I’m seeing red.

What right does he have to do this shit to me?

“Because we’re over, Tristan,” I say angrily, and lift my chin.

I’m feeling far too much like a trapped animal right now, and after what he did to me yesterday, I might bite if he pushes me.

“The fuck we are,” he growls out as he reaches me. “I told you yesterday, it doesn’t change anything. You’re still mine, Bree.”