The Heartbreakers

Channing chuckles. “Hmm, that isn’t a bad idea, but I woke up late and had to skip breakfast, so I need to eat right now, before I get ‘hangry.’ I guess I’ll see you at home for conditioning training. Say hi to Lenley when you see her.”

I wander around the huge building of the Angels Headquarters, checking reception, the boardroom and the staff break room but there’s no sign of Lenley. Most of the staff must be on their lunch break, because I don’t see anyone around.

I head back to the locker room for a shower, but decide to check if her car is parked outside on a whim.

It’ll be easier to walk to the parking lot by circling the outside of the building, rather than walk all the way back to reception, I think opening one of the fire doors in the back.

I walk a few steps and I hear them before can see them around the corner.

Voices; it sounds like a man and a woman arguing and I’d recognize that soft, slightly husky voice anywhere.

I stand at the corner, making sure to stay behind the hangar wall, when I realize that the man Lenley is arguing with is Penn.

My lips quirk up in a satisfied smile when I hear that they’re arguing about Lenley’s friendship with us.

“Do you make out with all your friends, Lenley?” Penn growls, stepping into her space. “Maybe I should see what I’ve been missing out on.”

Her back hits the glass of the smoking area shelter and he pins her against the wall.

I don’t even realize that I’m clenching my fists when he gets so close that the tips of their noses are touching; I don’t even hear what they’re saying anymore. There’s blood roaring in my ears, my heart is beating faster than if I’d been running.

Don’t let him kiss you, Snow. Don’t you fucking dare. You’re mine.

Mine.

I know I have no business feeling this way. I fucking know the reason we even made our deal is that she’s in love with him and he rejected her.

I know I have no chance in hell at Lenley’s heart, even if Penn has been so stupid to refuse it.

But her body? Her body is mine, goddammit! Her body is part of the deal she made with us, and I’ll be fucking damned if he gets to lay one finger on her before I say so.

“I hang out with whoever I want, Darrius. I don’t need your permission.”

I start breathing again when she pushes him away; I smile when she  strides past him, clutching her laptop bag closer to her body, almost using it as a barrier between them.

Fuck, if she hit him with it, that would definitely make my day.

He looks at her, literally shaking with barely repressed fury, almost as pissed as I was a few moments ago.

I observe as Lenley gets into her car, driving off faster than would be safe.

Penn runs a hand over his face, shaking his head in frustration. “Fuck!” He bites out angrily. “What the fuck just happened?”

He runs to his Corvette, parked not far from Lenley’s spot and gets in, slamming the door and driving off in the same direction Lenley just took.

I don’t even try to figure out why I run to my mustang and climb in, driving to Lenley’s house as if I had the devil on my heels.

I tell myself that I didn’t like the way Penn was talking to her, how he got in her face.

I’m just going to check on her and make sure that he isn’t following her home, causing more trouble.

I’m doing this for her safety and nothing more, because I don’t trust Penn.

He may have known Lenley since they were born, but only I know what a cheating, conniving piece of scum he really is and I don’t want him near my girl.

I park in Lenley’s driveway and walk to her door; I don’t even stop to think about what I’m doing when I knock.

I don’t do fucking girlfriends; I’m not interested in all the fuss and the trouble relationships mean.

But Lenley has a deal with me, with us. And that makes her mine.