“That was a city sanctioned charity event. Most of the patrons weren’t homeless.” He holds up a hand, his lip curled in anger. “Before you say any shit, I’m not trashing homeless people. You damn well know bad actors infiltrate their spaces sometimes, and desperate people sometimes do desperate fucking things. And why did you bring her here—of all places—after she was attacked?”

For the first time, his look scares me. I’ve seen him look hurt and annoyed and angry before—but never this close to broken.

Never like I’m the one responsible.

“It was closer than your house, Cole. Jesus.” I pause, swiping a hand across my face. “Look, she was exhausted, stressed out, and scared. She needed water. I even had the cops drive us home so we didn’t have to walk. But now I’m curious—what’s so wrong with this place?”

He stares at me.

“Eliza, goddammit. You live in spitting distance of weekly robberies, plus the occasional armed carjacking that gets somebody shot. This neighborhood is far from safe. Hell, you shouldn’t be here. But you’re a grown woman and you can make your own choices. My fifteen-year-old daughter damn sure can’t.”

Oh, the nerve.

I nod slowly, biting my tongue so hard I taste blood before I say, “Okay. I didn’t realize my locked, perfectly crime-free apartment isn’t good enough to fix up your hurt kid while you were still at the office jacking yourself off.”

His eyes bulge and he opens his mouth to fire back, but a small voice cuts him off.

“Eliza—” Destiny starts.

Oh, crap. Since I normally don’t have screaming matches here, it’s easy to forget just how small this space is.

I hold up my hand.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” I turn around and look at Destiny. “You’re always welcome here, if you’re allowed. That wasn’t directed at you, hon. But apparently, I made a big mistake by assuming you would be.”

Or I just didn’t realize I’m good enough to make your dad’s coffee and ride his dick.

But somehow, I’m not good enough in all the other ways a demanding, rich grump-ass like Cole Lancaster needs.

“Let me settle this for both of you,” he says softly, turning to Destiny. “You, young lady, are not allowed here without my permission. You’ve already been robbed. You’re not running around Seattle alone anymore in this crappy part of town or anywhere else.”

“God, Dad. Are you implying the robbers were homeless?” She looks at him with a brutal pout. “FYI, they weren’t. They stank like cologne and there wasn’t a speck of dirt on their white hoodies when they pushed me around.”

“Nobody should’ve fucking pushed you at all,” he mutters under his breath. Then he looks at me and shrugs. “She’s never been robbed outside my office or in our neighborhood. She always had Kate around, or Tom, or at least a friend.”

“You’re right to wonder, but I’m telling you, it’s not a battlezone hellscape here,” I say. “I went to that camp a few times every month until I met you— I’ve never come close to being robbed.”

“You don’t look like a target,” he snaps, looking away as soon as it’s out.

My jaw drops.

“What? What does that mean, Cole?”

He shrugs angrily, exuding pure insolence. “Only that if I were going to rob someone, I wouldn’t expect to make a lot off of you. Don’t take it personally. You travel light with your ID and a few mason jars of coffee, maybe a water bottle. You’re not a flashy girl sporting anything valuable.”

Yeah, he’s not explaining his way out of this hole.

My blood is about to froth over.

“I’ll have you know that Dakota freakin’ Burns and her billionaire hubby are there at least once a month. More before they had their baby, even. Would they make better targets? Pretty sure she’s walking around with six-figures of designer jewelry glued to her now.”

“Lincoln’s built like a fire truck and he never leaves her side. Your friend probably has enough sense not to go without him.”

My lips tense into a painful line. “I’ll tell you what she has sense for. She’ll kick him in the balls if he’s ever stupid enough to think she needs him like some sad little damsel in distress.”

“Dad, stop. You’re being a jerk!” Destiny adds.

“Stay out of this!” Cole warns.

Yeah, I’ve officially had enough, short of the ball-kicking he so deserves.

I start moving to the front door, loudly unlatching it just to prove to him that I have locks, and swing it open.

“You should go. Get her home, before I lose my shit,” I say, waiting for them.

“You’re kicking us out? Christ. Maybe you should calm down.” His voice is even, calm, and ice-cold as usual. He acts like I’m the problem and he’s not being a raging dick.

I glare at him and shake my head.

“My name is on the lease, last I checked. I don’t have to do anything you say in my place. Now go, before I rage-barf all over Dess. She doesn’t need that after today...”

Tags: Nicole Snow Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net